Project Transform – the programme to implement a new student support framework and student records system – has formally closed.

The Campus Solutions student records system has now fully launched. Admissions started to use the system in 2015 to process applications, make offers and manage confirmation and clearing. In 2017, China and Malaysia campuses began using the system for key administrative tasks in the student lifecycle – including graduation, registration and managing personal data.

The majority of Campus Solutions functionality was launched in the UK earlier this year. Finance functionality will come online in August – making Campus Solutions the official system of record for every student at the University – from application through to graduation.

Project Sponsor Professor Sarah O’Hara said: “This has been a very long and extremely difficult project which has tested the organisation at every level. I want to thank colleagues once again for their commitment, patience and the huge amount of work that has been put in to get us to this point.”

Now that Campus Solutions is successfully implemented, Information Services is fully supporting the system and committed to continually improving its functionality.

The Organisational Effectiveness (Student Support) Review recommended actions to improve student support delivered across the institution. Some progress has been made in developing joint working arrangements between Schools and Faculties, Student Services and other professional services departments.

This has resulted in increased collaboration in the recruitment, induction and management of staff; sharing best practice and ways of working; implementing Campus Solutions; and supporting new structures, such as setting up the Campus Solutions User Groups. There has been some positive feedback from staff and students reported through surveys, audits, student ambassadors and data from Student Service Centres.

Now that Campus Solutions is live, further improvements are in hand and these will be prioritised over the coming months.

Registrar Dr Paul Greatrix, who oversaw the review’s implementation said: “The OESS review process, led by staff, rightly identified key issues with student support at the University. The subsequent work has laid the foundations for better working relationships between schools and departments and made improvements to services for our students. While this is a good start, there remains much to do and the work to improve support for students and staff will continue.”

Student Services will now implement the remaining review recommendations as part of the department’s continuing work to deliver the best possible services to students.

Student Services is already working with colleagues responsible for processes, programmes or modules where it is appropriate to vary standard University processes or procedures. They will continue to identify and remedy any overlap or gaps in student support within individual schools or departments. The new Faculty Operations Directors will also be closely involved in this process of continuous improvement, working as part of the Professional Services senior grouping dedicated to improving staff and student support as well as with the Campus Solutions User Groups in each Faculty.

The new user group structures, together with new approaches to collaborative working across Student Services and central and Faculty-based professional services, will ensure that these issues continue to be addressed and services improved.