Leeds College of Building and leading technology firm Collsys have joined forces to pioneer a new software package for the further education sector. 

The Collsys ‘Academic Suite‘ is designed to track knowledge, skills, and behaviours across all academic disciplines. It combines with their ‘Employability Suite‘ to provide a comprehensive single platform solution including work placement, enrichment, apprenticeships, and careers.

The project began when Leeds College of Building reviewed its existing systems post-pandemic and asked for staff feedback. Increasingly complex requirements and software that was no longer fit for purpose meant that investing in a new college-wide system became a priority.

Steve Connell, Assistant Principal at Leeds College of Building, said:

“As a busy further education college, we deliver a host of construction specialisms from plumbing, carpentry, and brickwork to civil engineering and transport planning. As such, we needed software that could not only track student work placements and enrichment, but also monitor progress, hold Individual Learning Plans (ILPs), link well with maths, English and support areas, hold student reviews and exam results and monitor attendance and punctuality.

“However, little is available to the FE sector which can manage data for both employer placements and student progress, and which is also user-friendly. Market leaders tend to offer solutions for one or the other but not together and can also be difficult to retrieve the correct information. We needed software that would be a one-stop-shop and present data quickly and consistently. 

“Our old systems were labour intensive and lead to silos or pockets of good practice, so I began talking with one of our existing software suppliers, Collsys. Their CEO, Brian Varley, was keen to explore this further and use expertise in his team to expand existing Collsys software parameters.” 

The College Work Based Learning and Employer Engagement teams already used Collsys modules for tracking work placements, enrichment, and employer engagement data. The aim was to extend this to a bespoke management platform used by all Leeds College of Building staff.

Brian Varley, CEO Collsys, said:

“This project has been a great opportunity to enhance our existing Employability Suite offering. Together with Leeds College of Building, we designed the Academic Suite to be easy to use with additional options for tracking ‘Knowledge Skills and Behaviours’ of vocational courses. This means staff can monitor if students are on track at any point in the year and put in earlier interventions. 

“We also included a joint training plan and review system that is not readily available on the market, given products are often not specifically designed with colleges in mind. A benefit of our system is that because we offer our Employability Suite alongside the Academic Suite, all data is in one place. Tutors can easily look at all aspects of a student’s data without having to switch between systems for reports.”

Over the last 12 months, a joint project team spent time researching, developing, designing, testing, and eventually rolling out the Academic Suite project. The new system is now live at Leeds College of Building and manages all aspects of students’ learning. 

Users can drill down to faculty, departmental, course, or individual student level data. Staff can quickly access vital data, generate reports, and view insights using a RAG (Red, Amber, Green) rating to quickly identify at-risk students, monitor progress, and tailor interventions.

Adam Sharpe, system super-user and Leeds College of Building carpentry and Joinery lecturer, said:

“The new system has great potential. The fact that Collsys has been made to suit our needs as a college is really pleasing, as this means that people like me and others within our organisation can make this new system the best it can be. Working with the Collsys team has been a pleasure; they have been so responsive when we have had technical issues and very patient when delivering training.”

Work is now underway on the next phase of development. The project team has hosted drop-in staff training sessions, created champions and super users, and helped with data transfer to the new system. Plans also include a portal and mobile app to allow employers, parents and carers to monitor a student’s attendance, progress, results, and staff feedback.

Steve concluded:

“This was an ambitious project, but it paid off. We’ve never had this level of data before! It’s fantastic to have everything in one place and quickly access data in real-time. It’s very user-friendly and is a much more efficient use of precious staff time. This bespoke platform will be crucial for external assessors moving forward as it ties together all aspects of apprenticeships and study programmes. Thanks to Collsys for listening to our needs and building a bespoke system for us. “

Visit www.collsys.co.uk to find out more about Collsys Academic and Employability Suites or email customerservices@collsys.co.uk to learn how Collsys can support other Further Education providers.

In the dynamic healthcare landscape of Türkiye, Medicana Health Group is pioneering patient care with a cutting-edge technology-driven approach. Rooted in a profound commitment to understanding and fulfilling patient needs, this approach leverages smart technologies to craft personalised and well-coordinated care experiences for each individual.

As technological innovation reshapes healthcare, Medicana Health Group leads the charge by integrating telemedicine, wearable technologies, artificial intelligence, and genomics into its patient care offerings, setting a benchmark for excellence.

This strategic embrace of technology enables Medicana to effectively use data to refine its services, with the objectives of enhancing patient satisfaction, optimising service delivery, and advancing health education.

Dedicated to delivering customised care, Medicana ensures that every phase of a patient’s healthcare journey, from the first consultation to follow-up care, is characterised by personalised attention, ensuring a comprehensive and tailored care experience.

Exploiting Technology for Superior Patient-Centered Care

Anticipating significant growth in the healthcare IT market, expected to reach USD 1,834.3 billion by 2030 with a CAGR of 15.8% from 2024 as reported by Grand View Research, Medicana Health Group is seizing this opportunity through strategic IT investments and the digitisation of healthcare services. This initiative enables offerings such as online consultations, efficient appointment scheduling, and immediate access to medical histories, substantially reducing typical wait times in healthcare. Medicana’s digital efforts also include streamlined online payments, fast-track prescription services, and instant access to diagnostic results.

Additionally, Medicana Health Group is at the forefront of innovative healthcare services, including digital second opinions for surgical procedures and comprehensive online rehabilitation and physical therapy programs, enhanced by AI. The Group’s digital offerings also comprise a wide range of online home care services, providing educational resources for individuals from infancy to old age, ensuring consistent, accessible healthcare support throughout all life stages.

Commitment to Environmental Sustainability and SDG 3

“Digital transformation facilitates quicker, more targeted, and cost-effective patient outcomes, significantly contributing to the betterment of society and aligning with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal 3 (SDG 3), which focuses on ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being at all ages. In tandem with these efforts, our commitment to environmental sustainability, evident in our adoption of eco-friendly practices across our operations—from utilising green energy like wind and solar to implementing paperless hospital systems—further underscores the belief that a healthy planet is foundational to sustaining healthy populations,” remarked Reha Özkaya, a Member of the Board at Medicana Health Group.

Focusing on Value-Based Care for Optimal Patient Outcomes

Medicana’s approach to patient-centered care is comprehensive, addressing the full array of patient needs, both physical and emotional. This involves patient participation in care decisions, the development of personalised care plans, and ensuring a seamless and empowering experience throughout the healthcare system.

Responding to the demographic trend towards an aging population and the preference for home-based care, Medicana provides a broad spectrum of services for elderly patients, including home-based post-treatment care, telemedicine consultations, and remote monitoring, aimed at offering convenience and ensuring continuous, effective health management for the elderly.

With 16 hospitals situated in seven key cities across Türkiye, Medicana Health Group annually serves a diverse demographic of over 5.5 million people, both from Türkiye and from around the world.

Amrax reports 2700 customers joined its B2B ecosystem in 2023 as businesses embrace spatial design to make their buildings more efficient 

Salzburg, Austria; 16 January 2024: Amrax, a 3D modelling and spatial data capture company, has revealed that over 10,000 rooms have been scanned with the Metaroom app since the app’s launch in June 2023. 

Over 7,300 users, including key players in the lighting, wireless planning and AEC industries, have registered through the Metaroom app and joined the Amrax B2B ecosystem dedicated to spatial design and 3D modelling. Notable new additions to the customer base include Siemens, Tulux, LTS and Voglauer. 

The Metaroom app is an advanced 3D scanning app, driven by the power of AI, LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) and SLAM (Simultaneous Localisation and Mapping) technologies. The tool enables professionals in spatial planning industries to envision and redefine spaces. 

Through the Metaroom app users can scan rooms using an iPhone Pro or iPad Pro*. These scans are then uploaded to the cloud, generating true-to-scale 3D models within seconds. Users can then use the web application, Metaroom Studio, to enrich these 3D models with additional information, ensuring project-specific customisation and precision.

The news follows the closing of a successful Pre-Series A financing round in October 2023. The funding round will enable Amrax to continue investing in its team in 2024 and developing its platform and wider product offering. 

The past year has also seen Amrax establish fruitful partnerships and integrations with Relux Informatik AG (software integration for lighting industry), Autodesk Inc. (spatial design integration for AEC industries) and Siemens among others. 

Martin Huber, CEO of Amrax, said: “As we step into 2024, these accomplishments fuel our determination to push boundaries, innovate relentlessly, and continue shaping the future of spatial planning. We thank our incredible team, partners and customers for being a part of the Metaroom journey.”

*The Metaroom App is currently compatible with all LiDAR enabled Apple devices (iPhone Pro 12 or higher or iPad Pro from 2020 or later).