Within the framework of the research project "HELA - Improving HEI maturity to implement learning analytics", financed by the Croatian Science Foundation, in the period from November 28, 2024. until November 30,2024. field research was conducted at the Open University (OU), United Kingdom.

The Open University, founded in 1969, is the largest university by student population in the United Kingdom with approximately 200,000 students, which qualifies it as one of the largest universities by student population in Europe and the world. The visit was arranged and organized by Prof. Nina Begičević Ređep, Ph.D. and project associates from Open University UK. The visit was attended by Sabina Rako and Ivan Kekez, who conducted research using semi-structured research interviews with the aim of evaluating the maturity model for implementing learning analytics in a hybrid environment.

The maturity model framework consists of 28 capabilities grouped into eight categories, as well as the maturity model instrument, a dynamic component that enables the identification of the maturity level of higher education institutions. During the research, the opinions of five experts in the field of learning analytics were collected: Prof. P Bart Rienties, Ph.D. head of the Learning Analytics and Learning Design research program at the Institute of Educational Technologies (IET), Prof. John Domingue, Ph.D. director of the Knowledge Media Institute, Prof. Denise Whitelock, Ph.D. Director of the Institute of Educational Technologies (IET), Rebecca Galley, Head of Academic Affairs at the Open University and Begona Nunez-Herran, Head of Student Analytics at the Open University.

The collected data will serve for the further development of the maturity model for the implementation of learning analytics in a hybrid environment.

The research project (IP-2020-02-5071) "HELA - Improving HEI maturity to implement learning analytics" is financed by the Croatian Science Foundation. The total value of the project is €103,023.43, with a duration of four years. The third and last period of the project lasts from September 1, 2023 to February 28, 2025.