Association for Project Management’s online learning platform has received a bronze award at the Brandon Hall Group Excellence Awards, recognising its redevelopment as a professional development resource for APM members.
APM Learning received bronze in the ‘Best Association Professional Development Programme’ category, which recognises professional and executive development programmes delivered by industry associations.
The award follows a redesign of the members-only platform, undertaken by APM with support from Absorb Software.
The project replaced a declining legacy learning system with a new digital environment designed to improve access to continuing professional development resources, support APM’s international membership and more closely align learning content with the organisation’s Body of Knowledge and Competence Framework.
APM said the new platform has subsequently recorded increases in logins and course completions, alongside a reduction in learning-related support queries.
The organisation has also reduced its reliance on external e-learning development suppliers and reported stronger qualitative feedback from members using the platform.
Learning designed around project professionals
APM Learning provides online development resources exclusively to APM members, supporting project professionals seeking to develop their knowledge and maintain their continuing professional development.
According to APM, feedback following the redesign indicates that learners find the content more practical, relevant to workplace challenges and easier to incorporate into busy working schedules.
The technology underpinning the platform also gives APM greater visibility of learning data, allowing the organisation to examine engagement patterns and explore links between members’ use of professional development resources and longer-term membership retention.
The Brandon Hall Group Excellence Awards recognise organisations that have developed and implemented learning and talent programmes, strategies, systems and tools that have produced measurable results.
Its association professional development category covers programmes delivered through live, online and hybrid formats for association members or the wider public.
Sarah Layzell, Digital Learning Manager at APM, said: “I was beyond thrilled to find out that APM Learning has been recognised by the Brandon Hall Group Excellence Awards.
“The platform has been a labour of love for our learners and the feedback we have received from members has been incredible, receiving this award makes it even more special.”
Personalised learning planned
APM said development of the platform will continue following the award, with greater personalisation among the features planned for future releases.
The organisation intends to make it easier for members to access learning content based on their individual interests, professional roles and development requirements.
“Our work is just beginning on APM Learning,” Layzell said. “In the future we will introduce more personalised learning experiences, enabling members to engage with content that aligns more closely to their interests, roles and development needs.”
The award adds external recognition to APM’s investment in digital professional development as the chartered membership organisation continues to expand the learning resources available to project professionals.
