Empowering Student Engagement with a Revamped Website for the University
Customer Introduction
The University is dedicated to supporting student development, engagement, and welfare through a comprehensive range of services and programs offered by its Student Affairs (SA) Office. The SA website serves as a central hub for students to access resources, participate in various activities, and manage their campus life efficiently. To better serve its diverse student body and improve digital accessibility, the University embarked on a project to revamp the SA website, focusing on enhancing user experience, streamlining service access, and aligning with modern web standards.
Solution
AEM Sites, Adobe Analytics, AEM as a Cloud Service
Overview
The University sought to enhance student engagement and streamline access to services through a comprehensive revamp of its Student Affairs (SA) website. Leadstec partnered with the University to deliver a modern, user-friendly platform leveraging Adobe Experience Manager (AEM) as a Cloud Service. The project aimed to improve usability, strengthen alignment with institutional branding, and ensure a robust, accessible digital experience.
Challenges
The existing SA website faced several challenges:
- Outdated design that did not align with the University’s latest branding guidelines.
- Limited accessibility features hinder use by individuals with disabilities.
- Fragmented information architecture, making it difficult for students to find resources.
- Inefficient content management processes, leading to delayed updates.
Our Solution
- User-Centric Design & Enhanced Accessibility
- Leadstec redesigned the website’s user interface, aligning with the University’s web design guidelines and ensuring WCAG 2.0 Level AA compliance. The responsive design delivers a seamless experience across devices, supporting desktop, tablet, and mobile users.
- Leadstec redesigned the website’s user interface, aligning with the University’s web design guidelines and ensuring WCAG 2.0 Level AA compliance. The responsive design delivers a seamless experience across devices, supporting desktop, tablet, and mobile users.
- Streamlined Information Architecture
- To improve navigation, the website structure was reorganized into clear sections such as Campus Life & Amenities, Career Centre, and Counselling Services. Each section features distinct color themes, enabling students to easily differentiate between services.
- To improve navigation, the website structure was reorganized into clear sections such as Campus Life & Amenities, Career Centre, and Counselling Services. Each section features distinct color themes, enabling students to easily differentiate between services.
- Advanced Content Management & Multilingual Support
- Utilizing AEM’s robust capabilities, the new site supports streamlined content management for over 160 pages in English, Traditional Chinese, and Simplified Chinese. Teams can independently update their sections, ensuring timely and relevant content.
- Utilizing AEM’s robust capabilities, the new site supports streamlined content management for over 160 pages in English, Traditional Chinese, and Simplified Chinese. Teams can independently update their sections, ensuring timely and relevant content.
- Customized Components
- To meet specific needs of the University, several components were enhanced and developed:
i. Content Filtering, Slider, and Listing Components: Enable events to be displayed on individual team homepages and/or the SA homepage based on settings.
ii. New Navigation: Introduced a clickable feature to reveal a second-level menu with clear instructions, helping students easily identify and access additional navigation layers.
iv. Event Detail Component: Developed a dedicated component to showcase brief event information, improving event visibility and user engagement.
- To meet specific needs of the University, several components were enhanced and developed:
- Integration with University Systems
- The website integrates seamlessly with the Student Learning Experience System (SLES) API, automating the display of news and event listings. Enhanced search functionality powered by ElasticSearch provides accurate, section-specific results.
- The website integrates seamlessly with the Student Learning Experience System (SLES) API, automating the display of news and event listings. Enhanced search functionality powered by ElasticSearch provides accurate, section-specific results.
- Analytics & Performance Monitoring
- Adobe Analytics integration allows the University to monitor user behavior and site performance, facilitating data-driven decisions for continuous improvement.
Results
- Improved Engagement: Enhanced design and navigation increased student satisfaction and engagement.
- Efficient Content Updates: Decentralized content management reduced turnaround times for updates.
- Greater Accessibility: WCAG compliance expanded usability for all students.
- Data-Driven Insights: Analytics provided actionable data for ongoing enhancements.
- Smooth Transition: A comprehensive training program enabled University staff to effectively manage the new website.
User and Staff Feedback
Conclusion
Through close collaboration with the University, Leadstec delivered a modern, accessible, and user-focused SA website. The project not only improved the digital experience for students but also streamlined internal processes, positioning the University to better support its student community.
