The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland (ICAS) Case Study
Redeveloping the Chartered Accountant Qualification as a Digital-First Programme
Project Summary
The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland (ICAS) partnered with Learning Design Solutions (LDS) to transform its Chartered Accountant (CA) qualification into a fully digital-first offering. Over more than two years, LDS provided a comprehensive range of services to redevelop this extensive qualification programme, consisting of 14 individual courses at undergraduate and master’s levels. This ambitious project included consultancy on digital course design, a pilot to validate the digital-first approach, and a full programme rollout designed to meet the high standards expected by ICAS.
The Challenge
ICAS sought to modernise its CA qualification by transitioning from traditional learning models to a digital-first approach, making the programme more accessible and engaging for students pursuing chartered accountancy. This transformation required not only the development of digital course content but also the creation of a cohesive and brand-aligned learning experience that would uphold ICAS’s high standards of quality and rigour. With 14 courses in total, each needed to be fully reimagined for the digital environment, requiring meticulous planning, coordination, and quality assurance.
LDS Solution
LDS embedded itself within ICAS’s project team, fostering a collaborative approach that drove the success of the project. Key contributions included:
Strategic Planning: LDS advised on the strategic aspects of online delivery for a digital-first programme, ensuring that ICAS could make a seamless transition to this new delivery model.
Pilot Course Design and Testing: LDS developed and launched a pilot course to test the digital-first delivery model, allowing ICAS to validate the approach and make necessary adjustments before rolling out the entire programme.
Full Programme Design and Development: LDS led the design of all 14 courses, providing comprehensive learning design, learning technology integration, graphic design, video production, copy editing, and project management. This involved close collaboration with ICAS’s subject matter experts to ensure content was accurate, engaging, and aligned with ICAS’s high standards.
Client Testimonial
Gail Boag, Executive Director at ICAS
“The Learning Design Solutions team have supported us by providing that expert resource and guidance from learning designers and learning technologists, through to Andrew’s overall guidance in making sure we have consistency as they develop the very engaging, high quality digital content for our new qualification.”
Chris Cunnane, Head of Syllabus at ICAS
“I would recommend Learning Design Solutions’ services to others because of the experience that they bring in this field, the agile nature of the relationship, how proactive it is and also the fact that you can have that beginning to end process.”
Success Highlights
The ICAS project exemplifies the power of a strong partnership and collaborative work ethic. LDS became an integral part of ICAS’s project team, working closely with ICAS subject matter experts and external contributors to deliver a programme that met ICAS’s high expectations for quality and student engagement.
Throughout the project, LDS introduced rigorous project management processes with regular quality checks and reviews to ensure consistency across courses. This approach maintained the expected quality standards across all elements, from interactive content to branding. LDS’s design and film production capabilities were instrumental in representing the ICAS brand effectively throughout the digital content, giving the programme a professional and cohesive look and feel.
LDS’s lead education consultant, Andrew Doig, said, “The ICAS project has been one of our most rewarding collaborations. By working closely with ICAS’s team, we were able to deliver a high-quality, fully digital CA programme that balances academic rigour with engaging, accessible content. ICAS’s commitment to excellence and their openness to collaborative problem-solving made this transformation not only possible but highly successful. It’s exciting to see how the digital-first approach will benefit their students and the future of chartered accountancy education.”
Work Streams and Deliverables
LDS’s contributions spanned numerous work streams to support ICAS’s goals:
Strategic Planning: Guidance on the implementation of a digital-first programme.
Collaborative Learner Experience Planning: Development of a learner experience that maximises engagement and effectiveness.
Pilot Development and Iteration: Design and launch of a pilot course, followed by iterative improvements to finalise the delivery model.
Project Planning and Quality Assurance: Establishment of timelines, quality assurance standards, and practices to support consistent delivery.
Learning Design and Subject Collaboration: Ongoing collaboration with ICAS subject matter experts to ensure content accuracy and relevance.
Graphic Design and Brand Integration: Custom graphic design to align with ICAS branding and elevate the visual appeal of course materials.
Film Production and Multimedia Creation: On-site recording, remote video production, and animation to enrich the learning experience.
Learning Technology Implementation: Development of interactive course elements using Rise and Storyline to support an engaging, dynamic learning environment.
Contact Us
Learn how Learning Design Solutions can support your organisation in creating a fully digital, interactive learning experience that aligns with your educational standards and enhances student engagement. Contact us on info@learningdesignsolutions.co.uk.