What’s next for digital learning content in FE?

Change is nothing new in further education (FE). Colleges have always adapted to new delivery models, shifting learner expectations and the growing role of digital content. What feels different now is the pace.

Over the past year, we’ve been looking closely at the digital content landscape for FE. Through a horizon scan, market analysis and conversations with educators, librarians and curriculum leads, one message came through clearly – there’s a decisive shift towards personalised, adaptive and interactive content.

The global e-learning market is forecast to hit £1 trillion by 2028, with AI in education growing at over 30% a year. At the same time, FE colleges continue to face financial pressure and rising delivery costs. Learner expectations are moving fast, but budgets are not. That combination is a real driver for change.

What the research tells us

Our research points to a clear shift in what FE needs from digital content. Relevance and flexibility matter most. Staff want content that reflects the curriculum and real-world skills needs, not generic resources. They also want formats that fit how students learn today: short-form, mobile-friendly and interactive.

Video, adaptive textbooks and AI-powered tools are becoming more common. But technology isn’t the only factor. Content still needs to be easy to access, inclusive and mapped clearly to teaching priorities.

From an FE perspective, what matters is whether content genuinely supports teaching and learning. Flexibility, affordability and curriculum relevance are critical if digital content is going to work at scale across colleges.

Licensing models also play a big role. Rising costs, complex terms and restrictive conditions can make it harder for colleges to provide consistent access to content. At the same time, educators have a growing role in helping learners navigate a crowded digital landscape and judge the quality and reliability of content. This is particularly the case AI-generated material becomes more common and lifelong learning has meant modular qualifications and part-time delivery models are on the rise.

What this means for our digital content offer for FE

The e-books for FE service has long been a staple for many colleges. It’s simple, cost-effective and included as part of Jisc membership. In 2024–25 alone, colleges across the UK saved over £1.9 million through the service, with particularly high usage in subjects such as health and social care, education and childcare, and business.

As the wider digital content landscape evolves, we’re taking a careful approach to understand what the future of e-books for FE could look like. We’re engaging with the market to explore emerging technologies, platform capabilities and different pricing models. At the same time, we’re speaking directly with teaching staff and library teams to understand how digital content fits into day-to-day practice. We’re also reviewing usage data and market trends to ensure the service meets sector needs.

This isn’t about replacing what works or making sudden changes. It’s about making sure our digital content solutions for FE remain sustainable, relevant and fit for purpose over the long term, while continuing to support the vital partnership between library teams, curriculum leads and practitioners.

How we collaborate – and how you can shape what comes next

We know that discussions about the future of long-standing services can raise questions. That’s why collaboration sits at the heart of this work.

Our approach is informed and challenged through our education technology and content expert group, which brings together FE voices to ensure decisions reflect what matters most across learning, teaching and assessment. This group plays a vital role in shaping our thinking and keeping it grounded in sector reality.

But that conversation doesn’t stop there. If you’re using e-books for FE, or involved in curriculum delivery, digital learning or student outcomes, your insight matters. Whether through interviews, working groups or feedback on early ideas, your input will directly influence how we approach digital content licensing for FE.

What comes next

Digital learning content and learning technology is at a turning point. AI, immersive formats and new licensing models bring real opportunity, but also complexity. Across FE, there’s growing interest in content beyond static e-books, including formats that better reflect how learners engage and how teaching is delivered.

For us, this means continuing to evolve our digital content offer for FE. We’ll focus on agreements that deliver clear value, improve affordability and support equity of access. We’ll prioritise content that aligns with future skills needs and flexible delivery models.

E-books for FE remain part of that picture. It’s a sector-wide service made possible through your membership with Jisc, and we’re exploring how it can develop over time to support what comes next.

We’ll be sharing more over the coming months. In the meantime, if you’d like to stay up to date with the project and be among the first to hear about opportunities to get involved, please join our mailing list.