Overview
Founded in 1984, Regent’s University London offers a future-facing curriculum within an intimate campus setting. With a focus on high-value networks and a vibrant culture of collaboration and challenge, Regent’s supports students’ personal and professional development at every stage.
Enhancing Research with the New EDS Interface
As an early adopter of the new EBSCO Discovery Service (EDS) interface, Regent’s University has embraced its full potential. The library team has embedded the EDS search bar directly into student and staff SharePoint pages, making access seamless. During induction sessions, students are introduced to advanced search options, including source types and date ranges, ensuring they start their academic journey with a solid understanding of the platform’s capabilities
Beneficial Features for Users
In addition to embedding the search bar and promoting advanced search functionalities, the university has implemented EDS’s native AI-generated insights to further enrich the user experience. The AI Insights feature generates 3-6 short, easy-to-read summaries of full-text articles to enhance the information provided in the abstract and help students understand complex topics.
These enhancements have been communicated through a student-focused blog post that also promoted the EBSCO Passport service, which shows whether their library has access to journals featured online through a browser extension. Katy Madon, Library Systems Coordinator also wrote a blog about this for the students, highlighting the changes and promoting EBSCO Passport.
Supporting Business Research with Business Source
The new Business Searching Interface has proven to be an excellent tool for business students to easily access the content in Business Source Complete. It has been prominently featured in the university’s business subject guides and is regularly highlighted during student induction sessions as a primary research tool.
Improved Research Outcomes through Easy Access to Essential Information
Providing quick access to company reports, SWOT analyses, business magazines, and case studies through a more visual interface has made a significant impact. For example, a business student preparing to begin her dissertation was shown how to search Business Source Complete using the Business Searching Interface.
The combination of accessible reports and easily discoverable relevant industry content provided her with a strong foundation for her research. This platform serves as an ideal springboard for students, particularly those conducting industry-based projects.
Positive Feedback from Students and Faculty
Feedback from both staff and students has been overwhelmingly positive. Faculty members appreciate the ease of use, while students value having a dedicated, professional platform tailored to their industry and research needs.
Seamless Implementation and Customisation
The university’s adoption of the new EDS instantly and seamlessly improved the research experience for staff and students. The library team has taken full advantage of the platform’s customisation options, including custom limiters, placards, and branding, to create a more tailored user experience.
Our goal was to encourage all our students to start their research with EDS, before expanding to other platforms.
Our goal was to encourage all our students to start their research with EDS, before expanding to other platforms.
A Strong Recommendation
Regent’s University London highly recommends the new EDS interface and Business Source on the new Business Searching Interface to other institutions. These tools have become instrumental in supporting student research. The clean, customisable interface and the use of EBSCOadmin to maintain up-to-date holdings contribute to a well-managed and effective research experience.