Hello,

I have been looking at the Portals list and it is interesting to
see that most institutions are being faced with the same
questions as ourselves here at Queen's University, Belfast:

Do we need a portal system?
Which portal system should we use or do we build our own?
What is the role of a CMS?
What are other institutions using?
How do these technologies integrate with existing systems?
Are these technologies better implemented as a new 'connected'
layer rather than being fully integrated?
.. etc.

We have started to answer these questions for ourselves and have
already gone some way in developing our own internal systems
that support customised user areas, it is not a portal system
'yet'.

Our main concern are the integration issues, we want one
University wide authentication system, user profiles held
centrally with information available for such things as QAA
reporting and we need customisable desktops relating to
learning, research and administration for both staff and
students. We have already started developing web applications
that support these goals:

- all applications rely on core University databases held by our
MIS section,
- we have one University wide authentication facility for
students and we hope to expand this for all staff,
- we have developed an internal VLE (currently in its 2 year
of use), which we are currently working on to expand into an MLE
- we have secure areas online for staff and students
containing personal details and other sensitive information e.g.
examination results.

These web applications/systems have been primarily developed
using PHP and have used the SQL Server and Ingres databases.

Our systems are still in their infancy and we are continuing to
work on the integration issues. We are happy to buy commercial
products but we must be convinced on the integration issues, it
would be interesting to hear from those who have already
explored these areas or anyone doing similar work.

Regards

Paddy

----------------------
Patrick Daly
Information Services
The Queen's University of Belfast
Belfast, BT7 1NN

TEL/FAX:  02890 335051
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