Web Manager University Kicks Off New Semester with Workshop
GSA #10276
September 19, 2006
Contact: Andrew Gibbons (202) 501-1231
andrew.gibbons@gsa.gov
Washington D.C. – Web managers from throughout the government are learning an assortment of skills this week at the Government Web Managers Workshop, co-sponsored by the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA). The workshop kicks off the fall 2006 semester for Web Manager University. Managers are being taught the practical tools they need to make government websites easier to read and navigate, to improve the way government websites are managed and measured, and to respond in the face of emergencies.
“This is just another example of how GSA is improving service to citizens across the government,” said GSA Administrator Lurita Doan. “Citizens are using the internet for information more than ever, and this demonstrates the government’s efforts to ensure the websites provide useful information to citizens on their terms.”
Web Manager University is a comprehensive, multi-disciplinary training program for government web managers, which will discuss how to improve government websites and strengthen the way the public accesses government information and services, particularly in times of crisis.
Last semester, the training program attracted over 500 web managers, who received low-cost instruction from some of the nation’s top web experts. The program offers two hour seminars and one and two-day courses on such topics as: web content and information architecture, web governance, web analytics, usability and design, search engines, and web marketing.
The kickoff workshop included web managers and content specialists from across the country, representing over 50 federal agencies and several state and local government agencies. Keynote speakers included John Lewis Needham of Google, Inc., and well-known usability expert Jared Spool.
The event is taking place at Catholic University in Washington, D.C. The workshop is part of a larger effort by GSA to provide a leadership role in improving services to citizens government-wide -- in whichever way they want to communicate with their government -- whether via the web, email, phone, or in-person.
Read more about Web Manager University at: http://www.firstgov.gov/webcontent/resources/training/university.shtml
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