HERO Higher Education and Research Opportunities Christopher Harris Executive Director HERO

Portal Definitions Portal definition; “ single point of useful,comprehensive, ubiquitous and integrated access.” Community portal definition; “ a portal catering to specific communities of interest by providing tailored content.”

The vision to be the primary Internet portal for higher education and academic research in the United Kingdom the natural entry point for enquiries about UK higher education for the widest possible range of customers

Hero’s stakeholders Organisations which will benefit from such a portal include: universities, colleges and their representative bodies Research Councils and charities key HE agencies (UCAS, CSU, etc) HE funding bodies

Origins a project for the millennium too many lights hidden under too many bushels

Project history (1) Scoping study conducted by SQW. Main conclusions: rationale is sound site will add value site will have support proposal is technically feasible

Project history (2) Development of a business plan (ArthurAndersen). main outcomes: business structure financial model marketing strategy draft ITT and contract with the operator

Project history (3) Development Consultants main outcomes: Procurement of operating company - Epic Setting up of limited company

Current Status Epic appointed as operator Executive Director appointed Hero Ltd being set up branding and naming exercise completed design phase has begun October 2000: Site launched

Hero’s shareholders CVCP UCAS SCOP HEFCE SHEFC NIHEC WFC CSU TTA AHRB NERC MRC BBSRC ESRC PPARC EPSRC

Aims and objectives showcase site with state-of-the-art design, search and navigation high quality content promoting UK higher education and research content model - zones of interest disability and multi-lingual access

Some target audiences prospective and current students teaching and research staff contacts in industry and commerce overseas users of all kinds those interested in life-long learning policy-makers, funders and managers the media and the public

Possible zones national/regional Studying - courses, learning and teaching, subjects, student interests Research Business - industry and knowledge transfer HE community - policy and funding Culture & Sport

Benefits to stakeholders higher levels of interested visitors showcase content promoted by leading-edge site design extended marketing opportunities intelligent feedback about Hero’s users

Benefit to users higher quality online experience better navigation and intelligent searching access to authoritative and quality-controlled information

Benefits to HE creation of a powerful marketing channel new platform for increased collaboration better understanding of customer needs and how to meet them

Funding and management pump-priming funds initially review in the second year company limited by guarantee being set up commercial activities would be carried out by a wholly-owned trading company.

General portal characteristics Site structure plus navigation and search capabilities showcase content (news and current achievements) structure database of pointers to participating sites majority of content held on institutions’ web- sites

Conclusions to be a success Hero must be based on collaboration and consensus aim not to compete with existing web-sites but to add value to them input from HE and the research community vital to the next stage