At Catalyst IT Europe, we believe in the power of open source to transform education. Moodle, as the world’s leading open source learning platform, is a testament to what can be achieved when a community comes together to share ideas, expertise, and solutions.
This year at MoodleMoot Global 2024, we were proud to share the stage with our partner, University College London (UCL), to talk about the importance of contributing to open source. Together, we’ve not only solved critical challenges for UCL but also given back to the global Moodle community, proving that collaboration is the foundation of progress.
From Challenge to Collaboration
When UCL came to us in 2020, they had an urgent problem to solve. Their Moodle-based Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) was struggling to meet the demands of over 14,000 staff and 43,000 students from 150 countries. The system needed to scale rapidly six times its existing capacity within just 10 weeks before the start of a new academic year.
We got to work, partnering closely with UCL to migrate their Moodle to Amazon Web Services (AWS). The results were transformative:
- Scalability was no longer a worry. UCL’s Moodle could now handle over 10,000 transactions per minute during peak periods.
- Response times improved dramatically, dropping from 15 seconds to just 350 milliseconds.
- The team at UCL could refocus their efforts on innovation rather than firefighting infrastructure issues
For us, this project wasn’t just about solving an immediate need—it was about creating a foundation for growth and resilience, both for UCL and the Moodle community at large.
Giving Back to Moodle
Our commitment to open source runs deep. Every project we take on is an opportunity to not only meet our partners’ needs but also contribute to the wider Moodle ecosystem. Open source thrives on collaboration and shared responsibility, ensuring both innovation and security. For insights into how open-source software remains secure, check out this blog post. In partnership with UCL, we’ve:
Enhanced Performance
Tackled bottlenecks like quiz regrading and implemented pre-computed quiz attempts, ensuring Moodle performs flawlessly during high-demand scenarios like large-scale exams.
Improved Accessibility
Developed features like private Moodle groups, enabling sensitive student information to remain secure while fostering inclusivity.
Strengthened the Community
Together we have completed over 60 Moodle tracker items, fixing bugs and adding features that benefit institutions worldwide.
As our Managing Director, Joey Murison, said during our talk:
You’ve got all of these features for free – but they weren’t free, people had to do the work.
This is the heart of what we do at Catalyst. Every improvement we make is shared with the community because we know that open source thrives on collaboration and generosity.
Real-World Impact
For UCL, the benefits of this partnership have been transformative. By moving to the cloud and addressing long-standing challenges, their team can now focus on what really matters: delivering an exceptional learning experience.
“We’re no longer focusing on whether or not our system can scale; we’re back to focusing on what we do best: teaching, learning, and innovating on behalf of students.”
Dr. Fiona Strawbridge, Director of Digital Education at UCL
It’s a sentiment we’re proud to echo. When institutions are freed from technical constraints, they can unlock their full potential and that’s what we aim to achieve for every partner we work with.
A Call to Action for the Moodle Community
At MoodleMoot, we asked the community to imagine something simple but impactful:
“What if every Moodle partner fixed just one bug per release? The impact would be tremendous.”
This is the power of open source. It’s about every organisation, and every individual, doing their part to make Moodle better for everyone. Whether it’s fixing bugs, suggesting new ideas, or contributing code, there’s a place for all of us in this shared mission.
Ready to join in? Explore Moodle’s tracker system, or reach out to us to learn how you can start contributing today.
A Broader Vision for Open Source
Catalyst’s approach aligns with a global movement toward open source collaboration. As research from Harvard Business School highlights, organisations that invest in open source projects gain a competitive edge while building stronger, more sustainable communities.
Our partnership with UCL proves this point. By solving challenges together and contributing solutions back to Moodle, we’ve created value not just for UCL, but for the entire Moodle ecosystem.
At Catalyst IT Europe, we’re proud to stand at the forefront of Moodle innovation, empowering institutions like UCL to achieve their goals while giving back to the global community.
Open source is built on the belief that when we share our work, everyone benefits. It’s a belief we live by every day, and we invite you to join us. Together, we can continue to shape Moodle’s future and ensure it remains a powerful tool for education around the world.
So, let’s take the next step. Fix that bug. Share that idea. And together, let’s make a difference.
