A modern student portal was delivered for Canterbury Christ Church University (CCCU) by Transparity, replacing a static, fragmented site with “StudentNET” — a unified, customisable hub that aggregates timetables, modules, exams, payments and messaging, with real-time updates and self-service features.
The solution, engineered with Microsoft .NET and modern web technologies, provided drag-and-drop apps, personalisation and integrations across university systems. The project showcases our expertise in App Innovation and complements capabilities in Modern Workplace, enhancing access to information and streamlining day-to-day student tasks.
In 2009, with such a large number of students enrolling each academic year, CCCU recognised it needed a more effective way to reach students and automate real-time communication with them. The existing student portal was largely a static site that lacked any dynamic features or an effective way to personalise communication with individual students.
Students needed a central place to find consistent information about the University, such as courses and items of personal interest. Their course timetables, modules, exams, fee payments and other important information were all held in different University computer systems and all this information needed to be made available quickly and efficiently.
The University specified the need for an attractive and intuitive portal that would be easy to use and which allowed for automated information updates to meet the majority of student needs. It also needed to enable students to interact with multiple faculties and departments, and for their students to be able to undertake basic administrative tasks online, such as change of address and study fee payment.
CCCU commissioned Transparity to develop the new “StudentNET” portal, based on our reputation as a Microsoft .NET development specialist with in-depth knowledge and vast experience in the creation of enterprise-scale cloud applications.
The design utilised the latest in technology and graphical presentation to ensure acceptance by students, with a fully customisable homepage and drag and drop apps. With slick graphic design and presentation, it included a range of apps to match each student’s individual needs and preferences, together with a theme and colour selection and the type of features that students were used to in their online social life.
The portal provided a central location for students to manage all of their day-to-day financial and course needs including:
And the ability to:
The functionality was created using ASP.NET 3.5, AJAX.NET, LINQ to Entity, LDAP, Active Directory, Web Services and WCF:
StudentNET was rolled out in the summer of 2009 and launched to all students in the 2009/10 academic year.
Elaine Hopkins the Information Systems Development Manager at CCCU said, “Transparity consultancy and Microsoft .NET development expertise have been instrumental in the redevelopment of the Canterbury Student .NET portal. We look forward to working in partnership with them as we continue to enhance and develop our portal.”
Founded in 1962, Canterbury Christ Church University (CCCU) now has nearly 20,000 students based at campuses across Kent. It is the largest centre of higher education in Kent for public services, notably teacher training, health and social care and the emergency services.
It also provides academic and professional programmes, including credit-bearing higher education entry certificates, doctorates and research degrees. Policing and law courses have also been delivered both for the UK and overseas law enforcement agencies.
