JISC

Overview

The University of Kent publishes course information in printed and web formats, both of which are collated and prepared manually. These formats are ideally suited to providing information to those who know what they are looking for. However there is no simple way for users to search for courses which may suit their qualifications, interests, financial situation, or availability for study.

The XCRI mini-project provides a great opportunity to allow the University of Kent to provide searchable course information on its own web pages, while providing the same information to other institutions through the XCRI standard. The University of Kent is partnered with the University of Greenwich, Canterbury Christ Church University, and Mid-Kent College on a shared campus known as Universities at Medway, so this project could also provide a way for these institutions to work together even more closely.

Aims and Objectives

Aim

Currently, course information is produced in PDF and MS Word files which are a result of the Academic and Partnership Division’s collection of course information from Faculties. The main aim of the XCRI mini-project is to provide a single management point for all externally facing course-related information.

Objectives:

• to build a course data management system;
• to provide an XCRI-CAP catalogue made available to an aggregator;
• to build a course search system. This will include a web interface and a RESTful webservice API.

Project methodology

Methology

The project will use a PHP/MySQL framework (probably Symfony) to provide a frontend application with three views (web interface for course searching, webservice APIs, XCRI-CAP feed) and a backend administration application.

Interoperability

Note that services will use a RESTful architecture to allow an easy-to-adopt API for internal and external users. The service approach will allow users to carry out specific requests for data, with output in XCRI-CAP format.

Anticipated outputs and outcomes

Project Outputs

• XCRI-CAP v1.1-compliant catalogue of course programmes, made available to an aggregator.
• database of course data
• web-based course finder application
• web-based administration application
• web services API
• final reports: XCRI evaluation, technical issues, organizational issues, suggestions for improvement. Recommendations of any required further development.

Project Outcomes

• XCRI-CAP formatted data to be provided to authorised aggregators.
• streamlined process for producing web-based course information. HTML content currently has to be manually built from MSWord documents.
• improved course searching for users of the University of Kent web pages. It is anticipated that this will help visitors to the website find courses appropriate to their interests and situation. This contrasts with the existing facilities which tend to rely on users’ preconceived notions of what might be available or appropriate, and then determining whether the course fits their budget, qualifications, timescale, etc.

Technology / Standards used

• WAI guidelines
• W3C XHTML standards

Lead institution

• University of Kent