For a higher education institution, the implementation of a website and the selection of an appropriate CMS system are crucial, as the website acts not only as a business card for the university, but also as a functional tool for communication with different audiences, including students, applicants, staff and external partners. Here are the most important aspects to consider:
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User friendliness (UX and UI)
- Intuitive navigation: The website should be easy to use and menus clearly organised, taking into account the needs of different audiences (e.g. applicants, students, staff).
- Responsive: The website needs to work equally well on mobile devices as on desktop computers, as many users browse the university's website on smartphones.
- Aesthetic design: The look and feel of the site should be modern, consistent with the university's visual identity and build prestige. Elements such as the logo, university colours and typography must be used harmoniously.
- Ease of access: Content must be easily accessible, with key information (e.g. recruitment, timetable, news) clearly visible on the homepage.
An understandable welcome - University of Southampton homepage
Functionality of the CMS system
- Flexibility: The chosen CMS (e.g. ICEberg CMS 5) should allow for easy expansion of the site with new modules (e.g. faculty directory, researcher database).
- Intuitiveness for editors: The content management system should allow university staff to easily edit content without programming knowledge.
- Integration with other systems: It is important to be able to link the CMS to other university systems, such as recruitment systems, an online library, an e-learning platform (e.g. Moodle), or research project management systems.
- Multilingualism management: The website should be available in different languages to reach international students and partners.
Communication to students - University for the Creative Arts
Specific needs of universities
- User zones: Ability to create dedicated sections for students, staff or alumni, with the option to log in and access individual resources.
- Course and subject catalogue: A module that clearly presents the educational offer of the university, including study programmes, syllabuses or information about instructors.
- Online recruitment: The system should enable applicants to submit documents, track their application status and receive notifications. Although a mod can also be used for these purposes
- Events calendar: A section presenting events at the university (e.g. conferences, open days, sports competitions).
- Academic publications: Possibility to share research results, scientific papers and news from academic life.
Czytelne menu University of Essex w WCAG
SEO optimisation
- Content accessibility: The structure of the website should support search engine visibility so that it is easy to find information about the university, courses of study or events.
- Loading speed: The website should be optimised for loading time, which affects Google position and user experience.
- Quality content: It is crucial to provide attractive content for different target groups, such as university applicants or business partners.
Universities also compete in SEO: search results for the word informatics studia inżynierskie kraków
Compliance with regulations and standards
- Digital accessibility (WCAG 2.1): The website should be adapted to the needs of people with disabilities in accordance with legal requirements (e.g. use of ALT for images, appropriate colour contrast).
- Data security: The CMS must comply with data protection standards, especially in the context of candidate registration or student services.
Technical support and development
- Constant updating: The CMS should be updated regularly to maintain security and add new features.
- Technical support: It is crucial to have professional support to help operate and develop the site.
- Statistics analysis: The system should allow tracking of visitor statistics, popular content or user behaviour, which can help further optimisation.
The university's website should be more than just an information platform - it must act as a communication centre, a promotional tool and support for teaching and administrative processes.
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How does ICEberg CMS 5 meet the needs of universities and help them implement, maintain and develop modern university websites?
Higher education institutions have particular needs in relation to the functioning of their websites. Not only do they need to provide up-to-date information, but they also need to support a wide variety of functionalities, such as online recruitment, presentation of research results, communication with students and staff and adaptation to digital accessibility standards. ICEberg CMS 5 is a state-of-the-art tool that fits perfectly with these needs, offering flexibility, intuitiveness and advanced functionality. Below we outline how the system can meet the requirements of universities.
Intuitive navigation and modern design
ICEberg CMS 5 allows the creation of websites with a modern design, in line with the university's visual identity. The system enables:
- Create intuitive navigation: The menu structure can be adapted to different audiences (e.g. candidates, students, staff, alumni). The structure can be different (both the names of the elements, the structure tree, the number of levels and the form of presentation) in each of the websites that are part of the ecosystem of university websites. There may be a different structure for the faculty website, a different structure for the main university website and a different structure for the institute or student government, etc. Each site has independent content. What binds them together is the consistent layout and functional capabilities provided by the multisite CMS - ICEberg CMS 5.
- Responsiveness: Websites created in ICEberg CMS 5 work well on mobile devices, which is crucial for students who mainly use smartphones when searching for organisational information related to class schedules, credits, fees or rector's hours.
- Aesthetically pleasing interface: the system supports the implementation of graphic designs in line with modern trends while taking into account the branding needs of the university. Each site can be distinguished by elements specific to its own characteristics, but at the same time be consistent with the university's branding and homepage.
Advanced functionality for universities
ICEberg CMS 5 offers a wide range of modules to meet the specific needs of universities:
Online recruitment
The system enables the implementation of a fully functional online recruitment system where candidates can:
- Submit recruitment documents. Thanks to an extensive forms module and a dedicated recruitment module.
- Track the status of applications.
- Receive notifications of recruitment decisions. Integration with external systems (e.g. USOS) allows efficient data management.
Formularze
Course and subject catalogue
ICEberg CMS 5 allows the educational offer to be presented in a transparent manner. The faculty catalogue module allows
- Describing study programmes and syllabuses.
- Presentation of instructors along with their academic achievements.
- Searching for courses by category (e.g. undergraduate, graduate, postgraduate).
Calendar of events
The calendar module allows the management of university events such as open days, conferences or sports competitions. Each event can include detailed information, location and a registration form. The calendar can be presented on the university's home page or on departmental pages. Events can have their own sub-pages. It is also possible to create dedicated extended landing pages for events - e.g. conferences, or even separate full-fledged websites in separate domains / subdomains. All this in a single engine - a single CMS system.
Scientific publications and databases
ICEberg CMS 5 enables the publication of scientific research results and the management of databases (e.g. thesis catalogues, scientific articles).
A university website built using ICEberg CMS 5 can:
- present publications with the possibility of filtering by subject, authors or years.
- be integrated with library systems (e.g. OPAC).
Promoting digital accessibility (WCAG 2.1)
ICEberg CMS 5 complies with WCAG 2.1 guidelines, ensuring that content is accessible to people with various disabilities. The system supports:
- Adding alternative text (ALT) for images.
- Provision of appropriate colour contrast.
- Support for keyboard navigation.
- Verification of accessibility using dedicated tools built into the system.
Flexibility and integration
Expansion and integrations
ICEberg CMS 5 integrates easily with external systems such as:
- USOS (University Student Service System).
- e-learning platform - E-learning can also be realised based on ICEberg CMS 5 or another external platform. such as Moodle.
- research and scientific project management systems. The ability to add new modules means that the site can evolve with the needs of the university.
Multilingualism
The system enables the creation of multilingual websites, which is crucial for universities that want to attract foreign students and develop international cooperation, which is virtually every university these days. Well-solved multilingualism, together with translation automation based on a high-quality translation API, reduces the costs of implementing and running a multilingual website, increases the quality of communication and its responsiveness (content is translated quickly, as soon as it is published - e.g. news and announcements).
Multilingualism in ICEberg CMS 5
Security and technical support
Warranty - one form of contact - service request form
Data protection
ICEberg CMS 5 provides a high level of security, which is particularly important in the context of personal data. The system supports:
- Data encryption and hashing.
- User rights management.
- Regular security updates.
Technical support and development
The team behind ICEberg CMS 5 offers professional technical support and training for content editors. The university can count on:
- Quick assistance in case of problems.
- Adaptation of the system to individual needs.
- Regular updates introducing new functionalities.
SEO optimisation and statistics analysis
ICEberg CMS 5 supports the positioning of university websites in search engines by:
- Automatic generation of metadata.
- Support for site maps (sitemaps).
- Content optimisation tools. In addition, integrated analytical scripts make it possible to monitor site traffic and assess the effectiveness of published content.
Summary
ICEberg CMS 5 is a comprehensive tool that fully meets the needs of universities. The system combines modernity, functionality and security, while providing ease of use for editors and convenience for users. Its flexibility and ability to integrate make it an excellent choice for universities seeking to digitally transform and build their brand in the online space.
E-learning - online courses - additional possibilities to expand the university website with ICEberg CMS 5
Artmedik - multi-domain service for hospital and clinic networks
