Meshed Higher-Ed Releases

November 2019 Release

New Features

TCSI

(Transforming the Collection of Student Information)

TCSI – Transforming the Collection of Student Information (pronounced as “taxi”) is a joint project between The Department of Education and the Department of Human Services to transform how student information is collected. The departments are working together with education providers and software developers to build a compatible solution to collect student information.

Providers can get more information on the TCSI project available via the HEIMSHelp website (on the transition tab) https://heimshelp.education.gov.au/resources/TCSI

At Meshed we are committed to supporting the TCSI project and its solutions to ensure Provider data from Meshed Platforms will be correctly and accurately reported to the relevant Government entities. The Meshed Group Technical, Design, and Development teams have been actively working on the required Meshed Platform Integration models, designs, prototypes, etc. to implement the preferred business to government (B2G) application programming interfaces (APIs) solution. Our proactive approach to TCSI will enable us to deliver a robust, reliable, and proven Meshed Platform Integration to support Provider data reporting.

For more information on the Meshed Platform TCSI related functionality that is being implemented see TCSI.

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ESOS_English_Language ESOS_English_Language

Education Services for Overseas Students Regulations 2019 - English Language

The Education Services for Overseas Students Regulations 2019 (ESOS Regulations) commence on 1 October 2019. They replace the current 2001 regulations.

Read more about the Education Services for Overseas Student (ESOS) Regulations 2019 overview

The Meshed Platform functionality has been enhancement to support the English Language testing and exemption requirements for the ESOS Regulations 2019.

For more information on managing English Language Testing for Applicants see English Test.

For more information on managing English Language Testing for Students see English Test.

Minor Enhancements

Agent Contact List Report

The Meshed Platform now has a specific report, which can be generated from the reports menu, that displays all of the data fields for Agent Contacts.

Enrolment Fees

The Meshed Platform Setup Enrolment Fee Information feature has been enhanced to now define different value enrolment fees based on the Student origin - Overseas Student (Offshore), Overseas Student in Australia (Onshore), Resident Student (Domestic).

For more information see Enrolment Fee Setup.

Password Reset with Random Password

Password strength is a measure of the effectiveness of a password against guessing or brute-force attacks. The strength of a password is a function of length, complexity, and unpredictability. Using strong passwords lowers overall risk of a security breach, but strong passwords do not replace the need for other effective security controls.

The Meshed Platform has been enhanced with new functionality to optionally have the System generate a Random Password when Resetting User Accounts Passwords for:

• Users
• Agents
• Students

October 2019 Release

New Features

Education Services for Overseas Students Regulations 2019

The Education Services for Overseas Students Regulations 2019 (ESOS Regulations) commence on 1 October 2019. They replace the current 2001 regulations.

Read more about the Education Services for Overseas Student (ESOS) Regulations 2019 overview

As part of our ongoing commitment to our Clients, the Meshed Team have reviewed Meshed Platform functionality to identify and implement enhancements and new features required to ensure that Providers can meet ESOS Regulations in October 2019.

The key areas of the Meshed Platform reviewed for the latest ESOS Regulations were:

• PRISMS Enhancements 
• Other ESOS Amendments (minor)
• Education Agents and Students 

See Agent Setup for more information.

See Agent Portal for more information.

• Tracking of Student Course Status 

See Student Course Status for more information

The key areas of the Meshed Platform currently being reviewed for the latest ESOS Regulations are:

• Student English Language Proficiency

An update Release for any enhancements and new features required as an outcome of this review will be made soon.

Minor Enhancements

Online Assessment Submission (Optional Module)

The Meshed Platform optional module for Online Assessment Submission has been enhanced to provide Students multiple Assessment Submissions.

Functional Overview:

• Students has multiple attempts of Assessment Submission 
• Teacher records marks and uploads Marking Guide for each Assessment Submission
• All Assessment Submission marks visible in Student Portal 
• Permission control to allow Teacher to flag re-submission of Assessment Submissions

Offer Document Checklist Setup Log

The Meshed Platform View Database Modification Log has been enhanced to provide tracking of changes made to the Offer Document Checklist:

• When a document is added to the Checklist.
• Which a document in the Checklist is modified.
• When a document is deleted from the Checklist.

The log records the name of the user, date and time of these actions.

September 2019 Release

New Features

Class Capacity Report

The Meshed Platform has been enhanced with functionality to report on Class Capacity information for Users in a similar way to the View Timetable feature.

Functional Overview:

• Weekly View of Class Capacity 
• Daily View of Class Capacity
• Subject View of Class Capacity
• Room View of Class Capacity

Minor Enhancements

Attachments for Communication Log/Diary Notes

The Meshed Platform Communication Log/Diary Notes feature has been enhanced with the ability to upload attachments.  This enhancement applies to the following Meshed Platform areas:

• Students
• Applicant Offer Management
• Staff
• Teachers
• Agents

Online Class Enrolment (Optional Module) - Type of enrolment 

The Meshed Platform optional module for Online Class Enrolment has been enhanced to display information in the Student Profile about the type of enrolment.

Information overview:

• Online Student Enrolment - if the Student Portal was used for the Online Class Enrolment
• Online Staff Enrolment - if the Staff Portal was used for the Online Class Enrolment
• Group Enrolment - if the Group Management feature was used for the Class Enrolment
• Individual Enrolment - if the Student Subject Enrolment Page (set-up Study Plan) page was used for the Class Enrolment

See Online Class Enrolment for more information.

Custom Fields - Order 

The Meshed Platform Custom Fields feature has been enhanced to allow Users to define the display order of the fields (when filtering view as 'Field used for').

August 2019 Release

Major Enhancements

Random Password Generation

Password strength is a measure of the effectiveness of a password against guessing or brute-force attacks. The strength of a password is a function of length, complexity, and unpredictability. Using strong passwords lowers overall risk of a security breach, but strong passwords do not replace the need for other effective security controls.

The Meshed Platform has been enhanced with new functionality to optionally have the System generate a Random Password when creating User Accounts for:

• Staff
• Teachers
• Agents
• Students

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Minor Enhancements

Intervention Register - Student

The Meshed Platform Student Intervention Register feature has been enhanced with the addition of a Student Status column.  This column is included in the excel file that is exported as well. For an Intervention there is now an additional status of Case Unresolved - cancelled available for use.

Course Subject Stage

Based on feedback we received from Meshed Clients, the maximum number of Stages that can be assigned when Adding and Editing a Course Subject has been increased from 10 to 20.  Course Subject Stages are used when enrolling a Student into timetabled Classes.

Meshed PIR Predefined Report

The Meshed Platform now has a specific report, which can be generated from the reports menu, that displays all of the data fields shown in the Student PIR information section of their Student profile.

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User Guide

Online Class Enrolment

The Meshed Higher-ED Online User Guide has been updated to now include detailed information on the Online Class Enrolment feature. 

See Online Class Enrolment for more information.

The Meshed Higher-Ed Online User Guide can be accessed via the Help Icon located on the top right hand corner of the homepage.  Check out Meshed Higher-Ed Online User Guide.

July 2019 Release

New Features

Change Batch/Class Name (Optional)

The Meshed Platform has been enhanced with functionality to allow users to change the name of existing timetabled Batches (Classes).   This is an optional feature in the Meshed Platform.

Functional Overview:

• Available in Timetable > Manage Class Timetable list of timetabled classes
• Renaming of Batches (Classes) with enrolled Students, Attendance records etc. will be permitted
• Students can be enrolled, Attendance can be recorded etc. for renamed Batches (Classes)

Major Enhancements

Send Email to Employer

The Meshed Platform Manage Employer feature has been enhanced with the addition of email sending functionality. This allows emails to be sent directly to Employers from within the Meshed Platform. 

Employers are Companies who provide funding for Students to study Courses, for example a Scholarship. The Meshed Platform enables the assignment of Employers to Students, the generation of Employer Invoices etc. 

To understand more, check out Manage Employer

Agent Option to Send Applicant Notification

The Meshed Platform has been enhanced with an option for Agents making an Application using the Agent Portal to be able to control if the Applicant will receive an email notification. This option appears at Step 1 of the Application process and by default the email notification is not sent.

The email notification to the Applicant uses a Predefined Email Template (AgentOnlineApplication1stStepNotification) which can be customised in the Meshed Platform.

To understand more, check out Agent Portal

Minor Enhancements

Teacher Communication Log (Diary)

The Meshed Platform has been enhanced with new functionality which enables the editing and deleting of entries in a Teacher Communication Log/Diary.

To understand more, check out Teacher Management

Bulk Create Student User Account

As part of our continuous Usability Improvements for Meshed Platforms, the Selection Criteria for the Bulk Create Student User Account on the Users Menu (Users >Bulk Create Student User Account ) has been improved.  The Course field now contains and All option.

To understand more, check out Bulk Create Student User Account

Results Grade Log

The Meshed Platform View Database Modification Log has been enhanced to provide tracking of Results Grade Setup changes made from Admin > Configuration and Setup > Result Grade. 

The log records the name of the user, date and time of these actions.

June 2019 Release

New Features

Course Log

The Meshed Platform has been enhanced with a new feature that logs Course comment changes during the Application and Offer processes.  This is useful for recording and tracking of important information, notes, etc. For example a change of Agent during the Offer process.

When the Applicant is converted to a Student the Course Log remains available from the Student Profile.

Major Enhancements

Password Strength Management (Optional)

Password strength is a measure of the effectiveness of a password against guessing or brute-force attacks. The strength of a password is a function of length, complexity, and unpredictability. Using strong passwords lowers overall risk of a security breach, but strong passwords do not replace the need for other effective security controls.

The Meshed Platform has been enhanced with new optional functionality to manage Password Strength with selection of one of three strength options:

• Weak Password
• Medium Password
• Strong Password
  

The Password Strength option selected applies to:

• Create Password functions for Add New Staff, Add New Teacher, Create Agent Account, and Create Student Account.
• Change Password functions for Users (i.e. Reset Password Icon), Staff Portal, Student Portal, Agent Portal, and Teacher Portal.

This is an Optional Feature that Clients will need to request via the Meshed Support Team

More information on this feature can be found here.

Minor Enhancements

Course Template Log

The Meshed Platform View Database Modification Log has been enhanced to provide tracking of Course Template changes for Students:

• When a Course Template was assigned to a Student.
• Which Course Template was assigned to a Student.
• When a Course Template assigned to a Student is changed
• Which Course Template was assigned to a Student when changed

The log records the name of the user, date and time of these actions.

Student Mailing List

The Meshed Platform has been enhanced so that the Student Mailing List in both the Teacher Portal and the Staff Portal now include classes created using Manage Assessment Group when searching for Students using the Student Class List criteria.

To understand more about Student Mail, check out Communication Tools

User Guide

FEE-HELP

The Meshed Higher-ED Online User Guide has been updated to now include information on the FEE_HELP Module (Optional Module). 

Find out more about FEE-HELP here FEE-HELP

Customer Relationship Management (CRM) Module

The Meshed Higher-ED Online User Guide has been updated to now include detailed information on the Customer Relationship Management (CRM) Module (Optional Module). 

Find out more about the Meshed Platform CRM here Customer Relationship Management (CRM) Module

The Meshed Higher-Ed Online User Guide can be accessed via the Help Icon located on the top right hand corner of the homepage.  Check out Meshed Higher-Ed Online User Guide.

May 2019 Release

New Features

View Timetable

Based on feedback we received during the Meshed Client Forums, the View Timetable feature has undergone a significant re-design and re-development to better present this key information to Users.

Functional Overview:

• Weekly View of the timetable for Classrooms 
• Daily View of the timetable for a Classroom, Venue & Campus
• View of the timetable shows Classes and availability for a Venue & Campus
• Filter the view of the timetable by All or individual Teachers
• Navigation options for Next Day, Previous Day, Next Week and Previous Week

To understand more, check out Timetable Management

Generate Random Student ID

The Meshed Platform has been enhanced with new functionality to give the option to generate a Random Student ID or a Sequential Student ID.  This option will be applied for the following:

• Generating a Reserved Student ID in the Offer section.
• Generating a New Student ID when converting from an Offer to a Student.

Work Placement Management Feature (Optional)

The Meshed Platform has been enhanced with new functionality to fully manage Student Work Placements. 

Many Education Providers deliver Courses which require work placement. Work placement is component for a Subject, or Subjects, depending on the Provider requirements. Providers can have agreements or arrangements with various employers with whom they can place Students to fulfil the work placement requirements.

In the Meshed Platform the work placement feature allows the user to:

• Identify Courses which require work placement
• Identify Subjects which require work placement
• Enrol Students into Courses and Subjects which require work placement
• Link Student work placements with an Employer
• Record and view work placement activity for Students
• Recorded work placement attendance for Students

To understand more about the Work Placement Management Feature, check out Student Work Placement

Major Enhancements

Edit Student Education Qualification and Employment History

The Meshed Platform has been enhanced to provide an edit function for Student Education and Student Employment History.

Minor Enhancements

Custom Personal Titles

The Meshed Platform has been enhanced with a new feature for the creation of custom personal titles to compliment the default personal titles provided by the system.

These are setup as required in Admin > Configuration and Setup > System Fields Setup and are then available in all Title fields in the platform (Offer, Student, Staff, Teacher, etc). Some custom personal titles examples are:

• Prof
• Dr
• Rev

Course Information

As part of our continuous Usability Improvements for Meshed Platforms, the layout of Course Information on the Public Portal and Course Menu (Courses > Course) has been improved.

April 2019 Release

New Features

Manage Teacher Availability

The Meshed Platform has been enhanced with a new feature that will support situations where Teaching Staff are not full-time and may only be available for specific days and times.

The Manage Teacher Availability feature allows for the recording of a Teachers day and time availability for each semester. e.g. Monday 3PM-5PM, Tuesday 9AM-2PM

This information is integrated into the Meshed Platform timetabling functionality to check Teacher availability.

Major Enhancements

Define Course Structure

Meshed Higher-Ed has been enhanced to support a Domestic Subject Fee, in addition to the Subject Fee, when defining or managing the Structure for Courses configured as Higher-Ed course types.  This is useful for Providers that are Fee help approved or have different Subject fees for Domestic and International Students.  The System will use the correct fee for Students for Fee Help reporting and for Finance related functions.

To understand more, check out Course Program Setup

Minor Enhancements

Student Mailing and SMS List

As part of our continuous Usability Improvements for Meshed Platforms, a new Order By option for the Student List for the Student Mailing List and Student SMS Send features has been implemented.  

To understand more about Student Mail and SMS, check out Communication Tools

Staff Mailing and SMS List

As part of our continuous Usability Improvements for Meshed Platforms, a new Order By option for the Staff List for the Staff Mailing List and Staff SMS Send features has been implemented.  

To understand more about Staff Mail and SMS, check out Communication Tools

Student Communication Log (Bulk)

As part of our continuous Usability Improvements for Meshed Platforms, a new Order By option for the Student List in the Communication Log/Diary - Bulk feature has been implemented.  

To understand more about the Student Communication Log, check out Communication Tools

Offer Mailing and SMS List

As part of our continuous Usability Improvements for Meshed Platforms, a new Order By option for the Applicant List for the Offer Mailing List and Offer SMS List features has been implemented.  

March 2019 Release

Major Enhancements

Applicant and Student Duplicate Check

The duplicate check functionality which applies to the Application Entry processes has been enhanced to now also apply to:

• Modification of an Application during the Offer Management processes
• Modification of a Student profile during Student Management processes.

This System will alert the User when a potential Duplicate is detected. This will assist with preventing duplication of Students and Applicants in the System.

Duplicate check is performed using the following criteria:

• First Name
• Last Name
• DOB
• Email
• Nationality and Passport combination

Minor Enhancements

Bulk Enrolment by Subject

As part of our continuous Usability Improvements for Meshed Platforms, a new filter for 'Status' for the Bulk Enrolment feature has been implemented.  The 'Status' filter is displayed when the Search Type is 'By Subject' and the Student Type is 'New Student'.

Manage Orientation

As part of our continuous Usability Improvements for Meshed Platforms, a new Order By option for the Student List in the Manage Orientation feature has been implemented.  

To understand more about Student Orientation, check out the Orientation Process Guide 

Student Portal Documents

As part of our continuous Usability Improvements for Meshed Platforms, the Student Portal (Optional Module) Document functionality has been improved:

• Directories can be used to improve organisation of Documents
• Show the file size in KB, MB

To understand more about the Student Portal Module (Optional), check out Student Portal Module

User Guide

User Role Menu and Feature access information

The Meshed Higher-Ed Online User Guide has been updated to now include a useful list of the default Menu and Feature access for each of the predefined roles that can be assigned to Users in the System.  The list contains the User Roles, Menu Access, Details, and Feature Access.  

To understand more, check out User Role - Menu and Feature Access

Permissions

The Meshed Higher-Ed Online User Guide has been updated to now include a useful list of permissions that can be managed in the System.  The list contains the Names and Descriptions of permissions (access and feature) that Super Administrators can modify for users. 

To understand more about permissions that can be managed, check out Setup Permission

The Meshed Higher-Ed Online User Guide can be accessed via the Help Icon located on the top right hand corner of the homepage.  Check out Meshed Higher-Ed Online User Guide.

February 2019 Release

New Features

Upload Staff Picture

The Staff Profile has a new feature to allow the upload of a Staff picture.  This picture can be used, in addition to the other profile details, to identify the Staff member.

To understand more about our Staff Profile feature, check out Staff Management

Major Enhancements

Improvement Register

The Improvement Register has been enhanced to Upload and Manage files that are related to information being recorded in the register, and with the addition of a new field to record the actual Lodged Date as well as the Case created date. These enhancements enable a more comprehensive record of information to be maintained in the Register.

Upload of files is available when Adding a new Case and when Updating an existing Case.

Attachments can be viewed/downloaded or deleted for existing Cases using the Action Icon and Link in the File Attachment column.

To understand how this feature works, check out Improvement Register

January 2019 Release

New Features

Power BI Integration

The Meshed Platform can now be integrated with Power BI – a popular business analytics tool from Microsoft. Create and view your own custom Dashboards in Power BI, using data from your Meshed Platform Reports, for interactive analysis, visualisations, and insights which are key to driving your organisation.  Power BI provides interactive visualisations with self-service business intelligence capabilities, where end users can create dashboards by themselves, without having to depend on information technology staff or database administrators.

To understand more about this integration, check out Power BI Integration

Major Enhancements

Meshed Mobility – Alert notifications on the Lock or Home screen

The Meshed Mobility smartphone app now conveniently pops up notifications on the Lock/Home Screen directly on the Student's smartphone when:

• Any email communication is sent to the Student.

• Grades are updated for the student.

• The Student is enrolled in a Course or Subject

• Payment has been received from the Student (both Tuition and Miscellaneous Fees)

To understand more about Meshed Mobility, check out Meshed Mobility 

Minor Enhancements

Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC)

The Configuration and Setup for the Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) has been improved:

• The available maximum selection for 'OSHC duration' has been increased from 60 Months to 86 months.
• As part of our continuous Usability Improvements for Meshed Platforms, a new Filter for 'Provider' for the OSHC list has been implemented.
• Under 'Setup Active Provider' the checkbox(s) indicate Provider(s) that are currently set as active.

To understand how this feature works, check out Configuration and Set Up