This paper discusses the outcomes of research conducted in two distinctive cultural contexts, to assess the effectiveness of delivery of higher education using nontraditional methods from the perspective of stakeholders. Higher education provision traditionally requires learners to physically attend sessions on campus. The global economic climate has shifted significantly over the past few years. Changes to student funding and the increased competitive nature of the job market have impacted on University teaching. The use of online education is an alternative and more flexible form of learning that attempts to tackle these issues. Challenges and opportunities in the initiatives of delivery of part-time online learning programmes to those who are at work in Sri Lanka and effectiveness of online learning for work based learning in the UK have shown almost similar teaching, learning and assessment contexts for all stakeholders. It enables students to learn whilst they work, therefore tackling the funding issues, and also enhance their employability through gaining higher educational and professional qualifications. Work based learning has increasingly become an area of interest for the higher education sector in the UK, North America and Australia, but is not so popular in other parts of the world including Sri Lanka. It can support the personal and professional development of students who are already in work. The focus of the learning and development tends to be on the student’s workplace activities. The paper finally presents recommendations to adapt work based learning in Sri Lankan higher education sector
