New Module Manager launched for 2025/26

In preparation for the new academic year, the Centre for Digital Learning Enhancement (CDLE) is launching a new Module Manager. Version 1.0 goes live on 8th July 2025. This new Module Manager is fully integrated with the Blackboard Ultra Learning Management (LMS) providing greater sustainability, efficiency and security.

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This page provides more information on the changes and discusses future plans for the Module Manager. We also have prepared these new guides to help you get to grips with the new application.

• Getting access to your modules in Blackboard 2025/26

• Setting up your module for teaching 2025/26

• Changing the start-date

• Setting up a BB Ultra Development Area 2025/26

The Module Manager has grown at Ulster, over a period of 20 plus years, to support a number of processes related to the management of Blackboard. However, the primary function is to facilitate staff requesting access to their Blackboard modules.

The system also supports various Blackboard administrative tasks, such as changing the start date of modules and managing access to Blackboard for PhD students, external examiners and student support providers.

‘Why do we need a Module Manager? Why can’t my modules be set up for me each year?'
Unfortunately, we do not currently have accurate centralised data source that would allow us to do this. In time, we may have the framework that would allow automating this process, but the current data limitations means that we need staff to request access to their modules.

There are a number of reasons why we are re-launching the Module Manager for academic year 2025/26.

• Better integration with Blackboard. The twenty year old system had grown in complexity and included unnecessary legacy functionality such as Qwickly integration and copying content between modules, which is now possible within Blackboard (see copying content). We have removed these features and created a new framework for future developments aligned to the features of Blackboard Ultra.

• Future-proofing and improved support. The old system was running on an unsupported Operating System which could no longer be patched, or upgraded. The application’s author retired in 2024 leaving a gap in institutional knowledge, that made maintenance and upgrades difficult.

• Real-time data. Ulster’s core Student Records Information System (SRIS) is being upgraded with new feature availability allowing us to rethink how we connect Banner to Blackboard. We have taken advantage of this opportunity to do near real-time data synching with future updates to Banner.

• Better security. We identified a need to change authentication to Single Sign On matching other Ulster systems and reducing risk.

• Greater efficiency. There is an opportunity, in Blackboard Ultra, to allow staff to undertake more tasks within Blackboard rather than in the Module Manager.

• Improved functionality. Better integration with the Blackboard Ultra LMS surfaces more functionality for staff such as changing the start date of a module

Version 1.0 of the new Module Manager goes live on 8th July 2025 and the system will contain the basic features that we believe are necessary for this point of the academic year:

• Staff can request access to 2025/26 Blackboard module areas.

• Staff can request access to any previous years Blackboard modules back to 2017/18.

• Staff can change the start date of their modules*

During academic year 25/26 further versions will be rolled out with new features:

• Managing Programme Support Areas

• Managing External Examiners workflows

You may find that you have some missing functionality in the new version of the Module Manager and if that is the case please contact us at blackboardhelpdesk@ulster.ac.uk and we will help you with your query.