When Zakiya Rania, a first year Master student, started the online MSc Advanced Neonatal Practice (ANP) at Queen Mary, she was balancing life as a healthcare professional and a mother of two young children including a newborn. “Like many parents working in healthcare, I wondered if I could really do it all,” she said. “What I didn’t expect was just how understood and empowered I would feel along the way.” It’s been a year since we first had the privilege of meeting her and hearing her story during an interview at the beginning of her journey. Let’s take a closer look at how Zakiya is navigating her studies and what has supported her along the way.
Flexibility built on intentionally designed learning experience
With two young children at home, Zakiya often studied during nap times or late at night. “The online, self-paced nature of the MSc was a lifeline,” she explained. “I could access materials whenever and wherever I had a window.” This flexibility helped her stay on track without compromising her family responsibilities.
The flexibility in learning is thanks to a carefully structured learning experience co-created by the Digital Education Studio and the teaching team by breaking down learning into scaffolded steps using text, visual diagrams, short videos, and interactive activities. From interactive case studies to structured open-ended reflective tasks, the course design challenged Zakiya to apply knowledge with critical insight in context. She especially appreciated the use of visual frameworks and expert perspectives in the interview videos, which made challenging topics — from pharmacology to ethical decision-making — more accessible and thought-provoking. “They bring learning to life in a way that textbooks simply can’t.” she said.
The programme incorporated game-based learning experiences that allowed students to practise decision-making in a safe, low-stakes environment. These interactive games coupled with instant feedback are extensively used across the modules to help learners engage with complex clinical content in a scaffolded manner — such as neonatal resuscitation — to consolidate knowledge and build confidence for professional practice for the ward environment.
Zakiya found this combination of practical application and simulation particularly effective: “It’s moments like that when you realise the course is already making a real-world impact.”
Zakiya also highlighted the remarkable value of the weekly 1:1 supervisory session and the strong academic mentorship she received from the teaching team. “Whether I was working through a complex assessment or needed reassurance, I always felt heard and supported,” she said.
This level of personalised support helped her navigate moments of doubt and balance competing demands, reinforcing her confidence as both a learner and a practitioner.
Learning that translates directly into practice
Now a year into the course, Zakiya describes how the programme has helped her grow— not only as a clinician but also as a leader. She recalled a moment in practice where she was able to assess and escalate care for a baby in respiratory distress, directly applying what she had learned from the neonatal respiratory management and multidisciplinary collaboration topics. “Because of what I had learned, my decisions were faster, more informed, and more collaborative.” she shared.
Co-Designing beyond the student experience
Zakiya’s reflections capture how a carefully designed and well-supported learning experience supports busy healthcare professionals like her. On top of making an impact at the student level, this co-design approach also provides valuable insights for the teaching team. Dr Burak Salgin, MSc ANP Programme Director, has previously reflected on how collaborating with the Digital Education Studio has shaped the design and development of the course — particularly in ensuring that the curriculum and delivery practices remain responsive to the real-world challenges faced by learners. This co-design model not only supports student engagement but also empowers educators to continually refine their teaching strategies through shared expertise.
Find out more about the MSc ANP Online Learning Experience
Watch the video below to follow Zakiya’s journey through the MSc ANP, as we highlight key moments from her online learning experience.