uPortal Workshop The Deep 19 th November 2002
The University of Hull Portal and the Digital University Project Ian Dolphin Head of Interactive Media, Academic Services, The University of Hull November 2002 port.hull.ac.uk
Digital University Project Integration of key processes and technology –ICT should facilitate and extend: not dominate Key priorities –Coherence for end-user (institutional portal) Single sign-on and access to heterogeneous systems –Order from chaos (web content management) Embedding and distributing process of information management Accessibility and device independence –Perspective of external resource integration
Integration CIS/MIS Library Systems Staff Intranet Web-based Learning Environments Web Sites New Services Portal: Sign on once, access personalised resources Middleware / Service Layer: flexible and standards-based
Year 1 ( ) Project established Autumn 2001 Year 1 Major tasks –Source s/w, begin implementation of portal uPortal, standards compliant, open source –Develop web content management system Build and buy –Enable web access to key corporate databases Disintermediated access & information management
Development Targets Testing & Accessibility –Add further users start Semester 2 –Maintaining & developing web CMS Integration of key systems and port.hull –Library systems + Staff Intranet Registration processes –Working group of key stakeholders External Resources
Hull partnership with UKOLN –18 month project funded by JISC / 1 st Sept 02 Integration of QA external resources –Resource Discovery Network + others Beyond RSS –Granularity and context meaningful to user –Emerging Web Services standards & specs - WSRP Mixture of technical and user research PORTAL Presenting natiOnal Resources To Audiences Locally
Architecture & Infrastructure Slim and Smart Portal –Gateway: integrative, but not all encompassing Authorisation and person directory –Authorisation and user role –Standards EduPerson, Learner Information Packaging Aggregating web-enabled services –uPortal & Web Services specs and standards –The problem with VLEs …