The role of a university website in a socially connected world

Nick Salloway ׀ Head of Digital, Different LtdAlan Haining ׀ Digital Marketing Officer, Glasgow Caledonian University

T44U

A selection of Insights into the approach and rationale behind the recent redesign and development of the new Glasgow Caledonian University website.

Different Digital

• Part of Different Ltd, integrated marketing communications agency

• Specialists in digital marketing & web design/development

• T4 Partner

• Offices in Newcastle upon Tyne & London

• Clients include

• Universities: Glasgow Caledonian, Sunderland, Hertfordshire

• Public Sector: One North East, COI, NHS, BBC

• Private Sector: Sage, Barbour, Berghaus, P&G,

Glasgow Caledonian University

• Formed on 1st April, 1993 (Previously a Polytechnic)

• Has become one of the largest universities in Scotland

• Nearly 17, 000 students from the UK and abroad

• Modern, city-centre campus in Glasgow

• Over 4,000 mature students and the largest number of part-time students in

Scotland.

• 1000 students on campus in Oman – Caledonian College of Engineering

• “Best international student experience in the UK” **i-Graduate 2008

• 44th in the Guardian’s league table in 2008

gcal.ac.uk

Our Brief

• Design/build a new website which is driven by business needs

• Review of current user requirements

• Redesign of website, Information architecture & content

• User focused – with emphasis on student recruitment

• Independent of organisational structure

• Implemented on T4 Site Manager CMS

• Content management & governance policies

• WEB 2.0 should be integral

Why now?

• Online is now the 1st point of contact

• Comparisons / judgements now made online

• Quality of experience online has implications – first impressions do count

• All the ‘usual’ things matters – design, content, architecture, language

It needed doing!

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Content Management & Site Governance Policies

• Websites which lack effective governance structures:

• Lack a single point of responsibility

• Typically exhibit wide disparities in design

• Display a lack of focus in content

• Use 'bleeding-edge' technologies

• Good governance structures essential and provide mechanisms to:

• Maintain and further develop the website around a single cohesive vision

• Ensure good practices are maintained through standards

• Make decisions on when sites may not have to use the web standards

• Address resourcing issues in strategic areas

That brought us into 2009 ...

Why?

http://www.flickr.com/photos/14877062@N04/3004456345/

And then came the competition!

Why?

http://www.flickr.com/photos/14877062@N04/3004456345/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/amanky/174874326/

Web 1.0

Direct2Dell blog - people could start talking to Dell about experiences.

Instantly responding to fiascos (like the exploding laptop)

CES - blogger lounge with Michael Dell

Dell Idea Storm - Delivering on the ideas generated in the tool

University 2.0

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So let’s go back to the question

• What is the role of the university website in a socially connected world?

Nick Salloway ׀ Head of Digital, Different Ltddifferent-uk.com

0044 191 261 0111Facebook: Different-Digital

Linked In: http://uk.linkedin.com/in/nicksallowayTwitter: nicksalloway

Alan Haining ׀ Digital Marketing Officer, GCU0044 141 331 8603

Linked In: http://uk.linkedin.com/in/alanhaining

Thanks!