Implementation of Esploro at University of West Florida

This case study details the implementation of the Esploro research portal and profiles solution at the University of West Florida (UWF). The objective of using Esploro was to enhance the visibility of both student and faculty research on campus, moving beyond traditional faculty showcasing. The UWF Libraries had previously managed an institutional repository that lacked the functionality of Esploro, which was selected for its integrated capabilities and strong analytics features. The implementation aimed to improve workflows, reduce administrative burdens, and facilitate the showcasing of research outputs. Esploro's Smart Harvesting AI automates the capture of faculty publications, enhancing discoverability and reducing manual entry. The case study also highlights the annual Student Scholar Symposium and Faculty Research Showcase, emphasizing the collaborative research efforts between students and faculty. The analytics capabilities of Esploro have shown increased usage of student research projects, indicating a successful integration into UWF's academic framework.