Royal NZ College partners with Tribal for new LMS system

The Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners has announced a partnership with Tribal Group to implement a new learner management system.

Tribal's ebs system has been selected by the College after an evaluation process to transform the experience of learners and streamline operational processes as part of the 'Te Kāpehu Whetū' programme. This programme seeks to map out operational needs and identify suitable tools for the institution.

The College, New Zealand's largest medical college, recognised the need for an advanced system that supports the seamless training experiences essential for developing the next generation of specialist general practitioners and rural hospital doctors.

Toby Beaglehole, the College's Chief Executive, stated, "The change in our system was essential to accommodate our organisation's growth and future needs. Te Kāpehu Whetū represents our continuous improvement approach to finding the right tools that align with our processes and support our vision for the future."

The effort to find a new system was initiated in 2022. After conducting research and gathering recommendations from other organisations in the New Zealand tertiary education and membership sectors, Tribal ebs was identified as a comprehensive solution due to its intuitive functionality and integration capabilities.

"We needed a solution that was not only advanced in its core capabilities but also came from a provider deeply embedded in the education sector. Tribal stood out not just for its extensive experience but for its ability to future-proof our organisation through ongoing R&D and sector insights," mentioned Mr Beaglehole.

Tribal's ebs will now serve as the primary system managing the journey of learners, from their application to training and, eventually, Fellowship, while integrating with the College's existing systems.

The decision to select Tribal ebs was also influenced by the system's learner and staff portals, which offer user-friendly experiences alongside powerful operational functionalities, including the automation of many operational processes at the College.

Steve Exley, Tribal's General Manager in New Zealand, expressed, "We are proud to partner with the College and support their journey towards a more robust system that enhances their operations and the services they provide. This collaboration signifies the strength of Tribal ebs in the tertiary education sector, particularly here in Aotearoa New Zealand."

The partnership is noteworthy in the context of the broader tertiary education and educational technology sectors, with an increasing demand for adaptable and future-focused solutions being recognised.

The collaboration illustrates Tribal's commitment to meeting diverse educational needs, particularly in New Zealand and the wider Asia-Pacific region. It also coincides with Tribal's recent expansion of its advisory services in the APAC region.

"This partnership with Tribal enables us to leverage new technology to enhance our educational infrastructure. By integrating Tribal ebs, we are laying the groundwork for a future-ready institution that aligns with our strategic goals to nurture new generations of specialist GPs and rural hospital doctors," concluded Mr Beaglehole.

Mark Pickett, CEO of Tribal Group, commented, "Our collaboration with the College reaffirms Tribal Group's commitment to delivering solutions that address the intricate needs of educational institutions. By providing a comprehensive and adaptable learner management system, we are committed to fostering innovation and operational excellence within the College, ensuring they remain at the forefront of medical education."

Initial steps for the partnership have already begun, with workshops being conducted by Tribal's implementation team. The system is expected to be operational for the application process for the 2026 intake of general practice and rural hospital trainees by March 2025.