Student-centered digital innovation: how UWL and University of Leicester are transforming access to online learning in partnership with Perlego

At a time when universities are reimagining access to learning resources, Perlego hosted a thought-provoking webinar on student-centered digital innovation, spotlighting how institutions are empowering students through inclusive, accessible, and affordable online learning material. 💡

The discussion featured Davina Omar, Director of Library Services at the University of West London (UWL), and Joanne Dunham, Deputy University Librarian at the University of Leicester speaking about their partnership with Perlego through the Southern Universities Purchasing Consortium (SUPC). Moderated by Perlego’s Head of UK Partnerships,  Katharine Templeton, the session explored how these collaborations are helping to reshape digital learning experiences for today’s students.

Here's our summary of the key insights:

1. Expanding access and inclusion beyond the reading list 📚

For the University of West London, partnering with Perlego was about more than just boosting e-book provision. It was a strategic move toward equitable and holistic access.

Davina Omar reflected on UWL’s adoption of Perlego in 2022, explaining how it supports both campus-based and partner institution students:

“Perlego is available for our partner students, partner staff, and our own students. That inclusivity was really important to us. It complemented what we were trying to do as a university.”

Beyond academic reading lists, Davina
emphasized the growing importance of wellbeing and independent learning content. The digital library became a way to serve the whole student, offering fiction and wellbeing resources alongside academic materials.

“We were looking for online material not just for reading lists, but also for dissertations, wellbeing, and study skills… thinking about the student as a whole.”

2. Driving engagement through seamless integration and leadership buy-in 💻 

Successful innovation requires institutional culture as much as technology. UWL’s adoption of Perlego was strengthened by strong leadership support, which helped drive faculty and student engagement.

“Our Vice-Chancellor was a real driving force. That kind of high-level buy-in meant Perlego became part of university-wide conversations, not just a library initiative.”

Davina also described how integration into UWL’s discovery systems and reading lists created a frictionless experience for students — mirroring their expectations for intuitive, consumer-grade digital tools.

Students quickly embraced the platform’s accessibility. With unlimited licences and an intuitive interface, Perlego offered a resource students not only used but also recommended to one another.

“We get really good feedback from students on the e-reader. It’s easy to use, and that drives word-of-mouth adoption.”

3. Data-led insights for student success and digital equity 📊

Both UWL and Leicester highlighted how Perlego’s platform offers meaningful insights into usage and engagement.

Davina explained how Perlego’s analytics have given her team visibility into patterns of use across departments and partner institutions: something traditional e-book suppliers rarely offer.

“We can see which schools are using it, what books are most popular, and how students are engaging. That reliability of data has been a real advantage.”

One standout finding: 70% of reading activity at UWL happens outside the reading list, demonstrating how digital access can spark curiosity and independent learning.

Meanwhile, Joanne Dunham at the University of Leicester is just beginning to explore these data opportunities as part of a smaller-scale project, using Perlego to assess new models of engagement and affordability.

“We were drawn by the personalisation of experience and unlimited access. The data granularity means we can finally assess how students are really using e-books.”

4. Partnering for innovation through the SUPC framework 🤝

For the University of Leicester, joining Perlego through the SUPC framework simplified procurement and opened new pathways for experimentation.

“It actually made our purchasing smoother… the framework made it easier for procurement, and being top-ranked in the lot gave us confidence to proceed.”

Joanne shared that Leicester began with a rollout of 500 licences, testing Perlego’s impact before expanding further. Despite internal data protection assessments and onboarding work, she described the collaboration as responsive and supportive:

“A good partnership means having a relationship where you’re listened to, your feedback is taken seriously, and implementation is easy. That’s what we’ve experienced with Perlego.”

As both universities adapt to changing student expectations — balancing time pressures, flexible study habits, and digital accessibility — the importance of innovation rooted in collaboration and inclusivity has never been clearer.

“Our students need flexibility,” said Davina. “Whether that’s listening on the bus, reading offline, or accessing resources at any time, that’s what they expect now.”

Looking ahead: the future of student-centered learning 🎓

The discussion underscored how institutions are rethinking unlimited digital access: not as a luxury, but as an essential pillar of student success.

Perlego’s partnerships with UWL and the University of Leicester demonstrate how co-created, data-informed, and inclusive solutions can help universities meet students where they are, anytime, anywhere.

“It’s not just about access. It’s about transforming how students engage with learning itself.”

📞 Perlego was awarded first place in the SUPC Framework Lot 8 – 'E-books: specialist and innovative solutions'. Find out more about how we can make course materials accessible and affordable for your institution: