BL/TIS/14/06 18 May 2006


Tata Interactive learning portal wins award

A learning portal developed by Tata Interactive Systems (TIS) has bagged the ‘Best Organisational Project' Award at the UAE IT Challenge 2006.

The Abu Dhabi Men's College's (ADMC) e-Services, including the learning portal, developed by TIS, made it to the shortlist of 65 finalists out of more than 700 entrants. In the final rankings, announced at the Grand Hyatt Convention Centre, Dubai, the ADMC Share Point portal and other e-Services like the ADMC Portal, took first place in the Best Organisational Project category for bringing and integrating advanced technology to the ADMC campus.

ADMC had commissioned global e-learning developer Tata Interactive Systems to develop a learning portal system, which needed to address - for its students:

• Communicating and collaborating online

• Eliminating duplication and inconsistency of information by accessing a single searchable database

• Providing online feedback on their performance

TIS's solution was an application built on ‘Dot Net' architecture using Microsoft SharePoint Portal 2003 as the central software.

The custom applications, such as ‘calendaring', were deployed as Webparts in the SharePoint server. The database was SQL Server 2000 and the front end was created as Dot Net applications using ASP .Net.

This allows the solution's managers and administrators to:

• Manage all aspects of academic administration

• Obtain incisive reports of various aspects of the college

• Provide support to both on-campus and off-campus students

• Manage academic resources such as meeting rooms, facilities and laboratories

• Generate statistics and analysis of trends

• Support Program Quality Assurance graduate outcomes

• Track students' academic portfolios and their achievement indicators, by giving assignments, reviewing them and giving feedback online

• Manage system assistance calls online, for example, to a Help Desk

“The learning portal reflects the growing scope of e-learning - which is no longer restricted to teaching or learning,” said Sanjaya Sharma, TIS's CEO. “It shows how e-learning tools can effectively lend an extra edge to administrative procedures.”


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Notes for editors

About Tata Interactive Systems (TIS) 
Tata Interactive Systems (TIS) is a global pioneer in e-learning, with more than 15 years of experience in designing and developing innovative and cutting-edge e-learning solutions. TIS is a part of the $18 billion Tata Group - one of the largest and most trusted business conglomerates in India. 

TIS employs a global team of over 900 multi-disciplinary specialists - a unique mix of project managers, software engineers, instructional designers, content developers, visual designers and animators. Its service bouquet includes Simulations, Systems Training, New Hire Training, Business Processes and Skills Training, Regulatory and Compliance Training, Sales and Customer Service Training, Adaptive Assessments, Story-based Learning Objects, M-Learning and EPSS. TIS also has a K12 math practice and a K12 content practice, as well as having substantial experience in developing learning content and tools across keystages and subject areas.

Powered by creative talent, sound processes and technological excellence, TIS has developed e-learning solutions for more than 300 clients - including 50 Fortune 500 companies - across the US, the UK, Australia, Mainland Europe, Japan, UAE and India. Its client roster includes leading corporations, renowned educational institutions and government bodies such as American Airlines, British Airways, Citibank, Colgate-Palmolive, ExxonMobil, GE, GlaxoSmithKline, HP, McGraw-Hill, ntl, Orange, Pearson Education, Qantas, Qwest, Royal Mail, Swiss Re, UNICEF, University of Phoenix, University of Maryland and Vodafone, along with Hodder, Oxford University Press, Granada Learning, Nelson Thornes, Research Machines PLC, Compass Learning, Florida Virtual School, Harcourt, Prentice Hall and, in the government sector, BECTA, UFI and DODEA. 

Apart from holding ISO 9001 certification, TIS is the only e-learning organisation in the world to be assessed at Level 5 in both the SEI-CMM and P-CMM frameworks. TIS’s quest for excellence is reflected in numerous prestigious industry awards, including a Silver - Brandon Hall Excellence in Learning Award 2005 and 2004, APEX 2005 Award of Excellence, BETT 2004 Best Product Award, and 2 Business World-NID Design Excellence awards. 

For more information log on to www.tatainteractive.com

About the Tata Group 
The Tata Group, established in 1904 by the great visionary Jamsetji Tata, is one of Indias largest and most trusted business houses. The group pioneered the industrial revolution in India by founding, among other things, the first steel plant, power plant and chain of luxury hotels. 

The Group employs more than 330,000 people in 91 companies across diversified industry sectors including steel, automobiles, cement, telecom and IT. Generating revenues to the tune of £7bn per year  2.6 per cent of Indias total GDP  it is recognised as a leader in several industry segments such as such as steel, power, software exports and chemicals. It is also the parent company to Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), Asias largest software producer. 

Further information from:
Alan Samuel, Tata Interactive Systems, 020 7905 0156, www.tatainteractive.com