Can you introduce your company and the specific solution you offer to your clients?
[Catalyst IT]: Catalyst has been delivering open source software solutions for nearly 30 years. We are known for the scale of projects we can take on. From enterprise level Moodle instances for universities and colleges to various custom solutions for corporations and governments, we have 350+ specialists globally to deliver and support complex projects.
The way we positioned ourselves across the four regions – New Zealand, Australia, Canada and Europe – allows us to provide 24/7 Follow the Sun support to our clients and attend to any emergencies efficiently.
Our services include e-learning solutions, from consulting through to delivery, hosting and support; custom development – using various open source languages, including PHP, React and Laravel; e-assessment; SSO system integration and more.
If you have attended a MoodleMoot before, could you share your impressions of previous events?
[Catalyst IT]: We are great supporters of MoodleMoot events and have been Platinum Sponsors of MoodleMoot Global for a few years in a row now. Both 2022 and 2023 events were especially memorable, reminding us how big the global Moodle community really is.
From the breadth of topics covered at each global Moot, you can tell how limitless the possibilities are for Moodle product and Moodle users. We hope this is as inspiring for everyone else as it is for our team.
What are you most looking forward to at MoodleMoot Global 2024?
[Catalyst IT]: Everything really! All the insightful presentations of course and equally, we are looking forward to catching up with our partners, clients and all Moodle enthusiasts who will be there. It’s always great fun to be at Global Moots.
Why would you recommend that your clients attend MoodleMoot Global?
[Catalyst IT]: We recently hosted our own regional Moot in Canada and had a few clients in attendance. From the feedback we received, we can definitely say that Moodle Moots are for everybody – developers, users, administrators and educators. Not all of the presentations will be relevant to every individual but there will definitely be something for everyone.
How long has your company been working with Moodle?
[Catalyst IT]: Since Moodle’s very beginnings – over 20 years now. Moodle is a big part of what allowed Catalyst IT to become a multi-regional open source consultancy we are today. Our team are the largest contributors to both Moodle core and Moodle plugins library. Being able to contribute to continuous improvement of the world’s most used LMS is a very rewarding experience for all of our team.
Could you share a standout example of how Moodle has enhanced a client’s experience or outcomes?
[Catalyst IT]: Having been in business for almost 30 years now, there are definitely very many examples. Some of the best ones are of course the enterprise level Moodle instances we support for some of the world’s major universities and colleges, including Monash University (Australia), York University (Canada), Dublin City University (Europe), University College London, and more.
When we witness our clients across the globe achieving their goals and improving their student success, it’s a great feeling and a great Moodle story to be a part of. Some examples include: University of Canterbury (New Zealand) winning the Improving Student Success Award at the international 2021 CAUDIT Awards; Early Childhood Australia having the freedom to achieve efficiencies in course and user management system via a SCORM wrapper Moodle plugin developed by Catalyst; and Concordia University (Canada) and Monash Uni working with us to co-develop a Moodle-based platform to deliver quality exam experience, fit for the demands of the modern student.
All these are classic examples of the flexibility and freedom to innovate that Moodle LMS and open source software more broadly offer. This adds huge value to our clients.
Are there any additional insights or upcoming trends in e-learning that you would like to discuss?
[Catalyst IT]: When it comes to e-learning trends, there are a few! From blended learning and micro-credentialing to data analytics and AI, we understand how overwhelming it must be for organisations to try to stay on top of it all and to prioritise. We’ve written a few blogs on this which you’re welcome to browse the blog posts.
One thing we cannot stress enough however, is when it comes to your digital strategy, you must have the right mix of talent behind your project from the start.
In the complex hybrid world that we live in, where technological advancements continue to pick up pace, not many organisations can keep up with recruiting, upskilling and utilising internal talent in ways that will serve their digital needs efficiently. In most cases, you will have to have a partner, or a few.
Looking for quick fixes is another issue companies must avoid. If you make any tech / software decisions in isolation to your broader company needs and goals, problems will arise and will cost you.
Too often we see both of the above scenarios – decision makers going for quick fixes and trying to do their best in-house to save costs. Both are unsustainable solutions.
Again, we recommend checking out our blog for various articles relating to current e-learning trends; and of course feel free to speak with our e-learning consultants at any time to see how we can help.
How can people contact you for more information if they would like to know more about your company and services?
[Catalyst IT]: Catalyst IT has a presence in the UK and Europe, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. We all have our own regional websites but if you land on one of them, they all cross link to each other. Head to catalyst-au.net to start. Each of our regions also has a LinkedIn page. Find us there and click the follow button for tips, tools and latest news on everything Moodle and Open Source.
You can also always find us on moodle.com → solutions → certified service providers. 🙂
See you at the Moot!