The XCRI eXchange Platform (XXP)

1. The XCRI eXchange Platform (XXP) Richard Entwistle,InGenius Solutions Ltd XCRI eXchange 2011

2. XXP – An introduction XXP is... • A collaboration between InGenius Solutions Ltd and APS Ltd • Acting on behalf of, and providing services to, universities and colleges • A platform to support the exchange of data using the XCRI-CAP standard • Low cost and low effort • Providing additional services that utilise XCRI-CAP data, for example: • course search • re-format XCRI-CAP to other 3rd party formats, eg. UCAS, Skills Funding Agency • Providing information and data to learning providers and aggregators • Creating a single, comprehensive source of information about XCRI-CAP feeds XCRI eXchange 2011

3. XXP – An introduction XXP is NOT... • Seeking to replicate what learning providers or data collecting organisations already do • Looking to burden them with an extra data supply task • Looking to take ownership of or re-sell your course information • Seeking to lock data or users into a proprietary system XCRI eXchange 2011

4. XXP services Some of the services XXP can offer... • getXCRI – an online service to allow interested third parties to retrieve your course data. The service can (optionally) be parameter driven to allow filtered sets of courses to be retrieved. • webForm – allows you to use XXP to easily store and maintain your course data through a secure, customised website. A workflow/approval process allows you to easily select which courses are published in your XCRI-CAP feed. • courseSearch – allows people to search your XCRI-CAP data using an intuitive word search web page. The proprietary, thesaurus based search engine retrieves not only matching courses but also suggests related courses too. The search page can also be easily integrated into your own website. • courseProviders – include details of your XCRI-CAP feed in the Course Providers register, the most comprehensive register of XCRI-CAP providers and feeds. • coursePromote – push details of your course information to a range of third party data collection organisations and course search websites regularly and simultaneously (for example UCAS and Hotcourses). • data2XCRI – use XXP to read and convert course data (eg. CSV files, XML files, web service calls) into XCRI-CAP compliant XML. Can be used in conjunction with getXCRI to provide a full XCRI-CAP solution. • upgradeXCRI – upload an XCRI file in XCRI-CAP version 1.1 and output it in XCRI-CAP version 1.2 XCRI eXchange 2011

5. XXP overview XCRI eXchange 2011

6. XXP example configuration Example 1 – A university with an existing course maintenance system that doesn’t support XCRI By sending a CSV file(s) to XXP, the university can have a full XCRI-CAP compliant solution XCRI eXchange 2011

7. XXP example configuration Example 2 – A learning provider that maintains course information directly on their website By using XXP webForm, they can have a fully XCRI-CAP compliant solution, and also add the courseSearch service into their website XCRI eXchange 2011

8. XXP:webForm XCRI eXchange 2011

9. XXP:courseSearch XCRI eXchange 2011

10. XXP benefits to course providers • Save time and money by reducing effort spent re-keying existing data (eg. UCAS, Hotcourses) • Convert information from proprietary and non-standard formats to the XCRI-CAP open standard • XCRI-CAP compliance without the need to commit extensive local resource • Reduced cost, risk and ‘time to market’ by using an existing and proven solution • Publish changes to course data quickly, easily and consistently to all 3rd parties • Reach a wider audience, we can automatically submit course information to a wide range of course search websites and 3rd party aggregators • Low set up and running costs, XXP is a fully hosted service XCRI eXchange 2011

11. XXP for consumers and aggregators XXP can also provide... • A single source for XCRI-CAP feeds save time and cost by finding and collecting XCRI-CAP feeds from a single source • Consistent XCRI-CAP feeds retrieve XCRI-CAP feeds using one consistent delivery mechanism, XML structure and vocabulary data • High quality data obtain ‘value added’ XCRI-CAP feeds that contain additional classification and metadata • Notification of updates subscribe to notifications of new and updated feeds XCRI eXchange 2011

12. XXP supporting the XCRI initiative XXP is looking to... • Help learning providers adopt XCRI-CAP by providing an immediate tactical solution to XCRI-CAP compliance, with a road-map to full XCRI-CAP compliance in the future ...which helps to build the ‘critical mass’ of XCRI-CAP data needed for wide spread adoption of the standard • Support 3rd party suppliers in adopting XCRI-CAP by providing a single and consistent source of XCRI-CAP feeds ...which helps build a business case for XCRI-CAP support in 3rd party products • Demonstrate cost effective, real world services that utilise XCRI-CAP • Help provide visibility of the usage and availability of XCRI-CAP by providing a comprehensive and publicly available register of XCRI-CAP feeds XCRI eXchange 2011

13. In summary... • We offer XCRI services ‘out of the box’... helping learning providers save money by supplying their course information quickly and cheaply in the XCRI standard. • We partner with organisations at any/all stages of XCRI development... from information and process reviews, prototyping and proof of concept through to development and the provision of an fully hosted service. • We offer rapid prototyping... to support teams (both IT and non-IT based) to quickly and efficiently develop ideas into working solutions. • We are committed to helping you share your data... for the benefit of learners, employers, HEIs, FECs and all the other individuals and organisations that use course advertising information. • We are an experienced partner organisation with universities and colleges on JISC funded projects. XCRI eXchange 2011

14. Links and further information XCRI eXchange Platform • enquiries@xxp.org • http://www.xxp.org InGenius Solutions Ltd • Richard Entwistle • richard.entwistle@igsl.co.uk • http://www.ingenius-solutions.co.uk APS Ltd • Alan Paull • alan@alanpaull.co.uk • http://www.alanpaull.co.uk XCRI eXchange 2011