EULAR - How Totara defines years of learning evolution

The European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology (EULAR) has been at the forefront of advancing knowledge and education in rheumatology. With its evolving commitment to digital learning, EULAR’s School of Rheumatology (ESOR) leveraged Totara’s LMS to significantly enhance its platform. From award-winning projects to groundbreaking innovations, this case study highlights the evolution of ESOR through its recent updates to Totara, redefining the future of digital education in healthcare.

The Challenge

EULAR’s School of Rheumatology, an award-winning platform in the healthcare education sector, had already achieved considerable success. The platform was equipped with strong learning management features, including payment processing through PayPal, course enrolment, and learner engagement tracking. However, as the number of users and administrative demands grew, EULAR faced several challenges in improving the efficiency of user management, reporting, and payment integration.

The enrolment process, while functional, needed more advanced features to support more detailed checkout options and seamless reporting. PayPal, though widely used, did not provide the desired level of transaction detail and was no longer fully aligned with EULAR’s evolving needs. Additionally, the platform’s ability to automate user suspension for inactivity, automate course creation workflows, and generate comprehensive reports for analytics and user engagement was limited. Administrative overhead was increasing, and the lack of advanced tracking for learner progress and course performance was limiting the platform’s ability to scale efficiently.

Furthermore, the grants and bursaries application process, while functional, needed modernization to better serve its target audience, including researchers and healthcare professionals. The goal was to make the application process more user-friendly and efficient, ultimately facilitating faster and more accurate grant management.

The Solution

To address these challenges, EULAR worked closely with their long-standing partner LearnChamp and Totara to implement a range of significant updates, providing a more efficient, user-friendly, and feature-rich experience. The most notable changes included:

1. Payment Integration with Worldline:

EULAR replaced PayPal with the Worldline Payments integration, streamlining payment processing. This shift allowed for a more detailed checkout system, improved transaction reporting, and a better overall payment process. With the integration, users could now see a clearer breakdown of payment options, enhancing their experience while providing administrators with comprehensive reports on payments and enrolment statuses.

2. Advanced Enrolment Methods:

The new enrolment method for paying customers allowed for better tracking of payments and enrolment statuses. A more detailed checkout system was implemented, providing users with clear steps during registration and reducing administrative overhead for EULAR staff.

3. User Suspension for Inactivity:

To ensure platform cleanliness and relevance, a new feature was introduced to suspend inactive users. Users who have not logged in for a certain period would now receive notifications reminding them that their accounts were about to expire, helping to maintain an active and engaged user base.

4. Enhanced Calendar Page:

The new usability features on the calendar page in Totara were designed to improve navigation and provide learners with quick access to relevant events. Advanced search and filtering capabilities were integrated, enabling users to filter events by title, date, location, and type. Additionally, Totara webinar events were now automatically displayed alongside external events, allowing users to plan their learning schedules more effectively.

5. Notifications:

EULAR worked to create a comprehensive notification system. New notifications were developed for various stages of the learner journey, including payment confirmations, bursary notifications, enrolment updates, and more. A new notification for the Quiz activity was also added, ensuring users were promptly informed when they had received their final exam results.

6. Automated Course Creation Workflow:

A new automation feature allowed administrators to streamline course creation processes by using customizable course templates that met ESOR’s specific needs. This automation reduced administrative effort, ensuring that new courses were created seamlessly without having to manually input all settings for each course.

7. Advanced Reporting:

EULAR introduced new reporting capabilities, allowing administrators to track course performance and user engagement more effectively. The new reporting tools are designed to give administrators a deeper understanding of learner behavior and course performance. The ability to track top-performing courses and learner engagement metrics could help EULAR prioritize content that resonates most with their audience, ensuring a better educational experience. The new payment reports and enrolment tracking also provide more transparency in financial operations.

The Results

The implementation of these new features has had a significant impact on EULAR’s platform, improving both user and administrative experiences. While ongoing refinement continues, the new features provide a foundation for improved efficiency and engagement moving forward.

1. Improved User Experience: Learners now enjoy a smoother, more intuitive enrolment process with better visibility of payments, course availability, and upcoming events. The ability to search and filter calendar events made it easier for users to find the learning opportunities that suited their schedules and needs. Notifications kept users informed at every step of their learning journey, ensuring that they remained engaged and up to date with their progress.

2. Streamlined Administrative Processes: The introduction of automation for course creation, user suspension for inactivity, and the integration of Worldline Payments will greatly reduce administrative overhead. With fewer manual tasks required, administrators could focus on more strategic activities, such as course development and learner engagement.

3. Advanced Insights and Reporting: The new reporting tools are designed to give administrators a deeper understanding of learner behavior and course performance. The ability to track top-performing courses and learner engagement metrics could help EULAR prioritize content that resonates most with their audience, ensuring a better educational experience. The new payment reports and enrolment tracking also provide more transparency in financial operations.

4. Future Roadmap: Looking ahead, EULAR is already working on implementing further innovations in the coming months, such as the generation of discount codes for courses and the ability to mark courses as favorites. These updates are expected to enhance personalization and provide users with even more tailored learning experiences. Ongoing feedback and iterations will ensure that these features continue to evolve based on user needs and feedback.

The system has been live since February, with user feedback collected directly within the platform — all of which has been consistently positive.

Implementing an LMS is a continuous, step-by-step process that evolves through yearly reviews and ongoing adaptations. The integration of powerful new features, enhanced reporting, and improved payment systems has further solidified EULAR’s leadership in rheumatology education, paving the way for even greater innovations in the future.