Higher education is undergoing a profound transformation, driven by the rapid advancement of digital technologies and the evolving expectations of students and university administrations. While the underlying drivers of these changes are diverse, they converge in a common goal: to promote student learning within an increasingly complex educational landscape. These developments present significant challenges for higher education instruction and necessitate a strategic pedagogical response. The FLUENT model (Flexible Universal Education Model for a New Hybrid Teaching) has been developed to address these challenges by providing a comprehensive framework for course planning that integrates the evolving demands of students and institutional stakeholders while accounting for the complexities of contemporary higher education.

The conceptual foundation of the FLUENT model is grounded in a rigorous mixed-methods research design. A systematic literature review, employing the PRISMA methodology and analyzing 116 relevant studies, yielded critical insights into current practices and existing limitations in hybrid and digital teaching. Additionally, a cross-national survey was conducted across universities in seven countries, with a particular focus on Austria, Estonia, Germany, and Spain, to assess the competencies and professional development needs of university educators in hybrid and digital learning environments. Qualitative data were further collected through structured interviews with senior university administrators (e.g., vice rectors for teaching and learning or equivalent positions) to examine key dimensions of higher education, including student diversity, socio-economic factors, and the implications of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and chatbots. Furthermore, policy documents and guidelines from university training centers were systematically analyzed and incorporated into the model’s development.

The FLUENT model synthesizes empirically validated insights into course planning, fostering improved learning outcomes, deeper disciplinary engagement, and enhanced instructional design. It incorporates foundational principles of pedagogical structuring, translating the complexities of course development into a coherent and didactically sound format. Moreover, it integrates key design principles that are considered instrumental to the future of learning.

This paper is structured as follows:
- First, the FLUENT model is introduced as an innovative and integrative framework for course planning in higher education.
- Second, its practical implementation is illustrated through a case study of a business administration course within the Master’s program in Business Education at the Vienna University of Economics and Business.
- Finally, the paper discusses the model’s distinctive contributions and its potential to address contemporary challenges in higher education pedagogy.

Keywords: FLUENT, course planning model, piloting, university didactics.