The Universitarian's virtual desktop is a user-friendly tool, databank and interaction channel intended for all students and staff at the University of Helsinki. The virtual desktop will be realized as an agile project in partnership with Digia. Digia has solid experience in creating extensive intranet and internet portals.

The University of Helsinki has made a 3 + 2 year framework agreement with Digia for the implementation of a virtual desktop and online service platform. The purchase exceeds the EU procurement limit and so was conducted as a negotiated procurement open to competition. The winner was a Digia solution based on the latest levels of Oracle Universal Content Management and Oracle WebCenter Spaces.

"The selection criteria were the system's functional and technical properties, the system delivery and the total cost. The selected bid was successful in all of these areas and was considered to have the best functional and technical qualities in comparison with the other offered systems," explains Ville Tenhunen, Project Manager at the IT Department of the University of Helsinki.

"Our environment is very challenging. Our current Alma intranet receives around 800,000 and the university's public web service around 1.1 million visits per month. The university has dozens of websites, currently with some 1,400 content managers. The basic aims for the new tool are the correct channeling of information, interaction and openness," says Online Communications Manager Susanna Rautio.

User-driven design and user-friendly end result

The University of Helsinki has been developing the concept for the Universitarian's virtual desktop since the beginning of 2008, as a joint project between students, teachers, researchers and other users.

One of the wishes expressed by users is that the tool includes a personal area tailored to each user's needs, which contains information from diverse sources selected according to the user's profile. Users also wished for diverse interaction channels, including instant messaging and teamwork tools. Ease of use and smooth functioning are crucial to the concept. Usability is ensured through regular testing at various stages of the project.

"University of Helsinki's digital virtual desktop concept is innovative. Adapting it into a user-driven system based on the latest Oracle technologies is an exciting project," explains Ari Nuutinen, Director of the Public Sector business area, Digia.

"It is interesting to implement services for large amounts of university people, who certainly value high-class services and tools."

The package ordered by the university includes the technical platform of the virtual desktop, training in its use and maintenance, support and maintenance services, and a framework agreement for developing the university's web services.

Five years of agile development

The Universitarian's virtual desktop 2010 project started two years ago, and the first stage will conclude at the end of 2010. The development of services will continue, however, until 2012. At the final stage the emphasis will be on developing e-service solutions. The extent and scope

of the project demand a lot from the methods used. Agile methods have been found to be effective in implementing challenging software projects. Digia's operating processes are ISO-certified, and Digia is a recognized expert in the Scrum agile software development method in Finland.

Youtube video demo: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zTAeSA4wfIk

Contact information:
University of Helsinki
http://blogs.helsinki.fi/ystava-2010/

Ville Tenhunen
Project Manager, University of Helsinki IT Department
Tel. +358 (0)9 1914 0102, +358 (0)50 576 2862, http://blogs.helsinki.fi/avtenhun/

Eveliina Olsson
Project Manager, University of Helsinki Communications
Tel. +358 (0)50 415 6610

Susanna Rautio
Online Communications Manager, University of Helsinki Communications
Tel. +358 (0)50 407 8300

Digia
Ari Nuutinen
Director, Public Sector
GSM +358 (0)40 513 1511, switch +358 (0)10 313 3000, fax +358 (0)10 313 4759
www.digia.com