KAUST

King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) partnered with Spinbox to develop modern, user-friendly websites for their International Programs Office (IPO) and Admissions and Student Recruitment (ASR) departments. Despite the IPO website not going live, the collaboration laid the groundwork for the successful development of the ASR website, effectively merging two existing sites into one cohesive platform. Spinbox's expertise in Sitefinity CMS ensured robust, flexible, and scalable solutions that significantly enhanced user experience, increased applications and inquiries, and improved operational efficiency.

The Brief

A Unified Digital Vision

King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) engaged Spinbox to develop new websites for their International Programs Office (IPO) and Admissions and Student Recruitment (ASR) department. The IPO website aimed to create a modern, user-friendly platform using the advanced Sitefinity Content Management System (CMS) to manage and deliver information efficiently. Although the IPO department was dissolved before the website could go live, this project laid the groundwork for the successful development of KAUST's ASR website.

The ASR project involved merging the existing Admissions and Visiting Students Research Programmes (VSRP) websites into a single, cohesive platform. This new website was intended to serve as a comprehensive resource for prospective students, providing them with all the necessary information to apply to KAUST while showcasing the university's facilities and lifestyle.

Industry

Education & Training

Involvement

3rd Party Integration CMS Development Education Sitefinity UX Design Web Development

Technologies

MVC Sitefinity
A Unified Digital Vision
Solution

Crafting Cutting-Edge CMS Solutions

Spinbox, leveraging its 12 years of expertise with Sitefinity CMS, proposed and executed a comprehensive solution to meet KAUST's needs for both the IPO and ASR websites. The solution included:

  • Advanced CMS Features: Implemented automated workflows, content personalisation, and multi-site management capabilities to ensure efficient content delivery and user engagement.
  • Seamless Integration: Ensured compatibility with CRM systems, supported responsive design, and integrated mobile apps for a seamless user experience across all devices.
  • Customisation and Flexibility: Offered real-time design changes, drag-and-drop functionality, and multilingual support to cater to diverse user requirements.
  • Marketing and Analytics Tools: Integrated tracking tools, SEO management, and social media content sharing to enhance site performance and visibility.
  • Design Excellence: Created wireframes and mock-ups using Adobe XD, aligning with KAUST’s branding guidelines and visual identity. Incorporated high-quality imagery and ensured adherence to Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG 2.1).
  • Robust Development: Built custom Sitefinity CMS solutions, integrated SEO best practices, developed modular, customisable widgets, and implemented robust search functionality to meet Google Search Console specifications and achieve high performance scores on Core Web Vitals.
  • Content Integration: Migrated and enhanced relevant content from the old websites, developed new sections such as student and alumni stories, and provided comprehensive information on research facilities and student services.

KAUST Case Studies

IPO website

International Programs Office website

King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) engaged Spinbox to develop a new website for the International Programs Office (I...

Read Case Study
ASR website

KAUST's Admissions and Student Recruitment website

King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) enlisted Spinbox to design and build a new website for its Admissions and Student...

Read Case Study

Your contributions to the user interface have greatly enhanced our students, faculty, and staff experience, and your seamless collaboration was essential during the deployment phase

Ali Al-Ghanim
Senior System Analyst

Results

Elevated User Experience & Operational Efficiency

Spinbox's collaboration with KAUST resulted in significant achievement, including:

  • Foundation for Future Projects: The IPO project established a solid groundwork for developing the ASR website, showcasing Spinbox’s technical prowess and adaptability.
  • Improved User Experience: The ASR website now serves as a single source of truth for prospective students, with enhanced navigation and search capabilities reducing bounce rates and increasing engagement.
  • Increased Applications and Enquiries: Clear calls to action are prominently featured throughout the site, guiding prospective students towards the application process. The site’s design and content effectively showcase KAUST’s key selling points, resulting in higher user retention and more applications.
  • Operational Efficiency: The new CMS and content management capabilities have reduced the administrative burden on the ASR team, allowing them to focus on strategic initiatives. The ability to target content based on user location has personalised the user experience, making information more relevant and engaging.

Spinbox's expertise in creating user-centric, technically robust websites has driven engagement and achieved KAUST’s business objectives, setting a new standard for university recruitment platforms.

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