The Profiles Project
We are introducing a new profiles system to make it easier to find, connect, and work with our people. The key benefit to colleagues is that your new profile supports a more visible and searchable online presence.
We will now use a single, modern database for profiles for all colleagues and postgraduate researchers: Symplectic Elements.
As well as making you more discoverable online, Symplectic Elements profiles has other useful features including CV export functions; space to capture activities that can be used to populate narrative CVs or demonstrating achievements against promotions criteria; REF-related activities, and more.
What do I need to do?
From 17 June, please log on to Symplectic Elements and update your profile in the new system. If you had an existing profile, we have migrated data from your old profiles system into Symplectic Elements so that you are not ‘starting from scratch’.
Please set time aside to do this by 17 September, when the new profiles system will go live externally.
Please note that your department or division web profile will continue to show the ‘old’ version of your profile until this date.
Essential Checklist – 30 mins
If you have limited time, please prioritise the following activities:
- Watch the ‘Quick Start’ video guide to updating your profile.
- Log in to Symplectic Elements and review your migrated profile data: the fields are not an exact fit to the new system, and you may want to reorganise your information.
- Check that you have relevant ‘key words’ in your profile. This helps you to be more discoverable online.
- Complete the labels section.
Advanced Checklist
- There is a lot of additional functionality for Symplectic Elements profiles, including:
- curating professional activities.
- curating teaching activities.
- personalising your web links, media, etc.
It is highly recommended that you complete these sections when you can, as they inform the search algorithm and support functions such as CV building and capturing information for REF environment statements. Full guidance is available on the Profiles SharePoint.
When do I need to do this?
Please complete at least the ‘essential checklist’ between 17 June – 17 September. Your new profile will not be visible to the public during this period. This is to allow time for all colleagues to complete the task. The new system will be launched live externally on 17 September.
Existing profiles on web pages will be ‘locked’ during that window, as we transition to the new system.
Where do I go for support?
Help to set-up your new profile is available in-person and online.
Training and Guidance programme: including professional photos, helpdesk support, advice on creating an impactful online profile, and communicating your research via the media.
View our training programme »
Guidance Resources: via the Profiles SharePoint site »
Support: attend drop-in sessions or email profiles@exeter.ac.uk.
Post launch activity
The new staff profiles system launches externally on Tuesday 17 September and the links to profiles on department websites will change. Where possible, redirects will be put in place to avoid broken links. The Web Team cannot fix links in email signatures or personal, project, or lab group websites, so users must check and update these once the new profiles are live.
The Web Team will run the report to identify broken links across our website and it will likely take up to a week to fix these. We thank you for being so patient while these updates take place.
Timeline for updates:
Please see below the timings for when the new profiles will go live on department websites:
- 17 September - The Discovery platform (experts.exeter.ac.uk) will be opened to the public and the team will add links to the website to sign post it.
- 18 September – The new staff profile lists will go live on department websites
- 19 September – Discovery search boxes will be added to department websites
Search Engine results
Please note that the search results in Google or other search engines, can take months to recrawl our website and index the new profile URLs.