Report for September 2018

Report Date

September 2018

Achievements this period

Technical issues with Funnelback search engine have not been overcome and the use of Funnelback has been reviewed and removed from the solution.

Whilst this is a significant change to the overall technical solution, alternative products are under consideration to achieve the desired search functionality.

A revised design and proof of concept using the alternative products will be built and available for mid-October. 

Development Services resource have confirmed that in the event that changes are required to the search widget, these could be accommodated during November.

With the data challanges with Pure profiles and the inconsistencies across Schools EdWeb profiles,  the search results currently returned are profiles showing academic areas of expertise rather than Pd.D specifics.  Until data quality and API capability are proven search results are an overestimated guess of academics that may or may not be willing to supervise. These results are not be suitable for a prospective student journey. Until there is a fit for purpose staff database there would be not appetite to deploy the search tool at this time.

Student Recruitment  are not in a position to drive data and standards development across the schools and are very much on the periphery of being able to influence change in this area.  Profile guidance is owned by the schools and this differs widely across the schools.  This coupled with the fact that different process for dealing with Ph.D enquiries makes it difficult to agree, across the university any consistent process or guidance at this time. 

To keep the momentum going the project would like to understand what developments have taken place in this space within Service Excellence Programme.  

This project also has synergies  with emerging developments in EDWeb and its wider adoption and a view of that roadmap needs to be factored into the development of this service. 

Issues

• None

Next steps

• Design and build proof of concept with alternative search products
• Engage with Service Excellence to understand developments in this space
• Understand any specific guidelines for Pure in the University
• Understand the roadmap for EdWeb

Milestones

Target Date	Previous Date	Title	Stage	Complete
31-Aug-2017	30-Jun-2017	End of Planning	Plan	Yes
05-Feb-2018	No date available	Unsuspend project and Kick off the development work	Execute	No
11-May-2018	23-Mar-2018	End of Planning (re-plan following suspension)	Plan	Yes
25-May-2018	No date available	System Design - Research PURE API	Design	Yes
19-Jun-2018	No date available	Build Complete	Build	Yes
31-Oct-2018	No date available	Deployment	Deliver	No
16-Nov-2018	No date available	Project Closure	Close	No
External Milestones
21-Dec-2018	21-Dec-2017	Guidance policy for use of "Willingness to take Ph.D. students" and "Ph.D. research projects available"
21-Dec-2018	11-May-2017	Guidance policy for use and tagging of keywords to support PGR search