Federated Moodle Infrastructure for Ireland’s FET Sector
Overview
SOLAS, Ireland’s Further Education and Training Authority, plans, funds, and coordinates FET across the country. Its mandate includes supporting jobseekers, school leavers, upskilling workers, and fostering inclusion. As part of the 2020–2024 FET Strategy, SOLAS is leading a digital transformation to enable accessible, high-quality learning experiences at scale.A cornerstone of this strategy is a federated Moodle infrastructure, hosted in AWS, designed to support classroom, blended, and online learning across ETBs and national initiatives like eCollege.
Scaling a National Learning Ecosystem
As part of Ireland’s national commitment to accessible, lifelong learning, SOLAS leads the development of a unified, digital-first infrastructure for the Further Education and Training (FET) sector. With 16 Education and Training Boards (ETBs) and diverse learner needs across the country, SOLAS required a trusted partner to manage, enhance, and future-proof its federated Moodle ecosystem.
Following a successful tender award, Enovation now supports over 80 Moodle instances under the SOLAS umbrella, enabling scalable, integrated, and secure virtual learning environments for learners and educators nationwide.
Solas
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Complex multi-tenant environment -
Lack of integration with strategic systems
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Need for flexible and responsive service delivery
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Federation-wide value additions were required
Problems
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Expert technical oversight and streamlined maintenance processes -
Seamless interaction with the Programme Learner Support System (PLSS) — which houses learner data, course calendars, and certification records
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Delivery partner with the capacity to manage day-to-day operations, deliver major upgrades, support local ETB enhancements, and respond to ad hoc innovation needs
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Strong focus on enabling accessible, standards-based learning and innovation — including accessibility tools, mobile learning, and teaching certifications
Solutions
Enovation has played a central role in the evolution of our digital learning infrastructure. Their expertise, flexibility, and long-standing commitment to the FET sector have been instrumental in helping us scale a secure, integrated Moodle federation that now supports learners and educators nationwide. Their strategic insight and responsive support make them a valuable partner in delivering on our digital transformation goals.
Solas Ciara Ni Fhloinn | Flexible Learning Manager, Enterprise, Employees and Skills - SOLAS
Solutions Implemented
Enovation was appointed to manage the federated Moodle infrastructure for up to 4-years beginning in 2025. Core services include:
- Infrastructure Management
Full oversight of the Moodle infrastructure hosted in a SOLAS-owned AWS tenancy, with a focus on performance, security, and cost-efficiency. - Moodle Integration & Customisation
Maintenance of existing integrations and delivery of new ones, including full support for PLSS web services, eLearning content providers, and ETB-specific systems. - Reporting & Analytics Dashboards
Custom reports, dashboards, and analytics to support operational efficiency and evidence-based decision-making. - Moodle Add-ons & Tools
Deployment and support for value-adding tools, including:- Moodle Workplace modules
- Brickfield Accessibility Toolkit
- Branded Moodle App for mobile learning
- Moodle Educator Certification for upskilling instructors
- Training & Knowledge Transfer
Periodic training delivered to administrators and teaching staff, with a focus on empowering ETBs to manage their local learning environments. - Strategic Guidance
Acting as a strategic advisor to SOLAS, Enovation advises on the long-term roadmap of the Moodle federation, aligned with national education policy.
Results
Transformative step in SOLAS’s digital learning evolution.
Enovation’s relationship with SOLAS is built on a foundation of proven delivery and mutual trust, spanning multiple years. As the original implementer of the current federated Moodle infrastructure, Enovation led the successful migration of more than 80 Moodle sites from on premises into a modern, secure AWS environment — a transformative step in SOLAS’s digital learning evolution. Today, the federation is central to Further Education and Training across Ireland. Enovation continues to deliver value, stability, and innovation through: > Stable, Scalable Infrastructure: Designed and deployed by Enovation, the AWS-based Moodle environment supports high availability, performance, and future scalability. > Nationally Unified LMS Federation: The federated model supports consistent governance while empowering ETBs with local flexibility — enabling blended, online, and in-classroom learning delivery. > Robust Security and Compliance: Hosting and infrastructure management are underpinned by Enovation’s ISO 27001-certified ISMS, ensuring adherence to best-practice information security standards and continuous risk management. > Operational Excellence: Proactive monitoring, performance optimisation, and timely updates keep over 80 live Moodle environments running smoothly. > Platform Innovation: Enovation delivers ongoing enhancements — including accessibility tools, educator certification programmes, and branded mobile learning apps. > Strategic Collaboration: With a long-standing relationship and deep domain expertise, Enovation continues to advise and support SOLAS as a key digital transformation partner within the national FET landscape. > Enhancement of eCollege Platform: Enovation has significantly contributed to the evolution of eCollege, SOLAS's national online learning service. This includes the development of a new Drupal-based portal frontend, improving user experience and accessibility for learners across Ireland.
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