Sponsorship Information and Application

1. Why become a MAJ Sponsor?

Empowering educators to improve our world

Supporting the Moodle Community in Japan

The purpose of the Moodle Association of Japan is to promote the research, education, and development of the open source learning management system called ‘Moodle’ and its related systems. The Association provides a community for Moodle users in Japan to learn and teach about using Moodle in their institution. The association is a not-for-profit voluntary association (任意団体 nin’i dantai), financially transparent in nature, and is very similar to a formal Not-for-Profit Organization (NPO) although not officially.

The Moodle Learning Management System is an open-source software project supporting online learning that has grown since 2002 under the direction of Moodle Pty Ltd and is used in hundreds of thousands of institutions and workplaces worldwide by over 100 million users.

The Association functions as an organizational member of the world Moodle Users Association, Incorporated in Western Australia. In the conduct of its activities, the Association supports the international headquarters of Moodle Pty Ltd with fundraising and a portion of its membership dues to further the development of core Moodle software code.

So, why sponsor MAJ?

Sponsoring the Moodle Association of Japan contributes back to the Moodle community in several important ways. First, MAJ contributes back to Moodle HQ through its Gold Membership and support of the Moodle Users Association. However, MAJ's support of Moodle is not purely financial. Every year, MAJ submits proposals to the MUA for inclusion into Moodle core. Our 10,000 votes as a Gold Member also see that MAJ members' voices are well represented in the Global Moodle community.

MAJ also promotes the adoption, use, and development of the Moodle LMS throughout Japan. In addition to holding the annual Moodlemoot Japan, MAJ offers grants for R&D projects, encouraging Moodlers in Japan to improve and take an active role in the development and shaping of the LMS.

MAJ members are well aware that Sponsors play an essential part in making these efforts possible. MAJ sponsorship is not simply a financial transaction, it is how all Moodlers in Japan, the students, teachers, developers, researchers and companies work together to create the educational landscape of the future and in doing so live up to the Moodle motto: Empowering educators to improve our world.

2. Sponsorship details

There are three tiers of sponsorship possible for the Moodle Association of Japan: Platinum, Gold, and Silver. Sponsors enjoy increased access and visibility to the MAJ membership and event participants through the MAJ website and local/national events. The prominence of the sponsors' presence depends on the tier of sponsorship.

Platinum Tier: ¥400,000

This is the highest sponsorship tier available. Platinum sponsors are featured the most prominently on the MAJ website and have the largest presence at our events (for example a massive sponsor booth to showcase commercial offerings).

Gold Tier: ¥200,000

The Gold Tier is our mid-range sponsorship level. On the MAJ website and at events, the sponsor is well publicized, though with less prominence compared with the Platinum Tier.

Silver Tier: ¥100,000

The Silver Tier is our entry-level sponsorship tier. This is great for smaller businesses or companies just entering the e-learning market. On the MAJ website there is a link to your corporate website and a place is available at live events for you to engage with event participants.

Changes coming in 2022

As the Moodle Association of Japan grows and evolves, so must its relationship with sponsors. Until recently, the primary annual event of MAJ has been the MoodleMoot in February. Sponsorship has primarily been focused on this single event. However, MAJ also annually has the Hokkaido Moodle Summer Workshops and in the future, more smaller but more regularly occurring events are planned. In order to facilitate Sponsor participation in these events, from FY2022 we will be sending out invoices to sponsors in April so that the entire year can be filled with events where sponsors can engage with MAJ members.

Regarding COVID19

MAJ also needs to be able to adapt to the rapidly changing situation regarding COVID19. As such, MAJ cannot guarantee that sponsors will have, for example, an "exhibition booth" at the MoodleMoot because there is a real possibility that physical events like the MoodleMoot may become impossible to hold. This was most apparent at the 2020 MoodleMoot which was switched to online mode, just 4 days before it started. We were and continue to be incredibly grateful for the patience, understanding, and the unwavering support our sponsors provided at that time. In that same year, we held an additional event called MoodleWeek and invited sponsors of the 2020 MoodleMoot to participate in this additional opportunity to interact with the Moodle community in Japan.

In short, we cannot predict the future. Sponsorship fees are not paid to purchase a product, but to support the Moodle Association of Japan. Where we cannot guarantee sponsor benefits like a physical presence at a physical MoodleMoot, we can promise to do our best to support our sponsors who also support us. We are eternally grateful for all support we receive. Thank you.

2.1. MAJ website and events

Promote your business to MAJ members online and at MAJ events.

Throughout the year there are numerous events held by MAJ including the Hokkaido Moodle Summer Workshops and the Moodlemoot. Information for these events and all associated conference planning (and in the case of online events, the events themselves) are managed through the MAJ Website. Sponsor's business names and/or logos are prominently displayed in several locations throughout the site.

Below is an example of how sponsor information is displayed on our site:

Display period

Sponsor links and logos are displayed on the Moodl Association of Japan website until the end of August in the following fiscal year (Apr-Mar). For example, sponsors for FY2023 (2023年度) will have their company names and logos displayed until August 31st, 2024.

2.2. MoodleMoot Participation

Moot Tickets

Get tickets for your staff as well as guest tickets to invite prospective clients to the Moodlemoot.

Commercial Presentations

Sponsors are permitted to give presentations at MAJ events, including the moodlemoot, promoting their products and services. The precise number and style of presentation slot varies depending on the event and sponsorship tier.

Registration Desk

Have flyers for your company? Distribute them at the registration desk.

Moodle Help Desk & Sponsor Booths

Sponsors are invited to be active in providing assistance to Moot participants at the Moodle Help Desk (nearby the sponsor booths). Have a physical presence at the Moodlemoot where you can meet your future clients. Where commercial content should not be discussed at the help desk, sponsors can take this opportunity to invite participants to visit sponsor booths.

3. Apply to become a sponsor

Please login to start the application process. If you do not have an account on the MAJ site, please feel free to create one.