Portal partners: Tata Interactive Systems and Thomson Learning

The global learning solutions provider, Tata Interactive Systems (TIS), is working on a major, state-of-the-art learning portal development project with Thomson Learning, a global provider of information and integrated solutions, serving secondary, post-secondary and graduate level students, teachers, librarians and learning institutions in both traditional and distance-learning environments.

According to TIS’s Anil Sonkar, the project - named Thomson Learning Lot – involves TIS in developing systems for content creation workflow, publishing, archiving of learning objects and then rendering this learning material on the portal.

"The project involves combining such technologies as LAMS, DSpace, Fedora, Zoomla, uPortal and so on," said Sonkar. "This is another example of the Web 2.0 software as a service (SaaS) approach where various open source softwares are used.

"SaaS is generally associated with business software and is typically thought of as a low-cost way for businesses to obtain the same benefits of commercially licenced, internally operated software without the associated complexity and high initial cost," explained Alan Samuel, head of TIS’s UK operations. "The distinction between SaaS and earlier applications delivered over the Internet is that SaaS solutions are developed specifically to use web technologies such as the browser, thereby making them web-native – and, unlike the application service provider (ASP) model, they can be updated on a daily basis.

"The focus in SaaS is more on what the customer wants rather than what the vendor could give, as was the case in an ASP."

Thomson Learning’s products are sold throughout the world, both directly and via distributors. The organisation has offices in 42 countries, employs over 12,000 people and generates annual revenue in excess of US $2bn.

In addition to the education sector, Thomson Learning’s products are available to the professional and corporate training marketplaces.

It offers adult education and certification materials for corporations, training centres and individuals. In the library, academic and corporate marketplaces it offers a range of reference material in print, online and microform format.

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Notes for editors

About Tata Interactive Systems (TIS)

Tata Interactive Systems (TIS), a global leader in e-learning, is a part of the $22bn Tata Group. Truly international, TIS has a presence across the US, Canada, UK, Australia, New Zealand, the Middle East, Japan, India, and mainland Europe. TIS offers corporations, universities, schools, publishers, and government institutions a diversified and innovative bouquet of learning and training solutions including Simulation-based Learning Objects (SimBLs™), Story-based Learning Objects (StoBLs™), courseware and curriculum design, special-needs education, assessments, electronic performance support systems (EPSS), mobile learning, along with other corporate training and consultancy services. Our multi-disciplinary expertise and 16 years’ experience across domains helps us design e-learning programmes that are unique to clients’ requirements and specifically crafted to boost knowledge retention and application.

Apart from holding ISO 9001 certification, TIS is the only e-learning organisation in the world to be assessed at Level 5 in both the SEI-CMM and P-CMM frameworks. TIS’s quest for excellence is reflected in numerous prestigious industry awards, including a Silver Brandon Hall Excellence in Learning Award 2005 and 2004, APEX Award of Excellence in 2005 and 2006, BETT Awards in 2004 and 2006, and two Business World–NID Design Excellence awards.

For more information log on to www.tatainteractive.com

Further information from:
Alan Samuel, Tata Interactive Systems, 020 7905 0156, www.tatainteractive.com
Bob Little, Bob Little Press & PR, 01727 860405, www.boblittlepr.com