Home > News > March 2005 > 29-Mar-2005

University implements e-learning induction programme

The University of Sheffield has implemented an e-learning induction programme developed in partnership with Tata Interactive Systems (TIS).

The induction programme is intended for all staff - academic, academic-related, ancillary, clerical, secretarial and technical – and is designed to enable new staff to learn more about the University and its activities.

The university has around 5,500 staff - including over 1,100 full-time academic staff - working within a campus that extends over much of Sheffield. In addition, it has over 24,000 students, drawn from 116 countries.

Carol Cockayne, of the University's Department of Human Resources, Staff Development said: "We commissioned the induction programme from TIS in May 2004. Being a huge organisation we saw enormous value in offering an easily accessible induction package that ensures that all new staff receive a consistent level of initial support from the University. That support is then complemented and supplemented by a range of activities and procedures at University, departmental, and team level.

One of the key features of the programme is an interactive 'map' of the university which users can explore in order to help orientate themselves. The programme also features a section on famous alumni of the university - a list which includes David Blunkett MP; Jack Rosenthal, the playwright; Helen Sharman, Britain's first astronaut; former England cricketers Frank Hayes and Tim Robinson, as well as football manager Howard Wilkinson.

"Developing the programme was very much a collaborative effort between TIS and the University - with staff in the Department of Human Resources being the main point of contact,” said Cockayne.

"We had never undertaken a project of this kind before. So, we didn't have any experience of collaborating in the production of such a visually rich product with a partner organisation whose headquarters were in Mumbai, India - many thousands of miles away. Moreover, each organisation involved in the project had its own unique culture.

"In reality, none of this proved to be an obstacle. That was mainly because of the excellent communication processes that we - and TIS - put in place.

"For example, both organisations established a dedicated project team and team management; we held regular conference calls; communicated extensively by emails to help define exactly what we wanted from the final programme, as well as agreeing the use of screen shots in the programme and using the potential of the web to enhance the final product."

The programme went 'live' early in 2005 after an extensive pilot exercise.

"The comments we've received about the programme have been highly favourable,” said Cockayne. “We have now launched the package university-wide and will continue to closely monitor our staff's responses to it. Initial responses are that the programme is proving both useful and popular.”

Related information

For related news, case studies, articles and research, visit our
e-learning home page

Books for training professionals

• Bookshop home page
• e-Learning books
• Blended learning books

Find e-learning providers

Visit the Training Reference Directory to view supplier details for a wide range of courses, products and services.

Sponsored links

Back to top