Head Software International to design and host Internet gateway for environmental education

Citation

(2003), "Head Software International to design and host Internet gateway for environmental education", Program: electronic library and information systems, Vol. 37 No. 1. https://doi.org/10.1108/prog.2003.28037aab.007

Head Software International to design and host Internet gateway for environmental education

Head Software International to design and host Internet gateway for environmental education

Specialist electronic publishing software and services company, Head Software International (HSI), has been commissioned by the Council for Environmental Education (CEE) in England to design, produce and host a new Web site which will provide a "first stop" gateway/portal to information and resources concerning education for sustainable development (ESD).

The Web site will provide a wealth of information on key ESD initiatives, strategic developments and current issues. This will include details of organisations, resources, Web sites, grants and awards available, plus a diary of events covering training, seminars, workshops and conferences. It will also provide a number of moderated discussion groups plus the capability for CEE to conduct online consultations with its members.

Head Software International will be responsible for the overall design and structure of the gateway. In addition to making the site attractive and easy to use by such a wide potential audience, HSI will also ensure that the staff at CEE can easily keep the content up-to-date.

A dynamic database-driven system structure will be used to give rapid access to the wide range of resources available through the gateway. Capitalising on the database-driven approach, HSI will be supplying CEE with powerful in-house editing tools for updating the content of the database and for moderating the discussion groups as part of the project. This approach will also ensure that updates to the site content are instantly available to users.

Head Software International will host the gateway on a dedicated Internet server at its Caterham head office to ensure that it is available to users around the clock. As part of the hosting, HSI will provide CEE with comprehensive statistics on the use of the site.

The key objectives of this three-year project are to:

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  provide access to quality-controlled information and educational resources;

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  raise the profile of ESD resources and information;

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  stimulate debate, consultation and information exchange within a wide audience; and

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  reach a new audience to broaden the CEE network.

The gateway has the potential to benefit all people and organisations involved in education. In England alone, there are 510,000 teachers in 24,600 schools with over 8.3 million young people in schools or informal education. It will also be used by a wide variety of other groups including voluntary organisations, local authorities, government departments, business and industry, consultants, plus staff and students in further and higher education. The gateway will, of course, benefit schools, teachers and students elsewhere in the UK and provide a show-case for ESD in England to Internet users around the world.

Christine Midgley, Head of Information at the CEE, said: "We have used Headfast software for over 11 years and are delighted to be entering into a new relationship with Head Software International for the development of our Web site. Using the Headfast/Webserver software will enable CEE staff to update the new Web site easily and quickly."

Mike Hyman, Managing Director of Head Software International, commented: "We are delighted that CEE has commissioned us to develop and host this very important Internet resource. We believe that our approach will give CEE a state-of-the-art gateway Web site that is not only visually attractive and easy to use, but also very easy for CEE to keep up to date."

Head Software International is a UK software and services company based in Caterham, Surrey. Established in 1981, it provides professional software and implementation services for electronic publishing and knowledge management. Applications of its Headfast software include:

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  abstract journal production system;

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  bilingual CD-ROM catalogue of Russian books;

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  career opportunities Web site;

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  company directory on CD-ROM with mailing facilities;

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  CD-ROM book catalogue with book cover images and ordering;

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  full-text legislative and regulatory information on CD-ROM and the Internet;

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  hybrid CD-ROM with Internet links for integrating prices and other information;

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  industrial research knowledge base;

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  Internet book and video ordering system; and

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  Web site for selecting, displaying and ordering training documents.

For further information please contact: Sue Hyman, Head Software International, Croudace House, 97 Godstone Rd, Caterham, Surrey CR5 6RE, UK. Tel: +44 (0) 1883 343000; Fax: +44 (0) 1883 349777; E-mail: shyman@headfast.co.uk; URL www.headfast.co.uk