Terms of Reference for Consultancy: Web Graphic Designer for AVU
Corporate Website
A. Introduction
The
African Virtual University (AVU) www.avu.org is a Pan African Intergovernmental
Organization established by charter with the mandate of significantly
increasing access to quality higher education and training through the
innovative use of information communication technologies.
The AVU Business Plan 2009-2014 has two main thrusts:
(a)
Educational and support services provided on a fee basis; and
(b)
Not-for-profit development services.
The,
Not-for-profit development services, aims at building the capacity of AVU
Partner Institutions (PIs) with an objective of increasing access to quality
education through the following activities: updating and developing content;
Open Educational Resources (OER) Development; AVU Capacity Enhancement Program
(ACEP); set up/upgrade ODeL centers; developing professional networks through
Communities of Practices; Research and Development; and Quality Evaluation and
Benchmarking.
Some of
the Not-for-profit development services were delivered from 2005 to 2011
through the AVU Multinational Project I, funded by the African Development Bank
(AfDB) and implemented in 10 African countries.
The AfDB is funding a second phase of the Multinational Project which will build on the first phase and will extend its benefits to more countries.
The AfDB is funding a second phase of the Multinational Project which will build on the first phase and will extend its benefits to more countries.
The
overall objective of the AVU Multinational Project II is to strengthen the
capacity of the AVU and a network of 27 institutions to deliver and manage
quality ICT integrated education and training opportunities in 21 African
countries.
The project has the following activities:
(1) Establishment of new Open Distance and eLearning (ODeL) Centers
and/or upgrading of exiting AVU Learning Centers as well as Internet
connectivity provision at AVU Partner Institutions;
(2) Development and/or improvement, and delivery of four ICT
integrated Programs: AVU Capacity Enhancement Program (ACEP); Teacher Education
(TE), Computer Science (CS), and Peace and Conflict Resolution;
(3) Gender Mainstreaming
(4) Research and Development;
(5) Promotion and development of Open Education Resources (OERs);
and
(6) Enhancement of AVU Capacity .
The AVU
Multinational Project II will be implemented in 27 AVU Partner Institutions in
the following 21 countries: nine (9) Francophone African Countries: Benin,
Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of Congo, Mali,
Mauritania, Niger, Senegal; four (4) Lusophone African Countries: Angola, Cape
Verde, Guinea Bissau and Mozambique; and eight (8) Anglophone African
Countries: Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sudan, and Tanzania.
The AVU
launched its current corporate website www.avu.org, as well as its Virtual
Classroom (based on Moodle) http://www.avu.org/virtualclass/ in 2010 and now
wishes to update these to reflect the changes that have occurred since then, to
modernize the portals, to reflect the AVU 15th year anniversary and to include
current activities especially those related the Multinational Support Project
Phase II. The Virtual Campus for Development and Peace (VCDP) Portal
www.avu.org/vcdp will also be updated and a Community of Practice Portal
implemented.
To this
end, the AVU requires a qualified person to design the graphics for the
portals.
The
image below gives a high-level graphical view of the AVU current portals:
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B. Scope of Work for the Consultant
The Web
Graphic Designer will be a member of a website development team that reports to
the Implementation Coordinator.
S/he
will be expected to collaborate with and support other team members in order to
achieve the overall team / initiative goal of developing a set of world class
web applications that meet the AVU’s requirements and expectations.
The Web
Graphic Designer will undertake the following activities for the four
websites/portals www.avu.org, www.avu.org/virtualclass;www.avu.org/vcdp;
Community of Practice Portal:
- Review and
provide feedback on the initiative’s Scope & Approach and Functional
Design documents
- Provide a
detailed plan and effort estimation for the graphic design work required
for the websites
- Design at least
three options for a common layout and look-and-feel for the corporate
website
- Develop mockups
/ prototypes for the three design options and present them to AVU
management for review
- Develop mockups
/ prototypes for the design options for a Mobile-friendly versions of the
websites and present them to AVU management for review
- Lead the
implementation of the selected design option, including the design,
development and validation of all required CSS files
- Participate in
the design, development and implementation of the Content Management
System (CMS) and ensure that all graphic design materials used in the
website are integrated into the CMS.
- Create, identify
for purchase or select and enhance, as needed, all images for the website
- Design and
develop all icons and graphic art for the website
- Resolve graphic
design-related defects detected during the testing phase and implement
changes / enhancements as requested
- Ensure
compatibility of graphic elements across multiple mobile platforms ,
including but not limited to: Android, iOS, Windows Phone and Mobile web
- Actively
participate in and contribute to all team meetings and working sessions
- Provide a weekly
status report covering all areas of responsibility to the supervisor
C. Deliverables
- A detailed plan
and effort estimation for the graphic design work required for the website
- Designs and
mockups / prototypes for at least three options for a common layout and
look and feel for the websites
- Fully
functioning, validated CSS files
- A fully
functioning, validated CMS system with all graphic design materials
integrated into it
- All images,
icons and graphic art requested and approved for the three websites
- Weekly status
reports
C. Qualifications of the Consultant
- University
degree with a major in graphic arts, graphic design, computer science or
information systems
- Excellent
graphic / artistic / design skills
- Good
understanding of interactive design principles, usability, and online
branding issues
- A minimum of 5
years of experience in web graphic design
- Strong skills in
web and graphic design software such as Photoshop, Dreamweaver, Fireworks,
Illustrator, Flash, and QuarkXpress
- Experience in
web development / programming, with skills in technologies such as CSS3,
XML, HTML5, HTML/XHMTL and Javascript
- Solid experience
with Content Management Systems (CMSs)
- Experiencing
designing for mobile environments
- Experience or
familiarity with Moodle and/or DSpace would be an advantage
- Open,
cooperative team player
D. Modalities of Work
The
consultant must be available on a full time basis for the duration of the
project.
The
consultant’s detailed work schedule will be determined during the planning
process.
E. Reporting
The
consultant will report to the Website Technical Implementation Coordinator
How to Apply
The African Virtual University is an equal opportunity employer.
How to Apply
The African Virtual University is an equal opportunity employer.
The
successful candidate will be appointed on an initial contract of three months.
Application
must include an application letter and detailed curriculum vitae with: a
telephone number; email and residential addresses; and names with contact
addresses of three professional references.
Applications
should be sent to job@avu.org and must have ‘WEB GRAPHIC DESIGNER’ as the email
subject Any inquiries should be sent to avuhr@avu.org
The
successful candidate will be based at the AVU Headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya.
The closing date for this
application is 14th December 2012
