FAQs

Integrating Timetabler with bespoke, in-house systems, including ‘legacy’ ones which are too disruptive to ditch, is something we have done many, many times. All of our integration projects are led by Seddon Kirk, who has been with the firm for over 15 years, supported by a highly experienced team. In the end, even the most complex, technically obscure system still deals in the same thing: data. To see a list of examples of proprietary software which we routinely integrate with Celcat Timetabler, and to request a migration time estimate in relation to your institution, please see our Migration and Integration page, here.

Yes. Our cost-per-student pricing ensures that Timetabler is financially attractive to smaller educational establishments, as well as being of great practical benefit. In particular, it might be that our Managed Hosting service, which limits installation costs, would be especially suitable. Much depends upon what other systems being run by your institution, Timetabler needs to ‘talk to’. Please see our Migration and Integration page, here, to see a list of examples of proprietary software which we routinely integrate with Celcat Timetabler, and to request a migration time estimate in relation to your institution.

Our largest client by user-base is the State of Queensland, Australia. Their Celcat Timetabler system is used daily by over 100,000 students and employees. Our system is designed for very large numbers.

It is perhaps also worth noting that, from an engineering design perspective, high volumes of data are rarely a problem: with an efficient design, these tend to simply require additional processing power. The tough challenges more often relate to institutional complexity, such as, for example, those which combine several colleges, each with their own legacy software, often including at least one in a different time zone, eg. UAL (six separately run colleges across 17 sites) and MetFilm School (three campuses inc one in Berlin).

We charge for initial installation and migration, then on a cost-per-user basis. The up-front initial installation and migration fee varies greatly according to factors such as the complexity of your organisation and the other software systems with which Celcat Timetabler will need to integrate.

To see a list of examples of proprietary software which we routinely integrate with Celcat Timetabler, and to request a migration time estimate in relation to your institution, please see our Migration and Integration page

All Timetabler standard features make it significantly easier for academics, students and managers to see what is going on, experiment with changes, learn and identify ways to make progress in relation to the student experience and efficient use of human resources, physical spaces and equipment. These include:

As those involved realise the extent to which Timetabler copes with change, the more they are encouraged to investigate – and discuss with others – potential improvements. Thus a higher degree of collaboration usually arises anyway, but managers can actively nurture this by running workshops for all and by using some of the Timetabler extensions, such as Student Portal, which inform and empower, even more.

The interactive functions and reporting tools, both of which are standard Timetabler features, are the starting point for efficiency improvements. Timetablers sheer flexibility allows managers to do things such as:

• Minimise time spent travelling between sessions
• Run sessions which require the same room set-up, concurrently
• Split and combine student class groups as rooms allow, to reduce instances of tutors having to repeat teaching sessions.
• Identify opportunities to take some rooms and buildings out of use for a day, a week or even altogether, making it possible to reduce heating and other facilities costs, hire out or even sell the facility.
• Maximise efficient use of equipment, reducing the need to duplicate.
• Reduce time spent handling queries from students and academics.
• Reduce time spent resolving clashes, room bookings and urgent issues.

As a rule, we integrate Timetabler with the existing security protocols and processes set by your institution. We thus sit behind the firewalls and other protections already in place.

Definitely not. Clients often assume there will be a lot of pain! In practise, our long experience in integration and migration has, along with the continuity of our team, enabled us to develop a comprehensive system which allows us ensure that students, academics and managers have a good experience from Day 1. This is even, usually, the case when we are brought in, mid-term, for an emergency switch-over.

We’d be happy to put you in touch with as many of our existing clients as you would like, so you can ask them direct.