Thrun Skema

Thrun Skema - Centralizing Student Information at Aarhus University

The Project

Thrun Skema was a specialized digital platform developed for students at Aarhus University, Denmark. The platform consolidated critical student information from various university systems into a single, easy-to-access interface, addressing the challenge of information fragmentation across multiple university websites and services.

The Challenge

Prior to Thrun Skema, Aarhus University students faced significant challenges in managing their academic information:

1. Information was scattered across multiple platforms, including:

   • Timetable.au.dk for class schedules
   • University email systems
   • Various faculty-specific websites
   • Student self-service portal (mit.au.dk)
   • Individual Friday bar pages and social media accounts

2. Students needed to remember multiple logins and navigate different interfaces to access essential information.

3. There was no centralized source for social events like Friday bars (an important part of Danish student culture).

Our Approach

We developed an integrated solution that brought together diverse university data sources into one mobile application, providing a unified experience for students. Our approach included:

• Creating API connections to multiple university systems to retrieve real-time data
• Developing a clean, intuitive mobile interface designed specifically for student needs
• Implementing secure authentication with university credentials
• Building a comprehensive database of Friday bars and their events
• Ensuring regular data synchronization to provide up-to-date information

Technical Implementation

Technology Stack

The Thrun Skema platform was built using modern technologies:

• Frontend: Flutter for cross-platform development

  • Single codebase for iOS, Android, and web applications
  • Responsive design adapting to mobile and desktop interfaces
  • Intuitive, responsive user interface with native performance
  • Offline capabilities for viewing schedules without internet access

• Backend: Fastify web framework

  • Highly performant Node.js server implementation
  • Schema-based request/response validation
  • Efficient handling of concurrent requests
  • Developer-friendly API development

• Database: MySQL

  • Reliable storage for user data and preferences
  • Structured storage of timetable and course information
  • Optimized queries for fast data retrieval

• Data Collection:

  • Web crawlers built with Puppeteer for structured data extraction
  • Custom Node.js scripts for specialized data sources
  • Automated scheduling for regular data updates
  • Error handling and monitoring for data integrity

Core Features

• Timetable Integration: Synchronized class schedules from the university's timetable system
• Email Access: Direct access to university email without switching platforms
• Course Information: Details about enrolled courses, including materials and deadlines
• Friday Bar Information: Comprehensive listing of university Friday bars, their locations, opening hours, and special events

Results

Thrun Skema successfully addressed the information fragmentation problem at Aarhus University:

• Enhanced Student Experience: Unified access to academic and social information
• Time Efficiency: Eliminated the need to log into multiple systems
• Improved Information Access: Centralized critical academic information in one place
• Social Integration: Made it easier to discover and participate in campus social events
• Reduced Complexity: Provided a single interface for multiple university services

User Impact

The application significantly improved the daily university experience for students:

• Academic Success: Better schedule management and course information access
• Work-Life Balance: Seamless integration of academic responsibilities and social opportunities
• Time Management: Reduced time spent navigating between different platforms
• Community Engagement: Increased awareness and participation in Friday bar events
• Overall Satisfaction: A more streamlined and enjoyable university experience

Conclusion

Thrun Skema represented an innovative approach to solving information management challenges for university students. By bringing together timetables, emails, courses, and Friday bar information in one platform, it created a more streamlined and enjoyable university experience for Aarhus University students. The project demonstrates how thoughtful integration of existing systems can create significant value for users, even in established institutional environments like universities.