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About VSF - Iceland Project Management Association
The Project Management Association of Iceland is a non-profit organisation and part of the International Project Management Association (IPMA). Their mission is to empower professionals to achieve success in managing projects effectively.
A significant part of their efforts involves offering internationally recognised certifications in project management, which assess skills and experience at various levels, aligning with global standards. We spoke with Agnes, the Managing Director, who shared that their existing online exam software lacked the advanced features needed to effectively support these exams.
Overcoming limitations of an outdated platform
VSF IPMA encountered several issues with their previous online exam platform. These challenges increased the workload for administrators and also risked undermining the credibility and security of their certification process, which is critical for maintaining their reputation in the global project management community.
- Outdated features: The online exam platform lacked modern functionality, with a limited range of question types and response formats.
- Management difficulties: Managing question banks and analysing exam results was inefficient and time-consuming.
- Poor analytics: The online exam software offered limited insights into the quality of questions and exam performance. Agnes stated “The analytic part was not very smooth or lean. I started looking for something that would help us manage the question banks and exams easier, analyse results, and assess the quality of questions.”
- Security concerns: Ensuring a secure and reliable exam environment was paramount but inadequately supported.
These challenges prompted VSF IPMA to seek a new, robust, and user-friendly online exam solution.
A modern solution backed by exceptional reviews and service
Agnes began her search for a new online exam platform by researching various options and reviewing customer feedback. She needed a solution that offered modern features, robust security, and flexibility to enhance their certification process.
Synap stood out, not only for its high ratings and cost-effectiveness, but also for its extensive feature set, such as advanced question types and detailed analytics, which aligned perfectly with the organisation's specific needs.
"I did look at a few options, browsing through reviews online and looking at the features and costs. Synap scored very high.”
Agnes’ initial interactions with Synap's team reinforced her decision, as their quick, professional assistance and clear expertise left a lasting positive impression, confirming Synap as the best choice for their certification programme.
“As soon as I contacted them, I was impressed with the very good quality service and immediate assistance. It was an absolutely positive experience.”
Personalised support for a quick launch
VSF IPMA’s onboarding process with Synap was seamless, even under tight deadlines. The organisation transitioned to the platform just 4 days before a scheduled exam. Agnes mentioned “I was in a bit of a hurry—deciding to go with this new platform just a week before a test.”
Synap's team provided immediate support through direct contact with a customer success manager, who ensured the exam was efficiently set up before the launch day.
Key aspects of the onboarding experience included:
- Comprehensive help guides: Synap provided high-quality help guides containing clear, step-by-step instructions, which made it easy for the team to set up and manage their exams confidently. With help guides available throughout the Synap platform, this made assistance accessible in just one click so that even new users could quickly learn the system.
”You really have everything you need. It is very organised information, and you have a link straight to help material which is very high quality. It’s easy to find what you're looking for.”
- Proactive support: Synap’s customer success team conducted regular check-ins to address any concerns and ensure everything was on track for the exam day. Their hands-on, personalised approach, gave VSF IPMA confidence in the platform's reliability.
“I had direct contact with a customer success manager who was extremely helpful. They made sure everything was okay before the exam day."
Secure exams with data-driven insights
Synap successfully addressed VSF IPMAs challenges through its modern, flexible online exam platform, offering significant improvements in exam delivery and management. It ensured their exams remained competitive and relevant in the project management industry.
1. Enhanced question types
Synap provided a wide range of question formats, such as audio responses, rank order, and multiple-choice, allowing VSF IPMAs to create more dynamic and interactive exams. This flexibility was a major upgrade from their previous system, which offered only basic text and marking options. The variety of question types enhanced the exam experience, making it more engaging and comprehensive.
"I like all the different options for answering. Before, we had a very basic platform, but now our students can reply with audio. There’s much more flexibility, like rating answers instead of just open text or marking. It definitely helps us make the exams more modern.”
2. Advanced analytics
One of VSF IPMA's main requirements was improved data analysis, and Synap delivered detailed insights into both individual questions and overall exam performance. The ability to analyse which questions were most effective, identify trends, and measure candidate performance at a granular level, allowed them to continually refine their exams. This data-driven approach ensured that the exams remained relevant and high-quality, aligning with international standards.
”There's good, very good, analytics on the questions and the answers that will help you develop good exams.”
3. User-friendly interface Synap’s intuitive interface made managing exams easier for both administrators and instructors. Its clean, organised design simplified the process of creating exams, managing question banks, and viewing results. This efficiency saved time and reduced the learning curve for staff, allowing them to focus on improving the certification process rather than troubleshooting technical issues.
4. Robust security Security was a top priority for VSF IPMA, and the Synap online exam system provided a secure and reliable environment for delivering exams. With features such as secure logins, anti-cheating measures, and proctoring options, the platform ensured the integrity of the certification process.
Positive feedback across the board
The implementation of Synap brought tangible and transformative benefits to VSF IPMA, addressing their core challenges and elevating their certification programme with a swift four-day turnaround time for setup and launching their exams:
The platform’s intuitive design received praise from instructors. They noted how easy it was to navigate and use effectively, even during their first interactions. This ease of use eliminated barriers to adoption, ensuring smooth operations and building confidence in the new online assessment system.
"So far, I’ve only got good feedback. My instructors, the people evaluating, have said it’s simple to use, even for the first time, and very easy overall.”
With Synap, VSF IPMA is now delivering a superior certification experience that reinforces their commitment to professional excellence. This streamlined, secure, and modern online exam platform not only benefits them, but also enhances the credibility and value of their certifications for candidates and stakeholders alike.
Continuing to innovate and improve certification exams
VSF IPMA plans to continue exploring Synap’s capabilities to further enhance their certification exams. Future initiatives include experimenting with additional question types and leveraging proctoring features to maintain high standards of integrity.
Agnes sums up her experience:
"Synap has provided us with the tools to modernise and improve our exams, ensuring a seamless and high-quality experience for our students and evaluators alike. We look forward to continuing this partnership and exploring new ways to optimise our certification process."
With Synap, VSF IPMA is well-positioned to maintain its reputation as a leader in project management certification, both in Iceland and internationally.About VSF - Iceland Project Management Association
The Project Management Association of Iceland is a non-profit organisation and part of the International Project Management Association (IPMA). Their mission is to empower professionals to achieve success in managing projects effectively.
A significant part of their efforts involves offering internationally recognised certifications in project management, which assess skills and experience at various levels, aligning with global standards. We spoke with Agnes, the Managing Director, who shared that their existing online exam software lacked the advanced features needed to effectively support these exams.
