The online experience of University members is currently highly fragmented. The two most important fragments are the central-CMS driven areas of the University Website (UWS) and MyEd.
· The University Website (UWS)
o Unauthenticated end-users
o Hosts a large amount of support information for University services
· The University Portal (MyEd)
o Authenticated users – University members
o Access to online services, personalised information, and notifications
There is an opportunity to harmonise the UWS and MyEd user experiences, because:
· The University now has Global Experience Language (GEL) including
o Recommended approaches to a range of common UI patterns
o A reference implementation in Twitter Bootstrap
· The theme of the new UWS applies the GEL implementation of Bootstrap
· The latest version of uPortal, the platform MyEd is based-on, has a responsive theme based on Bootstrap
Grasping this opportunity would address the problem of the current mismatch between the user interfaces of the UWS and MyEd:
· By the end of 2015, the University Website (UWS) will:
o Be fully responsive
o Conform to the University GEL
· The University Portal (MyEd)
o Has a new mobile interface, but is not yet responsive
o Does not conform the University GEL
The project also seeks to better integrate MyEd and the UWS by:
· Designing and implementing a shared information architecture
· Showing key information in MyEd to authenticated users of the UWS
The ultimate aim of this proposal is to: understand where authenticated content integrated into the UWS brings greatest potential for staff efficiency and/or student experience enhancement, and to deliver the means in EdWeb to achieve this.
If the project did not take place, the University’s online experience would remain fundamentally fragmented
This is an inferior experience to that which most people are likely to get from their bank, utility provider, member organisation, local government etc.
Key dates:
July 2015 – end of current phase of funded development of the new Drupal-driven University CMS, Edweb (note that the University Website Programme has submitted a proposal to continue development into 2015-16)
Known risks, dependencies
Development required within MyEd (see complimentary proposal by Martin Morrey, Web, Graphics and InteractionProgramme.
Assumptions
EdWeb becomes the single corporate CMS, with the current Polopoly service being decommissioned from early 2016.
Delivering:
A means within EdWeb to deliver feeds from MyEd at appropriate points in the website structure.
· MyEd Users
o Receive a user experience more consistent with the University website
· University members (staff, students, applicants, alumni, visitors) using the UWS
o Easier access to MyEd functionality
o Richer, more personalised experience
Authenticated REST web services for exposing key MyEd feeds to the UWS
The intention of this proposal is to enable the University to deliver a personalised web presence that better meets priority target audiences’ expectations, closer to what they experience in other aspects of their lives (e.g.banking, utilities, local govt).
While the prioritisation of personalised features, and the means by which they are presented within the website information architecture and layout design, will be established with user research as part of this project, the overarching goal is to remove the end user distinction between the portal and the website. This will enable authenticated users to switch seamlessly between generic website tasks and tasks of an individual nature.
This could potentially include a basic switch between website and MyEd views within the same user interface (like when you log into a utilities or bank website), and/or the placement of personally relevant within specific websites (such as individual student views of library records within the Library website, alumni promotions and messaging within the Alumni website, or relevant training and events for staff within the IS Skills website).
Implementation of features that focus on high volume or high value tasks will improve efficiency for University staff, and enhance the online visitor experience (particularly the current student experience).
This project will set a framework for integration between MyEd and EdWeb; identifying priorities and setting out best practice for implementation. It will demonstrate the value of online service integration and harmonised user experience through initial implementation, and contribute to setting a vision for the integration of further services in subsequent years.
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Goals – Excellence in Education |
| From the University’s Strategic Plan (2012-2016): · Intrastructure Objectives- to meet our aim we will o Pursue consistency and continuity in quality and experience across all elements of our …. information technology infrastructures. o Achieve greater integration of information technology infrastructure … · Infrastructure Strategies – we will achieve our objectives by o Putting in place information and communications technology … to support individual and group study and working, both on-campus and mobile. · Outstanding Student Experience Objectives - to meet our aim we will o Combine our recognised teaching excellence with an outstanding student experience both on-campus and online. o Take a cohesive, inclusive and individualised approach to enhancing our student experience that encompasses all ... student services …
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Goals – Excellence in Research |
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Goals – Excellence in Innovation |
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Enablers - People |
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Enablers - Infrastructure | x | |
Enablers - Finance |
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Themes – Outstanding student experience | x | |
Themes – Global Impact |
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Themes – Lifelong community |
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Themes – Social responsibility |
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Themes – Partnerships |
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Themes – Equality & widening participation |
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1.Alignment with University Strategic Plan/Business Objectives | 6 |
2.Risk of not doing the project | 2 |
3.Benefits relative to cost | 6 |
4.Time to deliver tangible benefit | 2 |
TOTAL SCORE | 16 |