In August 2008 ICAS introduced a requirement that all their students should use an electronic log rather than a paper one. This company won the contract to deliver that log.
The achievement log that students complete whilst training with ICAS is a competency-based system. It complements exam training to ensure that students are getting the right type of work experience with their training firms which will enable them to qualify as chartered accountants once they have passed their exams and completed their training contract.
The challenge of the original project was to make sure the new electronic log reflected the interests of ICAS’s key stakeholders. Although there are core ICAS competencies, each major accountancy firm has competencies that are unique to them which however must only be accessible to trainee accountants from that firm. Managing this electronically using the NOW.net platform’s ability to control who is able to see and do what, according to the group they belong to and the role they have within that group, provided a more cost effective solution compared to printing different paper copy versions of the competencies.
Over time the functionality that was available to students and the reports that could be provided expotentially expanded to the point where it was decided in 2014 to redesign the site. The new version was launched and received a positive response. Critically to aid the transition both the old and new versions of the site were available to students and their reviewers for a period of time.
