Dublin software firm pTools has completed a major content management system (CMS) for the new Pensions Board online learning service.
Available to Ireland’s 200,000 pension scheme trustees and anyone working in the pensions industry, the service provides training free of charge in an easy-to-use, self-managed environment.
Training call
The new initiative was designed to respond to new legislation which, from 1 February, requires all pension scheme trustees to undertake training at least once every two years.
The system includes extensive user management and learning content management features driven by the core pTools content management engine.
pTools worked with The Pensions Board and pensions industry partners to deliver the technology behind the online learning solution that is easy to use, intuitive and capable of being updated to reflect a continuously evolving regulatory environment.
The project builds on the existing pTools implementation of a multi-dimensional website using pTools CMS software at the Pensions Board.
Pensions Board priority
David Malone, head of information at the Pensions Board, explained: “Online engagement with all our stakeholders is a key priority for the Pensions Board. The deployment of the pTools Content Management Software for the e-learning system supports this priority and is a significant investment in technology for the board.
“The system builds on the support services the board provides for trustees and the broader pensions industry, providing practical help for pension scheme trustees in carrying out their duties. The board has a very strong commitment to providing our services efficiently, cost effectively and in the most accessible formats possible.”
Key features of online learning solution include: video tutorials, questionnaire tutorials, user registration, user assessment, audio tutorials, web content management and learning content management.
Technically, the initiative is about delivering and managing content across nine lessons, with more than 400 topics and areas for users to complete to achieve the accreditation. Given the significant numbers of pension trustees involved, the system includes extensive user management and learning content management features.
“This is another example of the deep and business critical content management delivered by pTools to our customers,” said the managing director of pTools Software, Tom Skinner.
“We increasingly see demand for pTools as an extension to business systems that deliver content services to websites of significant scale and scope. This transactional content is often critical to the business and, in the case of the Pensions Board trustee learning initiative, the value of timely and accurate content and information is even more evident.”
By John Kennedy
Photo: Tom Skinner, managing director of pTools Software
