Find out how we are introducing a new timetabling system, processes and policies to boost staff and student experience.
Overview
What it is: The timetabling project will move the University from our existing teaching and exam timetabling systems and processes, which are not meeting our needs, to a modern system and updated approach. It will also provide a new way to book general teaching space.
Why it’s better for you: The new system will reduce process complexity as well as being more reliable, stable and efficient, making working with it easier. It will also improve staff and student experience.
Why it’s better for the University: The system will lay the foundations for an improved timetabling service as well as presenting the timetable in a more modern, user-friendly and accessible format.
When it’s happening: The project started in 2023 and is expected to take four years to deliver.
How will it launch: As the project will be delivering multiple different functionalities and has several dependencies on other projects, it will be delivered in phases to best support the change for staff and students.
About the timetabling project
The University has recognised that our current timetabling service does not deliver a suitable or satisfactory experience for staff or students.
After an external review of the service in 2022 delivered recommendations, the University Education Committee (UEC) endorsed these findings, and the project gained buy-in from key stakeholders. As a result, we are now committed to delivering a wide-ranging set of improvements to current timetabling processes and systems.
The work of the project will touch on almost all aspects of student and staff experience and is bound up with the future market position and operational effectiveness of the University. Alongside a number of other capital projects (Curriculum Reimagined, Student Information System), and internal process improvements (student number forecasting, quality checks on key data sets), as well as better collaborative working on business-as-usual issues, the new system will ensure the timetabling service is fully equipped to support current and future strategic objectives.
Benefits
The timetabling project will introduce a number of benefits:
- Continuation of business: a modern timetabling system will replace our existing system ensuring the University can continue to run effectively.
- Staff capacity savings (revenue): the new system will ensure timetabling activity can continue without the need for a return to more manual processes, which would require significant numbers of additional staff to support key timetabling tasks.
- Staff capacity savings (time): timetabling colleagues will be freed up from duplication of work and the intensive work required to manage legacy systems.
- Quality: the project will improve understanding of the timetabling process and the perception of the process across the University.
Timeline
The project will be delivered over several years and in a number of phases.
A ‘to be’ process data gathering exercise is already complete and other work is also underway.
As delivery on the Timetabling and Student Information System (SIS) Projects (where a replanning exercise is underway) are interlinked, the project team are currently working to clarify timings for the next phases of the project.
An updated timeline for the project will be published as soon as this information becomes available.