Improved Exam Timetable Quality and Effectiveness at Liverpool John Moores University
The University is named in honour of Sir John Moores, a successful businessman, who founded Littlewoods in 1923 then the UK’s largest and most profitable privately owned company, comprising retailing, mail order and the football pools. As well as education John Moores University is delivering an ambitious masterplan to transform their estate and facilities for the benefit of their students and also supporting the regeneration of Liverpool with high quality public open spaces that can be enjoyed by the community. Liverpool John Moores University have been an established customer of EventMAP for over 22 years.
True to the strategy of innovation Liverpool John Moores was an early adopter of EventMAP’s examination scheduling software to create the university examination timetable each year. The university’s examination timetabling team currently creates timetables for over 22,000 students annually, facing common problems including allocation of limited space and seating of students, and publication of clash-free timetables which are valued by the students.
The university timetabling team expressed an interest in upgrading their software to make use of the new features available which help improve upon their existing workflows, automate the transfer of data from the university’s student information system to the timetabling system and leverage improved reporting tools and extended report library. Also adding a new feature of automated student seating and room layout functionality for exams.
EventMAP’s development and support team upgraded the software and provided tailored training sessions on site to all timetablers, covering the main workflows required to enable them to import, schedule and analyse and report/publish timetables for students. Support was then provided during the creation and publication of the upcoming terms examination timetable. Additionally, added functionality was provided for future timetable creation to include room layouts and seating plans in the overall and individual student timetables.
The timetables for the next session of exams were produced in less time than in previous years and reduced the pressure on the timetablers at a peak time of the academic calendar. In addition, the student satisfaction with the administration of exams and timetabling improved over previous years.
The consultancy advice, learning and support provided by the EventMAP team has been invaluable.
