Digital Communications team update – September 2024
Updates from the Digital Communications team at the University of St Andrews for September 2024.
Welcome back to our blog after what has been a particularly busy summer. Our team has been working on a number of new projects and launches. With new technology and processes thrown in, it’s been hectic. Let’s dive in…
Course proofing goes digital
One of the biggest projects has been to design and implement a new proofing process for 2025 entry course webpages.
Previously, course content was copied into Word files and then group-reviewed by Schools, Admissions, Curriculum and the Digital Communications team in a process that could take months.
Recent staff and course entry deadline changes meant that was no longer an option. We needed to find a more efficient and collaborative way to share, check, update and publish course pages.
To get away from the cumbersome Word file process, team leader Stephen Evans and developer Tommy Oldfield created a new system allowing Schools to view course listings as live webpages and submit requested changes directly from the page.
With more than 300 course pages, tracking progress was key to ensuring we’d meet our strict deadline. Digital Data Analyst and Content Editor Daniela De Leon used Microsoft automation tools to co-ordinate messaging to Schools and to record progress towards final submissions for each course.
We knew clear communications and being responsive to demands would be vital for such a complex project. Web Content Editor Lauren Sykes took on the task of liaising with Schools and handling queries and concerns.
Senior Web Content Editor Beth Andrews and the rest of the digital content team then reviewed and updated the pages based on the requested changes.
Course proofing in numbers
- 301 course webpages
- 212 proofing forms sent to Schools
- Over 600 emails regarding edits and queries
- 223 changelog entries
As with every new development, there were bumps along the way. However, we learned a lot and will work with Schools and colleagues across the University to improve the process for the next round of proofing.
We want to say a big “thank you” to everyone who has worked with us and gave feedback on this new process.
It has been a brilliant team effort across many Schools and units and we are very grateful to everyone who showed such patience and willingness to help.
New library website
The new website for the University library was launched on Thursday 5 September to make it quicker and easier for staff and students to find the information they need.
Key improvements include:
- a more prominent Library search
- navigation bar featuring links to spaces, information on using the Library, resources, support, University Collections, and accessibility
- quick access to top tasks from the Library homepage: library spaces, reading lists, referencing styles and subject guides
- dedicated page for each Library space with information on opening times, location and facilities
- links to physical access information, alternative study spaces, PC classrooms, University printers, and all Library spaces from a single page
- clearer separation of Library services and support options available from the homepage
- accessibility page with links to floor plans, the University map, alternative formats, and information for disabled students and distance and remote learners
With the first phase of work complete, we are now focused on the Museums and Collections content.
University of St Andrews Business School
Hot on the heels of the Library changes, our team switched focus to the new University of St Andrews Business School and a new website to reflect the merger of the School of Economics and Finance and the School of Management.
Web Designer Lewis Wake led our initial research and design phase and built the main structure of the site in partnership with the Business School team.
As we got closer to launch day – Tuesday 24 September – our content team led by Senior Web Content Editor Beth Andrews reviewed the site content for clarity and consistency and helped to build pages for the School’s new strategy for 2024 to 2029.
Web Developer Nick Mullen led on the technical side, making sure the new site linked up to data feeds to display events, news and staff information.
We had excellent support from the Business School team throughout this work and we were pleased to deliver the new site in time for the School’s official launch on Saturday 28 September.
Online Postgraduate Visiting Day
Our team was called in to help support an Online Postgraduate Visiting Day on Friday 27 September.
Around 30 live meetings using the ON24 platform were held by Schools and units over the course of the day, and our team helped to build the main landing page showing visitors what was on offer.
We also implemented a number of accessibility improvements designed to ensure the page was optimised for all visitors, prioritising fast load times and clear language for international visitors.
As always, the team would be grateful to hear your thoughts on any of the changes outlined here. Please get in touch at [email protected].
New from the blog
- The JavaScript build tools olympics – why Vite took home the gold – Web Developer Teo Udrea put five of the most popular JavaScript bundlers—Webpack, Rollup, Vite, esbuild, and Parcel – through their paces and found a clear winner.
- T4’s new and upcoming features – a T4 conference roundup – Web Developer Tommy Oldfield attended the Terminalfour User Group and Learning Conference and learned about new and upcoming features for T4.
- Design systems help reduce digital carbon emissions – Web Designer Lewis Wake explores the relationship between digital sustainability and design systems, highlighting how they can work together to reduce carbon emissions and create more efficient digital products.
Articles and resources
- The Plain English Club – A new and regularly updated collection of some of the best articles on how to write in a clear and accessible way for digital audiences.
- From the First Website Visit to Fresher’s Week: The Transformed Student Onboarding Process – FE News article on the opportunities and potential pitfalls as prospective students make ever-increasing use of digital channels to research and select courses.
- A decade of inclusivity: our top 5 accessibility insights for higher education – Terminalfour, the supplier of the University’s main web content management system, share learning from a decade of working with higher education customers.
- Reducing the carbon impact of University websites – our friends at the University of Dundee have been looking at the environmental impact of their website, and methods to reduce it.