Innovative student app optimizes communication flow in Artevelde University of Applied Sciences

The main goal for the new communication platform was simple: get all the necessary information to students on time and on the right device. For example, if a class changes at the last minute, students can be notified instantly without needing to check their email or other platforms.

Artevelde University of Applied Sciences aimed to create a central hub for students—a guide through their university experience. The key was to ensure the app didn’t feel like just another tool full of information, but rather a centralized platform where all scattered information comes together, guiding students effortlessly to what they need. As a bonus, the app also includes extras like the cafeteria menu and information on campus events.

Starting point: identifying pain points and opportunities through workshops

The project kicked off with a thorough discovery phase led by ACA Group to gain a deeper understanding of the current situation. We organized several workshops with students, professors, program directors, student services, and the helpdesk team to gather pain points, needs, and opportunities, and to map out the various experiences.

It became clear that the university and students had different expectations for the app. While the university aimed for an information-sharing platform, students were more interested in a personalized dashboard with real-time updates on classes and easy access to important documents and news.

Prototypes, test sessions, and guerilla surveys as the foundation for architecture

Using the feedback from the workshops, we were able to clearly define the product vision and identify potential risks. For example, while a digital student ID didn’t initially seem like a high priority, it turned out to be a top priority for students.

Next, we created a clickable prototype to bring the overall user experience to life. This prototype provided valuable insights during organized test sessions and spontaneous “guerilla-style” chats with students in the hallways and cafeteria.

With this feedback in hand, we teamed up with the Artevelde IT team to begin designing the app’s architecture, ensuring that data from various sources could be seamlessly delivered to students whenever they need it.

Future-proof technology

📱Scalability & performance

Scalability and performance were key focus areas during development. With 15,000 students, it’s crucial that the app can handle all of them potentially accessing data at the same time. To manage this peak load, the data sources need to function reliably and efficiently. We ran multiple test sessions to simulate these scenarios and ensure the system’s stability.

📱Cross-platform development

Supporting 15,000 students also means accommodating a wide variety of Android and Apple devices. To maximize device compatibility and keep costs down, we chose the innovative React Native technology.

With React Native, we develop in the web language React, resulting in a native app for both iOS and Android. This approach allows us to write the business logic once and share it across both platforms. Developing in one language means we only need to make changes, fix bugs, and maintain a single codebase, resulting in lower development costs and easier maintenance.

In the first few months of use, technical issues were minimal, and user feedback was overwhelmingly positive. Rolling out the app to the entire school community was a challenge, but it went off without a hitch. This smooth launch has even allowed us to introduce new features that simplifies the onboarding process of new students at Artevelde University of Applied Sciences.