OXCAP – Oxford Course Advertising Project This project has implemented the systems and processes required for the publication of XCRI-CAP feeds containing graduate training opportunities for the University of Oxford. Individual training providers supply details about their courses in electronic format (XCRI-CAP, XML or CSV) to Oxford’s Open Data Service. Information about the courses is stored as RDF and is made available as a series of data feeds; there is an authenticated feed for internal use and a OGL licenced feed (containing slightly fewer courses) for public use.
The University of Oxford
Oxford skills have been mapped to Vitae’s Researcher Development Framework sub-domains. The RDF articulates the knowledge, behaviours and attributes of successful researchers.
The project also developed supporting software artefacts: a VLE tool to advertise courses and JavaScript library for displaying courses on websites.
The authenticated feed is consumed by the institutional VLE (WebLearn / Sakai) and is used to drive a training opportunities discovery and booking service aimed at graduate students. The service has been live since January 2013.
Process and policy guidance will be developed in conjunction with the training providers to ensure all the outputs from the project are sustainable.
Oxford Skills Classification Vocabulary
JavaScript Course display widget
Course feeds from Oxford’s Open Data Service
CSV Export from Medical Sciences DB Advantage for Oxford: this will show the world how much excellent graduate training is on offer and will help Oxford to attract the best students .
VLE Tool: browse by date Data entry form in Share Point
This is a really big step forward in the organisation and presentation of training information for Graduate Students– Dr Bridget Taylor, Assistant registrar, Social Sciences Division
Advantage for Oxford: this will allow students to take full advantage of the training on offer leading to ‘better’ trained researchers and academics.
How data flows from training providers to end user
ITLP course entry page
DAISY course entry console
The Oxford University Student Union 2011 Report on behalf of Post-Graduate Taught Students highlighted the need to organise, in one place, information about the extensive and rich variety of training provided for graduate students by different parts of the University. They wished the university could make it easier for students to access information about training opportunities and to enrol for places. We believe this project has satisfied all these desires.
As a leading research institution the training and support we offer our graduates students has to be first class. The introduction of an IT system which brings together in one place all of our academic and skills training courses for graduates is a tremendous resource. – Dr Patrick Baird, Member of Education Committee
VLE Tool: browse by department
ITLP course booking service Browse and book via Mobile Oxford. (JISC-funded CoBoMo Project.)