ETR will be replaced by Neptun at the University of Szeged. SZTE’s Vice-rector of Education and the Director of Education answered for questions about the changes.
Why is it necessary to change?
Krisztina Karsai: The situation of the institution is determined. Since subsidies of ETR will be ceased, every higher-education institution, this way the University of Szeged, is forced to change.
How would this affect international students of SZTE? What will happen to their data and course documentation?
Krisztina Karsai: As Hungarians’ data, the data of international students will be transferred to Neptun. The new system will be used in the same way as ETR was: guides and documents in English will be available.
When does the new system start?
Krisztina Karsai: Our aim is to launch Neptun in April. According to data and experience of the Directorate for Education the workload of the system has the lowest level between April and November. For this reason we chose to implement and introduce it in April. This way problems occurring during the change-over in April can be solved till the peak season of November. We will do everything to make the transition period smooth, to eliminate the possible problems. However introduction of Neptun requires patience and understanding from the users as much as it is required when a new system is introduced.
What is the schedule for the change between the two systems?
Péter Szakál: The implementation of the system has been started: the coordination of the IT systems, the development of the core server and the specification of the system is happening. We started the preparations from the beginning of September, 2016 to organise the transition. Data currently in ETR has to be transferred fully to the system of Neptun. This data migration and supervision will take 3 weeks: one week to convert the data, one week for the IT control, and one week for testing. Following this transition period students, professors and administrative staff may start using the new system.
What happens to data of students associated with their courses, credits, personal and financial details currently stored in ETR?
Péter Szakál: We close ETR this week, to start the data transfer to Neptun. Data stored in ETR will be archived, which means we cannot modify them in the future, however data won’t get lost, and users will have access to reach it (course completions) in the future. We are aiming for a 100% precise data transfer, however in case of problems we will be able to provide all of the previous data. Users do not need to do anything to save their data, they can be in search at any time.
Does access change? Who has access to data in the new system?
Péter Szakál: The access to data, the authorisation system basically won’t change. As in ETR, everyone can access their own data in Neptun, and data bound by their roles, both with the current user name and password.
What is the schedule of orientations about the new system?
Krisztina Karsai: The changes affect students and professors in a lesser degree, because the functions used by them won’t change significantly, but the interface. However we provide them with information sessions and short videos about how to apply for an exam, how to apply for courses, how to enter grades or how to deal with financials.
How does the change affect CooSpace and Modulo? How can students manage academic issues?
Krisztina Karsai: We think it’s very important to note that CooSpace and Modulo will work still. Not only do these systems have excellent functions, but they are well known among users, and it is our intention to preserve and strengthen users’ comfort. The changes won’t affect CooSpace, it’s an educational platform where information and curriculum for courses remain accessible: Students have access to these materials, and professors can upload documents during the semester.
Péter Szakál: Modulo will operate during the change-over period with little restrictions. Requests in Modulo will be available in accordance with the type of the given request: requests which requires data from the academic system will be changed regarding its operation. During the three weeks, when the educational system will not operate, students should request student’s status certificate at Tanulmányi Osztály (Admission office of the Faculty) but credit transfers from external studies previously not administered in ETR cannot be requested.
How does the transition affect the course registration? Is the rank-line course registration going to be used?
Péter Szakál: Yes, the rank-line course registration method remains, the rules of procedure won’t change. In August, during the course registration period as specified in the University’s calendar, students apply as usual to the chosen courses. Then the system range and ranks the applications by the expected date of the graduation, by the course type: if it is compulsory or not, and by the frequency the course was tried to completed. Following this ranking do the competitive course applications start for the free places. It is our intention to ensure the accessibility of the system as much as possible during the course application period, therefore course applications are scheduled stepwise, upon faculties.
At what link is the system accessible and what do you need to log in? Are EHA-codes to be changed? What happens to EHA codes of graduated students?
Péter Szakál: The new system will be accessible via the website of the University, by clicking to Neptun at the top row of the English website, above the name of the University. EHA codes will not be changed, when logging in current codes and passwords should be used. Graduates students’ data will not be changed either, their EHA code and password will be transferred automatically to the new system. Incoming students to be enrolled in August will receive Neptun username and password.
What are the main differences between the two interface?
Péter Szakál: Since there were no fundamental changes in the academic administration, procedures of the two systems are very similar. The well-known surface of ETR will be different, but the interface of Neptun is also user-friendly with easily accessible functions. With the help of trainings and information we provide, it is intended that the transition period do not cause problems to the users as it didn’t cause such problems at time of the upgrades of ETR, Coospace or Modulo. Besides that Neptun is multilingual we plan to make the platforms accessible from smart devices.
SZTEinfo
