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Using XCRI – the needs of the aggregator

Using XCRI – the needs of the aggregator. A completely selfish presentation Neil Pearson, Hotcourses 27 th June 2011 . “World’s largest course database” - Hank . Who are Hotcourses? Over 1 million courses for key study destinations U K, USA, Australia, Singapore... UK student traffic

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Using XCRI – the needs of the aggregator

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  1. Using XCRI – the needs of the aggregator A completely selfish presentation Neil Pearson, Hotcourses 27th June 2011

  2. “World’s largest course database” - Hank • Who are Hotcourses? • Over 1 million courses for key study destinationsUK, USA, Australia, Singapore... • UK student traffic • 25 million visits a year • 6.3 million student interactions with institutions • International student traffic • 10.2 million visits a year • 2.6 million student interactions with institutions • Course information • HE data largely from UCAS • Rest collected from providers

  3. ME

  4. Aggregators

  5. What we’ve done… • 2009 - Started XCRi bulk upload pilots • 1 truly successful file from 10 pilots • FE providers found it difficult • Support intensive • Lessons learned • Logical model not in line • Range of different values for the same field • Lack of consistency • Format was heavy e.g. repetition of venue • Data errors • Aggregator responsibility to do more?

  6. What we’ve done… • 2010 - Moved towards XCRI logical model • Massive organisation-wide project 2010 • Remodelled core structures • Worked with SFA and Next Step • Rubber stamped by ISB Provider Course Presentation

  7. What we’re doing right now… • Created new bulk upload interface for providers • CSV format • Far less support • Far more uptake amongst smaller providers

  8. Future – needs of the aggregator

  9. Build it and they will come No they won’t. Sites need data that is good quality, in an optimal format, well SEO-ed

  10. Aggregator needs – giving users choice • Typical scenarios • Who offers chemistry at the lowest price for my tariff points? • Who offers a course under xxx that’s ranked in the top 10 for business research • Who offers 1 year MBAs? • What are my chances of getting a good job between Leeds and xxx Uni? • Which business degree is the best value for money when including average living costs? Can XCRI suggest more enumerations to try and bring UK data into a more coherent whole?

  11. Fast sites XCRI’s repetition of venue is not very performant. A lot of manipulation needs to take place to make location searching fast. This will put off the mashup guy.

  12. Search engine optimised • We should build things to be used • Rich data – summaries etc • Needs taxomony Providers need to bring their marketing and application data together in one place. Aggregators need to aggregate.

  13. Hotcourses & XCRI - Disappointed? • Working with XCRI logical model • Taken on responsibility • Auto-categorisation based on course title/summary • 4404 category codes • 88% success rate so far • Auto-qualification (856 values) • Auto-level (Beginner, advanced, intermediate) • Auto-awarding body (pending)

  14. Working again with XCRI? • Working again with XCRI • Providers can expose their data in XCRI • Added value or ‘special sauce’

  15. Aggregators

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