New learning portal

User-friendly

BZ staff no longer need to log in to use the new learning portal, Frederik Birnie, the Academy’s senior adviser on learning & IT says: ‘We knew that logging in without a password (Single Sign On) was something many of our staff wanted. But we were surprised at the extent that its absence posed an obstacle for many of them to visit the learning portal. The data showed us that straight after the new portal went live, many staff immediately visited the portal and registered for a learning activity. Another positive improvement is that new staff have access to the learning portal from their first day at BZ.’

Overview

‘We’re also getting positive responses about the homepage,’ Frederik continues. ‘It presents a personal learning overview, with suggestions for training courses that would be suitable for their job and the learning activities they’ve already registered for. In addition, it’s become very easy to browse the Academy’s curriculum and search using filters.’

Adam Ahajaj, policy officer with the European Integration Department (DIE) comments: ‘My first impression is positive. The interface looks good, and once you’re actually in it, you’re encouraged to discover what else is on offer. Sometimes it’s a little tricky to find the right button to register for a course. But the more often you visit the portal, the easier it gets. The learning portal certainly helps me with learning and personal development because the curriculum is so broad and diverse. There’s enough variety to cater for my personal preferences and interests, and also what I need for my job.’
 

Axel van Soest, senior adviser on economic diplomacy and relations with the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO), agrees that the new learning portal is a positive development: ‘It’s enjoyable to use, well laid out, and the search function is excellent.’

Focusing on learning and development

It’s also become easier for managers to navigate the Academy’s complete curriculum. The learning portal shows specific learning activities for each job, indicating which ones are particularly recommended. This helps managers guide individual staff in their personal learning and development. Academy staff can recommend learning activities to specific target groups, not only on the homepage but also by sending emails, for instance, to all the managers in The Hague, all management assistants or colleagues at the missions. The new learning portal makes it easier for us to reach out to staff.

Statistical data provided by the learning portal can give senior civil servants insight into the organisation’s development and is therefore a powerful steering instrument. The Academy will continue to expand and optimise this kind of data analysis in the coming years in accordance with the organisation’s requirements.

Data-driven working

The Academy can use data supplied by the learning portal to make more effective recommendations, so that staff can really take charge of their own professional development. It also gives the Academy insight into staff learning behaviour, which learning activities are popular or which aren’t, and what learners’ preferences are. This information is useful in sharpening the focus of the Academy’s curriculum and developing new learning activities.

Naomi van de Vorst, policy officer at the Europe Department (DEU) adds: ‘The new learning portal’s homepage is easier to navigate. It also gives you information on how long it takes to complete a course, which I personally find very motivating. I also think it’s a great improvement to get specific recommendations based on my own job and working at BZ in general. That makes it easier for me to find courses that benefit my own personal development.’

One step at a time

‘The new learning portal offers myriad opportunities,’ Frederik continues. ‘We apply the options that are available to us, one step at a time. For example, we’ve started grouping various connected learning activities in ‘playlists.’ The Inclusion Plaza is an example of this. In addition, the learning pathways also guide learners through the Academy curriculum and are now much easier to access.’

One learning portal

‘We’ve also given other BZ departments access to our learning portal, so that they can manage their own learning activities themselves. This applies to content as well as user participation in the learning activity. The Financial and Economic Affairs Department (FEZ) and the Information and Digital Innovation Department (IDI), for example, have become very active in the learning portal. And we’re working with the Consular and Visa Affairs Department (HDCV) to transfer the consular learning activities to the learning portal. In the future, we hope to offer tailored facilities to more departments, so that they can manage their own learning activities in the portal. It’s good for all BZ learning activities to be accessible through a single portal.’