Client: UNDP Macedonia
Industry: NGO
Challenge:
UNDP Macedonia is implementing the Regional Programme on Local Democracy in the Western Balkans 2 (ReLOaD2). As part of their activities, they wanted to improve the project management skills of municipalities’ representatives in the country. They have identified that municipalities lacked proper understanding and knowledge of the project management cycle, leading to inefficient project planning, execution, and monitoring. This often resulted in delayed project delivery, overspending, and low-quality project outcomes. Traditional training methods, such as in-person workshops and seminars, were not feasible due to logistical and financial constraints, as well as the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
UNDP needed an e-course that could effectively teach municipalities about the project management cycle, from project initiation to project closure, in a cost-effective and accessible manner. The e-course had to be designed to accommodate the diverse learning needs of the participants, including their varying levels of expertise in project management.
Strategy & Solution:
The EPISTUM eLearning team used a comprehensive and research-based approach to design and develop an e-course that addressed the client’s need to improve the project management skills of municipalities in Macedonia. The team followed the ADDIE model, which involved Analysis, Design, Development, Implementation, and Evaluation.
Based on the learning objectives, the team designed the e-course to be comprehensive, engaging, and interactive, with a focus on well designed and navigated project phases. The course content was broken down into six modules, each covering a different stage in the project management cycle, from project planning to project evaluation.
To ensure that the e-course was accessible and understandable to all participants, the team developed the course in Macedonian and Albanian language.
- SCORM compliance: The e-course is based on Sharable Content Object Reference Model, ready to upload to any LMS system.
- Self-paced: The e-course was designed to be self-paced, allowing participants to learn at their own convenience and pace.
- Simple and pure design: The e-course is consistent with the client’s overall branding and messaging, creating a cohesive and professional experience for learners. The design elements of the course were carefully chosen to be visually appealing and easy to navigate, while also ensuring that the content remained the focus. By following the client’s branding guide, the e-course was able to effectively represent the client’s organization and messaging, reinforcing their brand identity and enhancing their reputation.
- Clear and concise presentation: The e-course aimed to present information in a clear and concise manner, allowing learners to easily understand the concepts and principles taught.
- Linear approach: The team used a linear approach without any branching or scenarios, allowing learners to follow a predetermined path through the course.
- Non-casual content: The linear approach was chosen due to the non-casual nature of the content and the gravity and seriousness of the subject matter.
- Engaging interactivities: The e-course consisted of clickable interactivities such as tabs, graphics, and other interactive elements, which engaged learners in active, intentional, and authentic learning.
- Opportunities for interaction: The interactive elements provided opportunities for learner interaction and meaningful learning, allowing learners to apply the concepts and principles taught in real-life scenarios.
Results
As a result of the partnership between the UNDP Macedonia and EPISTUM eLearning team, the e-course proved to be a resounding success, exceeding the expectations of the client and delivering outstanding results. The course was well-received by learners, who praised the clear and concise presentation of information and engaging interactivities. The linear approach, which was carefully selected by the team, proved to be an effective way to present the non-casual content in a way that was easy to follow and understand. As a result, the learners were able to apply the concepts and principles taught in the course to real-life scenarios, leading to a significant improvement in their skills and knowledge.
This collaboration has revolutionized eLearning and raised the bar for Municipalities representatives, making it easier and faster to achieve learning goals. Our product exceeded expectations and the client rated their likelihood of recommending it to friends and colleagues a 10 out of 10. Since 2016, UNDP Macedonia has become a valued long-term partner.