Technically modernised. Editorially familiar.
Many editorial teams, two languages and a protected area for university members: the HafenCity University Hamburg website brings together a range of tasks. Since January 2022, we have been looking after the platform technically, modernising its TYPO3 basis and developing new features. For the event calendar, we integrated an existing TYPO3 extension, designed the front end and developed an interface to the information screens on campus.
An established university platform with many contributors.
The website covers degree programmes, research, university organisation and services for students. The content is maintained in German and English by various editorial teams. Alongside the public pages, there is a protected area for university members.
When we took over support, the platform was running on TYPO3 9. Any further modernisation had to take account of page templates that had evolved over time, custom extensions and the connection to the central directory service.
The website is hosted in the data centre of Hamburg University of Technology (TUHH). Server-side tasks for which we do not have full permissions there – such as upgrades or folder shares – are coordinated with TUHH. Support, bug fixes and extensions are coordinated directly with HCU.
New technology, familiar processes.
Technical foundation
We converted the project to Composer, introduced consistent version control and established fixed processes for testing and publishing.
Version changes
The platform was first upgraded from TYPO3 9 to TYPO3 11 and then to TYPO3 12. We carried over the existing page templates and adapted them for the new versions.
Internal area
We adapted the login via the university's directory service for both version upgrades.
Event calendar
We integrated an existing TYPO3 extension for events, designed its appearance and developed an interface for the information screens on campus.
Digital accessibility
Navigation, search and other components are being reviewed and improved step by step as part of ongoing support.
Over 1,400 public pages.
University login adapted to new TYPO3 versions.
The protected area uses the university's central directory service. Login is handled by a widely used TYPO3 extension. After the move to TYPO3 11, group synchronisation with the directory service did not work with the extension's new version.
We therefore adapted the previous version of the extension to TYPO3 11 ourselves. Since the move to TYPO3 12, the website has been using the extension's current development version.
Enter dates once, use them in several places.
Events are maintained in the website's calendar. It is based on an existing TYPO3 extension for events, which we integrated and styled to match the university's visual identity.
For the information screens on campus, an interface we developed supplies the dates, including images, in JSON format. The screen provider retrieves the data from there. In the backend, the editorial team can exclude individual events from the transfer.
The platform at a glance.
How we help with similar projects.
Many editorial teams, one shared website?
Would you like to develop your TYPO3 website technically while keeping proven editorial processes? We look at the existing structures, access rights and interfaces and agree the next steps with you and your IT team.
