BUFS Student Portal Update
What has changed from the existing system?
Cub-reporter Lee Yeon-woo
yeony200@naver.com
Students at Busan University of Foreign Studies have always been complaining about the student portal service. The existing system was inconvenient for students to use in many ways. The student council and many other students repeatedly asked the school affairs support team to update the system, but to no avail. It seemed like an impossible task, but finally the system has been changed. The system was updated to make it more convenient for the students to use by combining all of the sites in to one school information portal site. The new system follows the HTML5 based web standard so that users can utilize the functions without installing any plug-ins or browsers. It is now available for use on Safari, Chrome, Edge, etc. Therefore, students can now log in on any type of device, be it OS or Android. In the past, the student information system was separated into several separate sites and it was confusing. There were two main sites, but vital information and functions were only accessible through one of the sites.
Furthermore, the site was out-of-date and was difficult to access. Announcements by the academic affairs team were hidden behind complicated browsers and some of the documents had to be submitted offline. Following the update, the system is now much simpler to use. Most of the requests from students can be accepted online, including applications for leave of absence, and change of major. However, applications for an official approval of absence will be available from next semester. The primary functions have been arranged on the main page so that students can easily find and utilize them. All types of application form regarding academic affairs can be downloaded in the data lab. Applications for foreign exchanges, work scholarships, and other kinds of scholarships can be retrieved and viewed all together. Applications for early graduation, or the postponement in achievement of a Bachelor's degree are available and every kind of written notice is available, too. All of the services are accessible once students have logged-in. Before logging-in, only the guide is accessible. Other career and employment opportunities are accessible via the NOMAD Human Resources system.
Joo Seung-moon, manager of the Academic Affairs team said, "The main reason for updating the student portal was to make it easier for students to use. It should have been done earlier, but there were a lot of problems with the budget. Although it was late, we are glad that we could update the system." With regards to expectations over the updates, he expects that "Every student in BUFS and next year's freshers will be able to easily access the necessary information. They are all arranged in order and accessibility has been enhanced thanks to resolving the CS based web problem." Lee Jun-young, president of the student body said, "I am relieved that the inconveniences that students have suffered over the years have finally been resolved. It was a good opportunity for us to show our responsibility to the students as the students' delegate." About the progress he said, "We made inquiries to the team of information and communications even before we started preparing for the student elections. After the election we visited the team once more and asked about the progress and heard that the system would be updated in the first semester or sooner. We asked for the system to be updated as quickly as possible for the convenience of the students."