About UBC CPD
The University of British Columbia (UBC) is a globally recognized leader in teaching, learning, and research, consistently ranked among the top 20 public universities worldwide. UBC embraces innovation and transforms ideas into action. Since its founding in 1915, the university has been opening doors for people with the curiosity, drive, and vision to shape a better world. With over 70,000 students across its campuses and 375,000 alumni worldwide, UBC is a cornerstone of Canadian higher education.
UBC Continuing Professional Development (UBC CPD) is an academic unit within the Faculty of Medicine, dedicated to advancing the field of continuing professional development. Through the design, delivery, accreditation, evaluation, and research of lifelong learning opportunities, UBC CPD serves health professionals in British Columbia and beyond.
The Challenge
The UBC CPD website, built on Drupal 9, required ongoing support, consultation, and development to accommodate its multitude of programs and initiatives. Having worked with previous agencies, UBC CPD sought a BC-based web partner to enhance collaboration by working within the same time zone. Their primary needs included:
- Continuous improvements and enhancements to the Drupal website
- Consultation on design, development, security, and SEO services
- Ongoing support and maintenance for stability and performance
To meet these needs, UBC CPD partnered with Cheeky Monkey Media through the WebOps program. This flexible engagement model allowed them to purchase a block of hours and use them as needed, without being locked into specific monthly thresholds or service limitations. This approach provided access to all of Cheeky Monkey Media’s expertise, including Project Management, Design, Development, Search Engine Optimization, and Digital Marketing.
Pain Points Resolved
- Communication: Establishing clear and consistent communication channels to ensure project objectives and progress remained transparent to all stakeholders.
- Transparency: Implementing open project management practices, allowing UBC CPD to monitor developments in real-time and fostering trust and collaboration.
- Support and Maintenance: Developing a structured monthly maintenance schedule for the Drupal 10 platform, ensuring the website remained secure and functional.
- Flexibility with Errors, Bugs, and Enhancements: Adopting an agile approach to promptly address issues and implement improvements, enhancing the overall user experience.
Maintenance and Support Work & Achievements
Working closely with the UBC CPD team, Cheeky Monkey Media enhanced both the front and back-end functionality of their Drupal website. By identifying and prioritizing key improvements, they implemented a structured monthly maintenance cycle. The work completed includes:
- Drupal Core and Module Security Updates: Ensuring continued security and stability of the website.
- Enhancements to User Experience and Flow: Optimizing navigation and interactions to improve usability.
- Bug Fixes and Styling Updates: Addressing UI/UX issues and refining design elements.
- Module and Code Audit + Improvements: Conducting a thorough evaluation and implementing necessary enhancements.
- Strategic Planning and Execution for Drupal 10 Upgrade: Migrating from Drupal 9 to Drupal 10 with special attention to custom integrations and module compatibility.
- Research and Testing: Investigating module upgrade paths, solutions for non-compatible upgrades, and extensive testing at each phase.
New Projects Completed
- Flexible Blogs and Podcasts Area: Developed a dynamic section for hosting blogs and podcasts, making content management easier and expanding UBC CPD’s digital educational offerings.
- Drupal 10 Upgrade: Successfully upgraded the website to Drupal 10, improving performance, security, and scalability.
- Interactive Coach and Mentor Tool: Created an interactive platform allowing users to find and connect with coaches and mentors, fostering professional development and networking opportunities.
Through this collaboration, UBC CPD’s digital presence has been significantly enhanced, ensuring a modern, reliable, and user-friendly experience for health professionals seeking continuing education resources.
