Revamping the University of Sydney's ADP Student Portal - Curio Group

Executive Summary 

The University of Sydney’s School of Architecture, Design, and Planning (ADP) faced challenges in guiding students through their academic progression. The existing student portal lacked clarity in program requirements, which led to confusion and increased administrative burden. Curio was engaged to design and implement a new progression planning tool integrated with the university’s Canvas LMS. This tool provided a streamlined, individualised pathway system for students, reducing uncertainty and improving their academic experience. The outcome was a more intuitive student portal, enhanced operational efficiency, and fewer administrative corrections. 

 

Client Background 

The University of Sydney is a world-renowned institution, particularly in the field of architecture, design, and planning. With a growing student population, the school needed a more effective way to guide students through their academic journeys. The ADP program, which consists of multiple disciplines, required a student portal upgrade to support clearer academic planning and reduce manual interventions from staff. 

 

Challenges and Objectives 

The main challenge was the lack of clarity in academic pathways within the existing ADP Student Portal. Students struggled to access up-to-date program requirements, which often led to enrolment issues and confusion about course progression. The objectives of the project were: 

• To create a user-friendly planning tool to allow students to visualise and map out their academic journeys. 

• To reduce the workload on staff by minimising enrolment errors and ensuring seamless academic experiences for students. 

• To integrate this tool into the existing Canvas LMS platform, aligned with the university’s branding and quality standards. 
  
  
  

Solution Provided 

Curio’s solution was multi-faceted and included: 

• Development of a Progression Planning Tool: A dynamic tool that provided individualised planning for students across multiple programs, allowing them to navigate their academic journeys with ease. 

• Integration with the Canvas Student Portal: This tool was integrated into the newly revamped ADP Student Portal on the Canvas LMS. The design was fully aligned with the institution’s visual and technical standards. 

• Stakeholder Engagement and Agile Methodology: Extensive consultation with program directors, heads of discipline, and student societies ensured that all stakeholders’ needs were addressed. The project was carried out in iterative cycles, with rounds of feedback and improvements at each stage. 

• Training and Handover: Documentation and training were provided to ensure the university’s staff could manage and maintain the tool independently moving forward.