FOI 39-25: Information in regards to the Assembly's use of learning technologies and associated services

Information Standards Freedom of Information Response

21 July 2025

Our Ref: FoI 39-25

Freedom of Information Act 2000

I am writing to confirm that the Northern Ireland Assembly Commission (Assembly Commission) has processed your request dated 19 June 2025 in line with the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA). In your request, you asked the following-

'Under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, I would like to request the following information relating to your organisation's use of learning technologies and associated services.

 

1. Current Learning Management System (LMS)

  1. What Learning Management System (LMS) or e-learning platform(s) does your organisation currently use?
  2. If Totara or Moodle is in use, please confirm which version is currently implemented.
  3. What is the LMS primarily used for (e.g. internal staff development, compliance training, on boarding, external learner access, apprenticeship delivery)?

 

2. Contract and Provider Details

  1. Who is your current LMS support, hosting, or implementation provider?
  2. What is the value of your LMS-related contract per annum?
  3. What is the contract start and end date (including any optional extension periods)?
  4. Please confirm if the LMS is hosted on premise, via a private cloud, or through a SaaS model.

 

3. Procurement and Decision-Making

  1. What is the name and role of the person responsible for the learning platform and/or digital learning strategy?
  2. What is the name and role of the commercial contact responsible for LMS procurement or renewals?

 

4. Planned Changes or Reviews

  1. Are there any plans to review or replace your LMS in the next 12-24 months?
  2. Are there any scheduled or anticipated procurement events or tenders related to learning, compliance, or workforce development systems?

 

5. Integration and Strategic Use

  1. Is your LMS currently integrated with other internal systems (e.g. HRIS, payroll, CRM)?
  2. Are there strategic goals linked to digital learning, compliance reporting, or learner engagement which the LMS is expected to support?'

 

Our response

The Assembly Commission holds some of the information that you have requested.

Question 1

  1. The Assembly Commission uses platforms including LInKS, AppLI as well as JAM Card friendly.
  2. Totara and Moodle platforms are not used by the Assembly Commission.
  3. The LMS platforms are used for staff development as well as Compliance training.

Question 2

  1. LInKS was created by Learning Pool and managed by the Centre for Applied Learning (CAL), which is part of the Department of Finance, AppLI LMS is hosted by Legal Island and 'JAM Card friendly' eLearning package offered by the NOW Group.
  2. The Assembly Commission does not have an LMS.
  3. This information is not held by the Assembly Commission.
  4. This information is not held by the Assembly Commission.

 

Questions 3 to 5

As the Assembly Commission does not have an LMS in place, the organisation does not hold information in relation to these questions.

 

Further Information

You have the right to request an internal review of this decision by the Assembly Commission. If you wish to request such a review, please write to me at the above address. If, after that review, you are dissatisfied with the way in which the Assembly Commission has handled your request for information, you may complain to the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) at Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire SK9 5AF.

Your request for information and our response may be published in the disclosure log maintained by the Assembly Commission under a publication scheme agreed with the ICO. The request and our response will be anonymised.

 

Yours faithfully

INFORMATION STANDARDS