Functionality

PGR Supervision

The SkillsForge PGR Supervision module provides the full functionality and features to support PGR Supervision processes with a university.

This module can be implemented as a standalone solution, or implemented alongside any of the other modules offered through our PGR and Researcher whole of life cycle solution. The standard out of the box functions and features within this module can be configured to university requirements.

The SkillsForge PGR Supervision module provides:

• Different types of supervision meetings can be supported, whether:
  • Formal – required based on university policy on regular occasions, prompted and chased by the system
  • Formal – manually initiated by the student and/or supervisor(s))
  • General – informal but the parties agree that the information should be captured on the system
• The chasing of supervision meetings via the dashboard and through automated email notifications
• The supervision meeting forms can be pre-filled with notes and uploaded files prior to the meeting. Similarly, these can be edited and updated during and after the meeting
• Any previous versions of the forms are stored and retained by the system for audit, history and reporting purposes.
• All forms remain searchable and accessible by students, supervisors, administrators and managers.
• The supervision forms support digital sign off and time and date stamping. Signatories per form can be configured.
• Supervision forms and related processes can be configured to comply with different university policies and procedures, as well as different user types:
  • Out of the box standard – what we consider to be best practice – functions and features that can either be adopted in full, or specifically configured to suit a particular use case
  • Standard form templates e.g. for progression or supervision, which can be adopted in full, or configured to a customer’s specific needs
• In form file uploads and attachments is supported enabling the student to attach and share evidence
• Supervisory Team Set Up and Changes to the Supervisory Team processes are fully supported through the solution’s automated form workflow feature
• The supervisory module can be implemented as a standalone solution, or implemented alongside any of the other modules offered through our PGR and Researcher whole of life cycle solution. Our whole of life cycle solution is discussed here.

PGR Progression

SkillsForge supports PGR/HDR progression processes through configurable automated form workflows, key dates and automated date maths features. PGR/HDR progression is one of the key modules provided through the SkillsForge solution.

A key module within the our overall solution which can be seen here is PGR/HDR Progression. Progression meetings are invariably formal and occur at key points in the student’s pathway.

The Progression module supports the following features and functionality:

• Multiple progression meeting formats which are configured to specific customer forms and progression pathways
• Ad hoc progression meetings are supported
• Key dates feature with associated automated date maths in order that any changes to key dates are reflected in the system as well as other systems as required
• Automated key date calculation over multiple policies applied to different faculties and different cohorts
• Automated chasing of progression meetings through user dashboards and automated email notifications
• Automated student timeline visually representing the PGR/HDR’s individual pathway and key dates
• Digital sign off by key signatories, time and date stamping of progression meeting records. Forms, wherever required, can be enabled with digital sign off by single or multiple roles as required through our automated form workflow function as well as sign off requirements for supervisory and progression meetings.  Once signed off a form by all required parties cannot be unsigned, aligning to BSI10008 requirements
• Full audit trail of progression meeting activities in line with BSI10008 requirements
• File upload and attachments are supported for evidence, etc
• Business intelligence reporting, providing oversight of PGR Progression across the entire PGR population

PGR Admissions and Application Management

SkillsForge provides the solution to effectively support and manage PGR Admissions processes.

The PGR Admissions module supports the following processes:

Application management and processing:

• Self Sign Up/Self Sign On
• Application completion and Submission
• Application Assessment
• Funding information
• Management of Offers – making of offers, acceptance or decline, communication of outcomes
• Enrolment

Studentship/Scholarship management and processing:

• Set up of different funding streams
• Application processing
• Assessment operations
• Management of Offers – making of offers, acceptance or decline, communication of outcomes
• Award
• Enrolment

PGR Degree Management

SkillsForge supports all of the workflows for PGR Degree Management (sometimes called Changes to Registration, or Degree Variation).

Our out of the box standard workflows can be configured to customer requirements..

Our PGR Degree Management module, which forms part of our whole of life cycle solution shown here, supports the following processes:

• Registration
• Induction
• Extensions
• Suspensions/Intermissions
• Change of Mode
• Applications for allowances
• Degree Transfer or Significant Change to Project
• Withdrawal

The SkillsForge solution possesses standard out of the box PGR Degree Management features, functions and workflows that can be configured to specific customer needs, providing:

• Out of the box standard (what we consider to be best practice) workflows that can either be adopted in full, or configured for a particular use case
• Standard form templates which can be adopted in full, or configured to a customer’s needs
• The system is modular and, within modules, customers are able to select what workflows, features and functionality they need and what they don’t need, e.g. customers don’t need to purchase all of the PGR Degree Management workflows, they can purchase only what they need
• Options for system branding and look and feel configured to meet customer needs within the SkillsForge design system 
• Standard methods of integration to ensure that 1- and 2-way data integration (as required) enabled between other institutional systems to ensure significant efficiency and effectiveness gains
• A consistent user experience (UX) – our solution’s responsive design ensures the same UX across all devices (mobile, tablet, desktop)

Any changes made through the PGR Degree Management functionality is automatically reflected in the student record on SkillsForge and on required other systems:

• Any changes outstanding are surfaced on user dashboards for action as well as being chased through automated email notifications
• Date maths and key date calculations are carried out automatically and relevant records updated automatically, surfacing the new dates in, e.g. the system’s automated student timeline, as well as re-calculating all key dates and progression points
• Our solution ensures that the Master Record is preserved and managed correctly irrespective of which institutional system is responsible for the Master Record
• Files of any size and formats can be uploaded and attached to any of the online forms to provide evidence, etc.

PGR Thesis Submission and Examination

SkillsForge supports the end to end Thesis Submission and Examination process.

SkillsForge supports the end to end PGR Thesis Submission and Examination process with the typical processes supported being:

• Intention to Submit
• Nomination of Examiners
• Examiner Checks, e.g. right to work
• Thesis Submission
• Candidate Declaration
• Examination Arrangements
• Examination
• Amendments
• Results

Our standard out of the box Thesis submission and examination processes are configured to the specific requirements of our customers.

Our solution supports the management and creation of the examination team including external examiners, with the solution enabling the management of examiner experience and qualifications. This, in turn, supports the system’s nomination of examiner process.

Supported by the system’s date maths and key date features, any calculations to change of relevant dates are carried out automatically and relevant records updated automatically, surfacing the new dates in, for example, the system’s automated student timeline, as well as re-calculating all key dates and progression points.

Any required actions relating to the key dates are surfaced on the system’s automated student timeline as well as populating user dashboards and triggering automated email notifications.

All actions undertaken by users in the Thesis Submission and Examination processes are audited, time and date stamped with each key stage being digitally signed off by designated users.

The solution supports file uploads and attachments that supports the submission of the thesis and any other relevant documentation or evidence.

Our Thesis Submission and examination module sits within our whole of life cycle solution which can be seen here.

PGR Administration

SkillsForge supports PGR administration processes with typical example processes being:

• Annual Leave Request
• Change Enrolment location

If you want to view the other processes SkillsForge supports please view our whole of lifecycle solution here and further examples, such as PGR Degree Management, here.

Skills Assessment, Development, Tracking and Certification

SkillsForge provides the solution for Professional PGR Skills Assessment, Development, Tracking and Certification as well as supporting researchers, research supervisors and other roles within a university.

PGR Skills Assessment, Development, Tracking and Certification:

The solution enables PGR Skills Assessment, Development, Tracking and Certification as well as supporting Researchers and Research Supervisor in their development. SkillsForge supports any skills framework including the Researcher Development Framework (RDF) and many in-house university developed frameworks. 

The Skills Assessment, Development, Tracking and Certification module is invariably installed along with our Training Management System modules which can be seen here.

• Assessment of skills against the chosen skills framework by manually calibrating against certain criteria such as Confidence and Priority
• Creation and maintenance of a Development Needs Analysis (DNA)/Training Needs Analysis (TNA) document and printing thereof
• Pre-population, as far as possible, of Personal Development Plans (PDP), Supporting the development of the PDP and the sharing of the plans between, for example, supervisors and students assessing and agreeing when PDP objectives have been achieved
• The tracking of skills against the scored criteria over time and at a point in time, e.g. achievement of hours or credits against target
• Statement of a user’s Top 5 Skills
• Statement of a user’s Top 5 Skills Priorities
• Suggested courses based on the input and output from the most recent skills assessment for course details contained within the SkillsForge system
• Tracking, viewing and reporting of all completed development activities per user, per cohort, etc
• Development activity (courses) booking and attendance history
• Users can view their compliance to Professional Development training and tracking of Compliance based on rules
• Deadlines automatically complete via the attendance completion process
• Deadlines reminders

As skills development is undertaken the solution enables the following:

• Storing and retention of the version history for all skills assessments per user
• Tracking and reporting of all completed development activities (development summary) for all in system booked courses as well as the ability to self-record development activities.  The self-record feature may or may not incorporate an authorisation workflow where universities may wish to check the validity of the self-recorded development activity prior to confirming it
• Development activity (courses) booking and attendance history

As skills assessments and development activities are undertaken the  visual representation tracking this activity will change.

Researcher & Research Supervisor training

SkillsForge provides the solution for Professional Skills Assessment, Development, Tracking and Certification for Researchers and Research Supervisors.

Skills Assessment, Development, Tracking and Certification:

The solution enables Skills Assessment, Development, Tracking and Certification for Researchers and Research Supervisors. SkillsForge supports any skills framework including the Researcher Development Framework (RDF) and many in-house university developed frameworks. 

The PGR Skills Assessment, Development, Tracking and Certification module is invariably installed along with our Training Management System modules which can be seen here.

• Assessment of skills against the chosen skills framework by manually calibrating against certain criteria such as Confidence and Priority
• Creation and maintenance of a Development Needs Analysis (DNA)/Training Needs Analysis (TNA) document and printing thereof
• Pre-population, as far as possible, of Personal Development Plans (PDP), Supporting the development of the PDP and the sharing of the plans between, for example, supervisors and students assessing and agreeing when PDP objectives have been achieved
• The tracking of skills against the scored criteria over time and at a point in time, e.g. achievement of hours or credits against target
• Statement of a user’s Top 5 Skills
• Statement of a user’s Top 5 Skills Priorities
• Suggested courses based on the input and output from the most recent skills assessment for course details contained within the SkillsForge system
• Tracking, viewing and reporting of all completed development activities per user, per cohort, etc
• Development activity (courses) booking and attendance history
• Users can view their compliance to Professional Development training and tracking of Compliance based on rules
• Deadlines automatically complete via the attendance completion process
• Deadlines reminders

As skills development is undertaken the solution enables the following:

• Storing and retention of the version history for all skills assessments per user
• Tracking and reporting of all completed development activities (development summary) for all in system booked courses as well as the ability to self-record development activities.  The self-record feature may or may not incorporate an authorisation workflow where universities may wish to check the validity of the self-recorded development activity prior to confirming it
• Development activity (courses) booking and attendance history

As skills assessments and development activities are undertaken the  visual representation tracking this activity will change.

Training Management System

The SkillsForge solution offers a Training Management System (Automated Course Booking and Administration solution) which can be purchased as a standalone solution for any university as well as sitting alongside the other SkillsForge modules.

The SkillsForge solution offers a Training Management System (Automated Course Booking, Administration and Reporting solution) which can be purchased as a standalone solution for any university as well as sitting alongside the other SkillsForge modules available from our whole of life cycle solution shown here. The Training Management System is a well used system, within the Higher Education sector, having been in service for well over a decade at customers shuch as Kings College London.

More often than not, the Skills Assessment, Development, Tracking and Certification and Training Management System modules are purchased as a complete package by universities, whether or not it sits alongside the other modules available from the whole of life cycle solution.

The Training Management System provides the following as standard:

For Course Providers:

• Creation of courses within SkillsForge, whether bookable in SkillsForge or sign posted to another course booking system
• For courses bookable in SkillsForge the ability to set multiple parameters such as:
  • Course (event) categories
  • Maximum Waiting list size
  • Maximum Waiting list offer time
  • Required Cancellation Notice period
  • Whether to allow mix and match bookings
  • Whether to hide the venue information prior to a confirmed booking
  • Whether to hide a course facilitators information prior to a confirmed booking
  • Setting the publication from and bookings from dates
  • Setting the visibility and booking permissions
  • Inputting administration notes and announcements to users, e.g. a booking closed notice, where applicable
  • Ability to book users onto courses, individually and in batch mode
  • Automatic generation of registers and registration
  • Emailing to individual, or a batch, of users, as selected in the interfaces
  • Automatic management of bookings, cancellations, waiting lists, etc
  • Free and paid courses
  • Payment reconciliation support
  • Self sign up and sign on

For course administrators:

• All of the above plus creation of recognised course providers within the system

For users:

• Ability to have multiple roles, managed by RBAC, whereby a user possesses different training profiles, and, accordingly, different access to training based on their role(s)
• Ability to search and browse courses and book with a single click
• Production and display of booking and course attendance summaries

Business Intelligence Reporting is available regarding the data generated from the activities above as can be seen here.

Supervisor Register

SkillsForge provides a fully functional module to manage applications, eligibility tracking and assignment of research supervisors.

The Supervisor Register is a module within our whole of life cycle shown here, with typical features and workflows being:

• Registration
• Exemption
• Eligibility assessment
• Supervisory team assignments/changes
• A record of supervision experience is generated for each supervisor as standard within SkillsForge.  This information is augmented through automated feeds of information from other institutional systems, e.g. research systems, and, further, can be added to manually by the supervisor with information about experience gained externally to the systems earlier in this paragraph.  This information is automatically assessed against rules to manage individual supervisor registration status and to identify “gaps” to enable registration
• The information within the Supervisor Register  is then used to create, or modify, supervisory teams so that they comply with institutional requirements.
• SkillsForge can maintain Supervisor experience automatically and through manual updates where required
• SkillsForge can automatically track, chase and assess supervisor eligibility with respect to training against a designated skills framework. The information produced can be fed directly into the supervisor eligibility assessment above.

PGR Business Intelligence Reporting

A world class fully functional Business Intelligence Reporting solution is provided with every SkillsForge installation.

Business Intelligence Reporting is delivered as fully integrated into the SkillsForge infrastructure. All data generated by and uploaded into SkillsForge is warehoused and made available to the reporting solution for insight, oversight and management reporting purposes.

A world class fully functional PGR Business Intelligence Reporting solution called YellowFin, as can be seen at www.yellowfin.bi, comes with every SkillsForge installation as a module within our whole of life solution shown here.  YellowFin is delivered as fully integrated into and hosted within the SkillsForge infrastructure. All data generated by and uploaded into SkillsForge is warehoused and made available to YellowFin for insight, oversight and management reporting purposes.  This data can be manipulated in an extensive number of ways all through an intuitive “drag and drop” user interface, more of which can be seen in our Youtube video here.

A range of out of the box standard reports are made available to our customers through YellowFIn.  On top of this our customers are able to create and run their own reports within YellowFin.  All reports can be run manually or automated, regularly or ad hoc, in a wide range of file formats and media and can be exported in a variety of formats such as Excel, CSV, etc.

Role Based Access Control manages the privileges an individual has right across the SkillsForge solution including the Business Intelligence Reporting solution.

Authorised users are provided with Report Creator licenses, i.e., if they wish to create, run and share/publish their own reports within and Report Consumer licenses, i.e., they can run and share/publish their reports and access their own dashboards.

We provide a dedicated team for Business Intelligence, to help universities identify and understand reporting priorities – whilst delivering training and expert support throughout.

In order to create reports, Report Creators simply drag and drop their chosen fields into the reporting work area. From there the data can be moved into columns and rows and manipulated with many different tools such as filters, aggregation, conditions, averaging, formatting, etc, etc. Many report and dashboard formats can be chosen including many different kinds of charts and graphs.

Reports can be published and shared, run automatically or manually, and delivered regularly, or ad hoc.