Lecturers believe that e-learning improves teaching methods, according to a new study.

The survey by e-learning specialist WebCT found that 85% of lecturers questioned felt that online learning improved their teaching creativity and student success.

WebCT polled 150 lecturers, teaching courses ranging from bioscience, to history, to music, across leading higher education institutions in the UK.

The majority, 94%, of lecturers stated that classroom-based teaching and online learning is more effective than classroom-based teaching alone.

The research also found that 83% of lecturers have received positive feedback from their students in response to introducing online teaching and learning.

Stuart Hirst, Teacher Fellow, Leeds Metropolitan University said that e-learning brought flexibility to higher education.

"More and more students are now studying part-time, or are unable to attend every lecture because of conflicting demands on their time," he said.

"Without online facilities, the problems of student retention and decreasing success rates would be exacerbated."