CBS

Since 2010, IT-Kartellet has been part of the development setup at CBS (Copenhagen Business School) and has built several platforms with a wide range of interconnected sites that reuse structures and are integrated with each other.

 

As a technical partner, ITK has assisted CBS in developing a Drupal platform, which has formed the basis for several sites over time. The platform is based on Drupal 7 and has been operational since 2014 and is still in operation. In addition to Drupal, a wide range of associated plugins are used, such as Apache SolR and several self-developed data integrations, ensuring that Drupal is always fully updated from a number of external sources.

 

ITK is currently responsible for the operation, support, and maintenance of courseadmin.cbs.dk, ilead.digital, and calendar.cbs.dk, as well as the maintenance of these platforms. CBS hosts the sites themselves but is only responsible for the machines and their operating systems. From there, ITK takes over the application operation, supplemented by 2nd line support, as 1st line support is handled by CBS's own support function, which has such a good overview of Drupal as a system that they can take the most common inquiries.

 

Since 2014, IT Kartellet has undertaken tasks related to UX and UI advice, as well as the implementation of design proposals produced by CBS’s marketing department. In addition, the operation has been handled in close contact with the respective operation and support departments. Therefore, the projects have always been run across the organization and have been anchored in a steering committee, which has overseen the overall plan for the projects, as well as the external suppliers who have assisted in the development.

During the reference period, ITK has developed the following as a supplement to the described:

  • A site system that enables decentralized units at CBS to develop their own information sites.
  • Integration with research platforms, which through integration with MongoDB displays citations for each researcher.
  • Developed an integration between Learn and cbs.dk, making it possible to display researchers' office hours on both platforms.
     

About CBS

Annual number of students

21.000

Annual number of courses

7500 courses

Number of teachers

600

Digital submissions on the platform built by IT-Kartellet

50.000

Copenhagen Business School founded

1917

Learn.cbs.dk has also been operated, maintained, and developed by IT-Kartellet, which has been the case since 2010. Learn.cbs.dk is based on Moodle, an LMS system originally built on the same architecture as Drupal. With CBS.dk, Learn.cbs.dk, and calendar.cbs.dk, ITK has handled the operation, maintenance, support, and further development of all three key systems at CBS. Learn.cbs.dk was taken out of operation in 2020. As part of the learn project, an integration with Uni-login and NemID was developed, which was used across universities through DEIC.

 

IT-Kartellet assisted Copenhagen Business School in the design, development, and operation of their digital exam submission system, capable of handling everything from written exams without aids to more traditional report submissions individually or in groups, and oral exams. The platform is built in the Learning Management System (LMS) Moodle, which is the leading open-source LMS on the market.

 

Digital exam initially included the following functionality:

  • Fetching exam assignments, as well as any case files.
  • Uploading exam assignments either individually or as a group within a specific timeframe.
  • Confirmation of author declaration before submission.
  • Shutdown of the system for exams without aids.
  • Assignment correction with annotation and examiner function.
  • Grading, as well as feedback to the student.
  • Plagiarism control of all submissions through the Urkund system.
Dalgas Have Blå
Dalgas Have Pink

The system was developed to draw on the study administrative system STADS, as the basis for enrollment in exams and thus as the basis for access to the exam room. Assignment of access to teachers and examiners was made through an integration with the system Courseadmin, which precisely allows this functionality and which is also developed by IT Kartellet.

 

The system has handled more than 50,000 digital submissions throughout its lifespan and was shut down as CBS transitioned to a common system across universities.

 

In this project, IT Kartellet contributed with:

  • In-depth knowledge of digital teaching platforms, including best practices across educational institutions
  • UI & UX design
  • Frontend and backend development
  • Project management
  • Testing and implementation
  • Training and education of users
  • Support and operation
  • Strategic advice for further development

 

The system was hosted by CBS IT, guaranteeing operational reliability through IT Kartellet.

"Agility. That's the only right word to use. With IT-Kartellet, we get the resources right away, and the results shortly after. For example, we meet with Henrik in front of a whiteboard, discuss some ideas, ask him to make 'something in that direction.' Soon, we have running mock-ups, quickly bring in a user group, so functionality and processes are tested, continuously evaluate and adjust what doesn't work optimally – and then we have a really good product. Fast."

Martin Tong, Program Manager for Study and Learning and Project Manager for Digital Examination in the IT department at CBS.

What IT-Kartellet has done for CBS

CBS Learn, the flagship project, developed and implemented in close cooperation with CBS, based on Moodle, PHP, HTML, CSS, Javascript, Apache, Linux Redhat, PostgreSQL, Oracle Web Services, and Shell Scripts. It facilitates the exchange of all teaching materials and is used by +36,000.

Project room module for optional group work or self-study. Supports all learning, not just a file-sharing portal.

Examples of functionality:

  • Automatic nightly emails keeping everyone updated on course-relevant new material, messages, etc.
  • Blocks providing course overview and archive
  • Instant notification for the dissemination of urgent messages
  • Etherpad solution – real-time online editor, allowing multiple users to edit documents simultaneously
     

calendar.cbs.dk: an easily accessible and automatically updated personal schedule for students and teachers - with high update frequency and data quality. Functions via iPhone, Android, Windows Phone, Outlook, and Google Calendar, etc. For example, one can see which classes one is enrolled in, when and where there is teaching, changes, and cancellations in the schedules.

Operation and maintenance

Workshops and training

Courseadmin, managing teachers' association with courses and subjects

CBS API - a specially developed PHP-based application that integrates four main systems: the study administrative system, HR System, Courseadmin, and the e-learning system

IT-Kartellet is today part of the CBS ICT project, responsible for the further development of the learning platform and the dissemination of technical tools within the organization. As a support and advisory unit for the Portfolio Management at CBS, IT-Kartellet has helped to prepare initially 30 project proposals and project prioritization.

Trofast og agil samarbejdspartner

IT Kartellet has been a loyal partner for a long time; from the pilot project where CBS's 50,000 digital exam submissions needed to be optimized for the present, where they are easily managed, and where plagiarism has almost disappeared. IT Kartellet is today part of the CBS ICT project, responsible for the further development of the learning platform and the dissemination of technical tools within the organization. As a support and advisory unit for the Portfolio Management at CBS, IT Kartellet has helped to prepare initially 30 project proposals and project prioritization.

 

What do teachers and students use every single day, requiring it to work 100 percent each time? Learning platforms. Therefore, it was absolutely essential to be on the beat when it came to the huge open-source learning platform Moodle, so it was developed and adapted to CBS’s needs by IT Kartellet. Moreover, a busy everyday life also requires that both calendar and email functions are up to date. With calendar.cbs.dk, it's easily accessible for both students and teachers to stay automatically updated on their personal schedules. Here, the update frequency and data quality are high, making it easily functional via iPhone, Android, Windows Phone, as well as Outlook and Google Calendar, etc. For instance, one can see which classes one is enrolled in, when and where there is teaching, changes, and cancellations in the schedules. The internal reporting also needs to function, which is why the continuous reports must be automated and data organized systematically. C2IT has continuously assisted in the reporting department with the implementation of Navision Stat and reporting from it.

CBS Bibliotek

"For me, IT-Kartellet is a team of wonderboys that I pull in when I need it. There aren't many who can handle Moodle - and certainly not at the level they deliver. Moodle is a huge open source learning platform – and it demands a lot from universities to keep up. That's where IT-Kartellet helps us. To be completely up-to-date and maintain a very high quality."

Martin Tong, Program Manager for Study and Learning and Project Leader for Digital Examination in the IT department at CBS.

Want to know more?

Marathon man, teacher, CEO - perhaps it is easier to talk about the things, that Henrik can't do. One thing is for sure though: He is a 100% dedicated kartellist!

Henrik Thorn

Managing Director
+45 26 39 78 06

Bjarke is an IT ninja: Silent, fast and a force to be reconned with.

Bjarke Laustsen

Senior Developer
+45 26 33 45 65

Jakob is perhaps our sharpest knife in the drawer: Always cool, calm & collected, it is rare to see him stress or panic about problems. Why should he, he's gonna fix them anyhow!

Jakob Bo Larsen

Senior Developer