In this blog, we compare Moodle and Procademy. We realize it's hard to remain completely objective as a provider, but we'll give it a shot anyway! Also because we are very different. Procademy focuses specifically on organizations with a social purpose in the Netherlands, such as institutions in education and healthcare. While Moodle is used worldwide and for many different applications.
Moodle: versatile, international and complex
Moodle is the most widely used learning platform worldwide. It is used by universities, companies and trainers in all kinds of sectors. This broad applicability is directly the strength and challenge of Moodle. You get access to a huge amount of functionality and customization options. But that versatility also makes the system complex: users regularly lose track of the many options and settings. It takes time and technical knowledge to set up and maintain Moodle properly. You are often dependent on external agencies or resellers who are primarily Moodle experts, but have less knowledge of your sector (1,3,5).
Procademy: for organizations with a social purpose in the Netherlands
Procademy deliberately chooses a different route. We focus on Dutch organizations with a social purpose, especially in healthcare and education. This means that we have fully tailored the platform to the wishes and requirements of these sectors. Think of extra security (such as NEN-7510 certification), simple accreditation links (PE-Online) but we know the guidelines of, for example, the SKJ in youth care and KCKZ in birth care. We also focus on a user-friendly interface, no complicated screens to get lost in.
Personal support
We work closely with our customers and know the challenges in healthcare and education like no other. During our community days, we bring together organizations from the same sector so that we can quickly pick up and develop wishes. So you are not alone: we are your guide and sparring partner, from setting up a training policy to developing training courses and setting up your academy.
Security: Open Source Moodle versus Closed Platform Procademy
An important consideration when choosing a learning platform is information security. Moodle is an open source learning environment, which means that the full source code is publicly available. While this offers advantages for transparency and customization, it also carries security risks. Because the source code is public, malicious parties can analyze it for vulnerabilities. And given Moodle's global use (millions of users), the platform is an attractive target for hackers. Indeed, successful abuse of a vulnerability can have a major impact.
In addition, the security of an open source platform is highly dependent on how it is hosted, configured and maintained locally. Regular updates and technical expertise are essential to plug known security holes, something that does not always happen consistently in practice.
Procademy , on the other hand, is a closed platform, where the source code is not publicly available. This significantly reduces the attack surface. Moreover, the platform is centrally managed by our development team, which is constantly working on security measures, monitoring and updates. Thus, the responsibility for security does not lie with the customer, but with Procademy itself. As a result, organizations can rely on a constant, professional approach to cybersecurity, including protection against known and unknown threats.
The choice between Moodle and Procademy depends heavily on your organization's needs, capabilities and security policies.
Do you need extensive functionality and are willing to invest in customization and technical management? Then Moodle offers a comprehensive foundation. You can customize the platform, expand it with many plugins and have your own design developed to improve the user experience. Keep in mind that this requires time, technical expertise and structural investments. Think of hosting, updates, extra security measures and the development of a user-friendly design, things you have to organize yourself or through external partners.
Procademy is designed specifically for organizations that want to get started without technical concerns and rely on a solution that fits the practice of social sectors such as healthcare and education. You benefit from an intuitive learning environment, personalized support and continued development based on input from the sector. Issues such as security, updates and platform management are fully taken care of. Data security is centrally managed according to current standards, so you can focus on the content and impact of your learning programs.
Both platforms have their own strengths. The key question is: what does your organization need?
Would you like to know more about the experiences of other civil society organizations that have already made this choice? Or are you curious how Procademy works in practice? Feel free to contact us or try out the platform without any obligation. This way you can discover for yourself what suits your situation best. For example, take a look at the customer story of Bartiméus.
