After several months of preparation, the Faculty of Science of Charles University launched a new web portal to replace the existing website.The new website went live on 1 September and covers information on key agendas to the maximum extent possible. During September, before the start of the academic year, further fine-tuning of functionality and content will take place. According to the current plan, the website will be in the editing and debugging mode by the end of the calendar year.
Due to the development in the field of web technologies, increasing demands on the importance and quality of online communication and user comfort, the faculty decided to completely renew its central web portal at www.natur.cuni.cz. After more than 10 years, the website is thus switching to a completely new technological and graphic solution. The original website, built on the Plone content management system, no longer allowed for efficient handling of modern functionalities such as optimised display for different types of devices, efficient search or multilingual content management, which are essential in today's online environment.
The new website brings a modern graphic design, new functionalities and simplifies orientation, but retains the richness of content and the principles of web management. The transition to the new website has also made it possible to take into account the current principles of the visual identity of Charles University (Rector's Measure No. 45/2023), while the visual concept of Charles University has been used sensitively so as to preserve the traditional identifying elements of the Faculty of Science.
The transition to the new website was a complex project that required careful planning and coordination. The process included the selection of a CMS, user surveys (both interviews and questionnaires), and the involvement of a group of stakeholders (representatives from the College Dean, Academic Senate, and key agenda sponsors from the Dean's staff) in reviewing major developments. From Spring 2024 onwards, all faculty departments were involved in the concrete development of the new website, first in the form of comments and requests, and then by independently ensuring the delivery of the website content on behalf of their departments. The whole process is managed by a team led by the Vice Dean for External Relations and Information Technology Prof. Jakub Langhammer and included representatives of both key departments of the Dean's Office (OIT, OVV). This team will manage the project until December 2024, when the system is expected to be debugged and handed over to routine management and ongoing sustainable development.