The University’s new external websites launched
Stockholm University’s more than 200 external websites are now launched in a new web publishing system, Sitevision. Some additions and adjustments remain, while the development continues, for example regarding the search function and the research catalogue.
“Among other things, our websites now have a more airy and clear design with a slightly modified functionality, with improved usability and accessibility for our visitors. Our research catalogue has a new separate database system that offers many new opportunities,” says Anna Karin Haspe, Communications Office, the project leader for the transition to the new system.
“And all university web editors can now work in a more modern and user-friendly editing interface,” she continues.
Anna Karin Haspe emphasises that it has been a major undertaking, carried out in various phases and involving many employees in a creative, committed and positive spirit. In 2024, a completely redesigned staff website was launched, a new course catalogue went live as recently as 9 June this year, and now in December, all external websites for departments, institutes, centres and various functions were launched simultaneously.
“After the previous major web project, Webb2021, we have continuously analysed how well the websites in Polopoly have worked, and learned from that. We were then able to test our solutions when we built the new staff website,” says Anna Karin Haspe.
She explains that a lot of work has been done in terms of design and development of new templates and functions. The project has also included major training efforts and quality reviews of existing content. A technical solution was used to transfer the content during the migration, which, according to Anna Karin Haspe, required a minimum of follow-up work compared to what is usually the case. All content except videos has been transferred, and only certain parts have needed to be adjusted, such as image sizes and the layout of summaries. The move involves a large number of individual web pages, around 85,000, and because of that there may be some minor errors on pages for a while, but none relating to content.
“This work has focused on moving content and integrations from an old web publishing system to a new one. It was really complicated, but we managed to succeed thanks to the fantastic efforts of everyone involved. Now we are handling the transition and keep on developing our websites in line with the present and future needs of the university. A lot is going on, for example within the field of AI, which affects su.se, says Johan Brandt, Head of Communications, Stockholm University.
The new web publishing system, Sitevision, is used by several universities, government agencies and other organisations. This means that there are many opportunities for collaboration on further development of the university’s websites.