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
