TYPO3 Transforms Higher Education Website for User-Centricity and Accessibility

Three clicks to every piece of information – this ambitious goal drove the digital transformation of Rosenheim Technical University of Applied Sciences (TH Rosenheim). Situated in a picturesque region of Germany, the higher education institution embarked on a mission to modernize its website and make it more accessible to its stakeholders. 

Recognizing the project’s complexity, TH Rosenheim conducted a thorough public tender process to find a partner with the necessary expertise and resources. After diligent research and a competitive selection process, queonext emerged as the top contender. Their compelling proposal, portfolio of university website projects, and deep understanding of the higher education sector set them apart.

While many universities share similar requirements for their websites, each institution has its unique focus, vision, and features that set it apart. queonext recognizes this and looks to create tailored solutions that cater to each university’s specific needs.

In the case of TH Rosenheim, queonext turned to TYPO3 to develop a customized platform. TYPO3 was well-equipped to meet TH Rosenheim’s exacting standards for accessibility, responsiveness, and long-term scalability.

Accessibility is a fundamental principle for TH Rosenheim, and this commitment extends to their digital offerings. Just as their campuses cater to all users and abilities, their website had to be equally accessible to both future and prospective students. To achieve this, TH Rosenheim’s new website prioritizes accessibility, ensuring that every user, including those with disabilities, can easily access and navigate the platform.

queonext’s developers were tasked with bringing this vision to life. They integrated essential accessibility features from the outset, optimizing the site for screen readers and adhering to the highest web accessibility standards. 

TH Rosenheim recognizes the importance of mobile devices for students, and so the website was built with a mobile-first approach. The responsive design ensures that the platform is fully accessible and user-friendly across all devices, from smartphones to desktop computers. This mobile-first strategy allows students to access critical information and resources on the go, enhancing their overall experience with the university.

Behind the scenes, TYPO3 CMS powers TH Rosenheim’s website, providing a robust and flexible platform for content management. queonext’s team developed custom backend features tailored to the university’s specific needs, streamlining the content creation and updating process for web editors.

To manage content such as application deadlines, study plans, and contact information, a central administration tool was implemented. This feature ensures that critical information only needs to be updated in one place, saving time and reducing the risk of inconsistencies across the site.

These features demonstrate how seasoned experts like queonext can use the versatility of TYPO3 to create bespoke solutions for higher education institutions.

“We have also incorporated features for our numerous web editors, making content maintenance easier. This ensures that content, such as application deadlines for programs, study plans, or contact information for representatives, only needs to be maintained centrally and not repeatedly in a manual manner,” Jess explained.

queonext worked cooperatively with TH Rosenheim throughout the project. Regular workshops, remote sessions, and an agile development process ensured that the final product closely aligned with the university’s vision and requirements. Not only that, the website was one of five nominees for the TYPO3 Award 2023 in the category of “Education”. 

“During the development and refinement of features, the expertise of the whole queonext agency team was a significant asset. This proficiency allowed ideas and requirements from the university members to be effectively implemented. The cooperation was very cooperative and based on trust. The team at queonext contributed a lot of good ideas and proactively suggested optimisation of our requirements,” Jess explained.

TYPO3’s extensive library of extensions and robust community support allows the creation of innovative, user-focused websites that streamline content management and enhance the overall user experience. The open-source nature of TYPO3 ensures that websites built on this platform can evolve and adapt to the changing needs of higher education institutions.