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EduOpen

How EduOpen Scaled a 17-University MOOC Network with EdzLMS

EduOpen is a pioneering Italian MOOC provider, launched in 2016 by Prof. Tommaso Minerva of the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, and built as a collaborative network of seventeen universities across Italy. EdzLMS delivered a comprehensive, Moodle-based platform with multilingual support, single sign-on via SAML and Shibboleth, tailored certification and personalised learning pathways — enabling EduOpen to deliver accessible, high-quality online education at scale across Italy and the wider EU.

17
Universities on One Network
SSO
SAML & Shibboleth Single Sign-On
Multi
Multilingual EU-Wide Courses

About EduOpen

EduOpen is a pioneering Italian provider of Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs), launched in April 2016 and initiated by Prof. Tommaso Minerva of the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia. It operates as a collaborative network of seventeen universities across northern and southern Italy, dedicated to delivering high-quality, accessible online education — and expanding to include universities from across the EU. EduOpen serves a diverse student population with a flexible, inclusive environment for both traditional and non-traditional learners.

The Challenge

Running a shared platform for seventeen autonomous universities created a distinct set of challenges:

  • Scalability & integrationAn LMS that could integrate cleanly with the unique systems and requirements of many different universities.
  • Multilingual supportComprehensive language support to keep a diverse, international student body included.
  • User managementA robust single sign-on system to streamline access for students and staff across every partner university.
  • Course customisation & certificationFlexible course delivery for different target groups, plus reliable certificates tailored to each university's requirements.
  • Reporting & trainingComprehensive analytics to evaluate courses and students, and proficient instructors, tutors and operational staff.

Our Solution

EdzLMS partnered with EduOpen to deliver a comprehensive LMS on the open-source Moodle framework, addressing each challenge directly.

Structured Pathways & Multilingual Experience

We built structured learning pathways and programs so EduOpen could offer a wide range of courses tuned to specific student groups, and added robust multilingual support and an intuitive, user-friendly interface to serve learners from every linguistic background.

Single Sign-On & Tool Integration

We developed a single sign-on system letting users log in with their existing university credentials, and integrated essential tools — BigBlueButton for video conferencing, and SAML and Shibboleth for secure, seamless authentication.

Certification & Personalised Learning

A tailored certificate-distribution system met the requirements of each university, while target-group categorisation and per-program milestones enabled personalised learning paths and progress tracking. We also incorporated the Italian digital unique number into Moodle user data for enhanced identification.

Course Delivery & Training

Our team supported the development and delivery of diverse, high-quality courses and ran extensive training for instructors, tutors and operational staff so they could manage day-to-day activities with confidence.

The Results

  • Enhanced accessibilityStudents across Italy and the EU can now access high-quality education through one easy-to-use platform.
  • Improved efficiencySingle sign-on streamlined access, cutting administrative overhead and improving user satisfaction.
  • Personalised learningTarget groups and customised pathways enriched the educational experience for every learner.
  • Robust certificationA tailored certificate system ensured students received appropriate recognition for their achievements.
  • Effective training & scalable growthComprehensive training equipped EduOpen's staff to manage online education, on a platform that scales to add new courses, programs and universities as the network grows.

Through EdzLMS, EduOpen has overcome its initial challenges and established itself as a leading provider of online education in Italy and beyond — with a single platform that scales gracefully as more universities join the network.

— EduOpen Network

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