About Astrakan Strategic Education
Astrakan Strategic Education is a Swedish company specializing in facilitating change processes and business development for both organizations and individuals. Since 1996, they have offered training programs in leadership, change management, business development, project management, AI, and agile methodologies.
Their mission is to make organizational change easier by providing practical tools and research-based methods. In addition to training programs, Astrakan offers customized corporate training, lectures, and workshops tailored to client needs.
We spoke to Aaron Haglund, Leadership Training & Business Development of Astrakan Strategic Education, about how TalentLMS helped make their training more effective, scalable and profitable.
From confusion to clarity: Standardized training for better workshops
Astrakan’s workshops brought together professionals from different backgrounds, each using different terminology. This inconsistency meant that valuable workshop time was spent clarifying definitions rather than focusing on high-value discussions and exercises. Some participants struggled to keep up, while others found the sessions repetitive.
By shifting foundational learning online, TalentLMS helped Astrakan ensure that every participant arrived at workshops with a shared understanding of key concepts. Pre-learning modules and terminology quizzes standardized knowledge before the live sessions, leading to more effective training.
“It’s a great equalizer—some people race through eLearning, while others need more time. TalentLMS allows everyone to arrive at the workshop with a common language, saving us time and ensuring better discussions.”
Cutting costs without compromising quality
Astrakan needed a way to scale their training while maintaining high-quality learning experiences. Relying on in-person workshops and mailed materials was costly and inefficient, especially with no way to track learner progress before sessions.
By moving pre-learning online and automating assessments, Astrakan significantly reduced training costs while improving learner preparedness. Facilitators now spend less time lecturing and more time engaging participants, maximizing the value of every session.
“We can provide our services in a more cost-efficient way with greater flexibility to customers.”
Up to 88% more time for hands-on learning
Before TalentLMS, facilitators spent a significant portion of live training sessions explaining theoretical concepts. This left less time for interactive discussions, problem-solving exercises, and hands-on learning.
With pre-learning in place, Astrakan was able to cut down lecture time significantly, reallocating 50-90% of workshop time to exercises and discussions. This made training more engaging and impactful.
“We’ve gone from spending workshop time explaining terminology to using that time for meaningful discussions and exercises. That shift alone has been a game-changer.”
Near 100% course completion with TalentLMS
Astrakan struggled to ensure that learners completed pre-work before attending workshops. Without an effective system to track preparation, facilitators often had to deal with learners who were unprepared, making workshops inefficient.
By integrating TalentLMS into their workflow, Astrakan introduced a clear policy: if you don’t complete the pre-learning, you don’t attend the live training. However, learners who finish their training can join the next available session, ensuring no one is left behind. This approach, combined with built-in tracking and automated reminders, has driven completion rates close to 100%.
“If you don’t complete the pre-learning, you don’t attend the live training. No exceptions. But you can join the next available session as long as you’ve completed the training. That’s why our completion rate is close to 100%.”
Training learners who stay engaged & keep coming back
Traditional training methods, like sending out books and whitepapers, made it difficult for learners to retain information. Many learners wanted access to materials even after training, but there was no structured way to offer that.
Astrakan’s learners now have structured access to modules on TalentLMS before, during, and after their training sessions. Many have even requested extended access to courses so they can revisit concepts and apply them in their work.
“People don’t just take the training and move on. They want to keep it, revisit it, and apply it in their work—proof that it’s delivering real value.”
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Smarter assessments that go beyond multiple choice
Astrakan previously relied on multiple-choice tests, which didn’t always capture true learner comprehension. Open-ended assessments were valuable but difficult to grade manually at scale.
With TalentLMS’s free-text question feature, Astrakan could create assessments that required deeper thinking, where learners had to articulate their reasoning in written form. By adding keyword-based responses, TalentLMS automatically evaluated answers, providing instant feedback while ensuring scalability. This allowed facilitators to track comprehension more effectively without the burden of manual grading.
In addition to written assessments, Astrakan also leveraged video-based responses for assignments, giving learners the option to record their answers instead of writing them. This was particularly valuable for those who struggled with written tests, helping to reduce anxiety and allowing them to express their understanding in a more natural way.
With these combined tools, facilitators could assess comprehension more effectively while keeping the grading process efficient.
“What I truly love about TalentLMS is the free-text option for test questions—it makes learners think and reason instead of just selecting an answer. And for those who struggle with written tests, the option to record their responses helps them feel more relaxed and confident.”
10+ years of reliable, scalable training with TalentLMS
Astrakan needed a training platform that could scale to thousands of learners across various organizations while remaining reliable and cost-effective.
With 10+ years of uninterrupted use, Astrakan has found TalentLMS to be a highly stable platform with minimal technical issues. They also benefit from fast customer support when needed.
“Support is fast, and we always get a response. We’ve only had two issues in a decade, which is nothing considering how many customers we serve.”
Looking ahead: Smarter, more effective learning with TalentLMS
Astrakan’s collaboration with TalentLMS has transformed the way they deliver training—ensuring learners arrive prepared, workshops are more interactive, and course completion rates remain high. By combining structured pre-learning with hands-on workshops, they’ve created a scalable, effective training model that meets the needs of diverse learners.
As they continue to evolve their approach, TalentLMS remains a key part of their strategy, helping them streamline processes, improve engagement, and deliver impactful learning experiences.
