Royal Academy of Dance expands online services

Educational organisation modernises web presence with online payments provision

The Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) has installed web access software to allow its global teaching and membership network to conduct more administrative tasks online.

The organisation has spent £100,000 on software from the Computer Software Group to develop online examination and membership-related services.

Richard Thom, RAD finance and administration director, says the new module will add to existing IT investment and introduce less manually intensive tasks to administer areas like member subscriptions and exam results.

‘Our role is primarily an examination and educational body,’ he said. ‘As an examining board we have to interact with regional centres, teachers and candidates.

‘For ease of administration and accuracy, the web access module will mean we are not duplicating effort. We will also be able to offer transactional services to our members.’

Authorised visitors will also be able to update contact and registration details, and make subscription payments online. And the web access module will also enable teachers to access RAD’s central databases.

The project to install the module is split into three phases, where the updated membership areas of the site, as well as transactional services are due to be complete in September of this year, followed in early 2007 by the examination services.

Thom says there are plans to introduce document image capture software once the main self-service areas of the site are well established.

‘Ultimately, in terms of exam results, we’d like to use the site for people to access their exam results and will look at adding data imaging technology later,’ he said.