DoodleWebCanada
For Universities

What should a university look for in a web development partner?

How to identify a digital partner who delivers real results for higher education.

  • Surrey, BC · Canada
  • Senior engineers only

Talk to us about what should a university look for in a web development partner?

A senior engineer reads every message and replies within one working day.

  • Surrey, BC · Canada
  • Senior engineers only
What should a university look for in a web development partner?

Who this is for

Higher Education IT Leads

IT managers juggling aging legacy sites, strict data and account security requirements, and the realities of complex, multi-team projects. Mistakes mean compliance lapses, data breaches, or failed integrations.

University Marketing & Communications

Marketing leads overhauling disjointed digital experiences for students, alumni, and researchers. Outdated, slow, or inaccessible sites directly harm recruitment, engagement, and reputation.

Procurement & Project Management

Procurement teams navigating demanding RFPs, vendor vetting, and tight budgets. Poor partner selection leads to costly overruns, contract headaches, and stalled digital progress.

Higher Education Expertise

DoodleWeb has delivered large-scale site redesigns, migrations, and new builds for Canadian universities and research bodies. Our process incorporates deep committee review, accessibility audits, and phased go-lives to avoid classroom or administrative disruption.

Certified Technical Delivery

As a Drupal Bronze Partner, WP Engine Advanced Partner, and Webflow Certified Partner, your project stays in the hands of senior Canadian engineers from start to finish—never juniors, never offshored.

Accessibility (AODA/WCAG) Compliance

We design and rigorously audit sites for AODA and WCAG 2.1 compliance, equipping your university to meet legislative requirements and serve all users. Our reports document accessibility status for institutional records and future audits.

Robust Security & Integration Capabilities

We address higher ed’s unique data privacy, authentication, and security needs. Our team integrates sites with SIS, LMS, and SSO platforms, and we provide structured post-launch support.

Transparent, Referenceable Track Record

DoodleWeb provides public sector and higher ed references, independent client reviews, and verified credentials on Clutch and Drupal.org. Our work emphasizes milestones, full code ownership, and open communication.

How it works

  1. 1
    Discovery & Technical Scoping

    We collaborate with IT, marketing, and accessibility leads to audit your systems, clarify compliance criteria, and scope plans around stakeholder review cycles.

  2. 2
    Design, Build & Migration

    Senior engineers craft branded, accessible digital experiences and manage content migration with data integrity. We integrate seamlessly with your existing tech and meet all campus security policies.

  3. 3
    Quality Assurance & Support

    We conduct in-depth accessibility checks, run security and user acceptance tests, and provide go-live support, documentation, and optional ongoing maintenance.

71%
of students say a university’s website influences their application decision (QS Intelligence Unit, 2024)
15%
of Canadian higher ed sites failed WCAG 2.1 compliance tests in 2023 (Inclusive Design Research Centre, 2023)
2025
AODA compliance deadline for Ontario universities

Why sector experience and compliance matter for university web partners

Higher education web projects demand precise compliance knowledge, from AODA/WCAG accessibility to public-sector security protocols, plus experience navigating committee reviews and deep system integrations (SIS, LMS, SSO). DoodleWeb’s verified track record with Canadian universities—visible on Clutch and Drupal.org—means fewer surprises and faster, audit-ready launches. Choosing a partner without this expertise almost guarantees avoidable rework, noncompliance, or digital tools that fall short of your campus’s real needs.

What are the risks if a university delays or chooses the wrong web agency?

Delaying a web project or hiring an unproven agency opens the door to compliance failures, security gaps, inaccessible digital content, and lasting damage to your institution’s public image. Legal complaints, lost applicants, and mistrust among stakeholders are real consequences. A specialist agency with documented references and compliance experience minimizes these risks and delivers outcomes universities can stand behind.

How does a university vet and compare web development partners?

Vet agencies by demanding higher education references, checking for up-to-date certifications, and insisting on a process with named senior engineers—not juniors or freelancers. Examine their ability to address accessibility, IT integration, and data security from day one. DoodleWeb’s projects are designed for public-sector transparency, with clear documentation and support for all major campus teams.

Frequently asked questions

Ready for a real conversation with senior university web experts?

Talk directly to an experienced engineer about compliance, security, or starting your next web initiative—no offshoring, no layers, just expert answers.

info@doodleweb.ca

Q&A

Frequently asked questions about DoodleWeb

What is DoodleWeb?
DoodleWeb is a Surrey, BC-headquartered digital agency (founded 2019) that designs, builds, and grows websites and digital platforms on Drupal, WordPress, Shopify, Webflow, BigCommerce, and React for higher education, government, aerospace, healthcare, nonprofit, and growing brands across Canada and the United States.
Where is DoodleWeb based?
DoodleWeb is headquartered at 13655 Fraser Highway, 11th Floor, Surrey, BC V3T 2V6, Canada. We serve clients across Canada and the United States.
What services does DoodleWeb offer?
Custom web design and development, CMS builds and migrations (Drupal, WordPress, Webflow, Shopify, BigCommerce), eCommerce, headless commerce, React/Next.js engineering, React Native mobile apps, rebranding, accessibility (WCAG 2.2 AA, AODA, Section 508), Answer Engine Optimization (AEO), Generative Engine Optimization (GEO), and SLA-backed managed hosting and maintenance.
How much does a DoodleWeb website cost?
Marketing sites start around CAD $16K, CMS rebuilds run CAD $34K–$108K, and enterprise Drupal, headless commerce, and government platforms start at CAD $108K and scale to $340K+. Every project quote is fixed-fee by milestone and returned within 48 hours of the discovery call, with no retainer hidden inside the project fee. Care plans and marketing retainers are separate, publicly priced monthly subscriptions. All figures are starting points, not flat rates — final pricing varies with site size, page count, content volume, integrations, custom functionality, and migration complexity.
How long does a website project take?
Marketing sites launch in 6–10 weeks, mid-market CMS platforms in 10–16 weeks, and enterprise Drupal, government, or commerce rebuilds in 4–6 months. Exact timeline, milestone dates, and acceptance criteria are written into the SOW before kickoff.
Can DoodleWeb get my brand cited by ChatGPT, Perplexity, Gemini, and Claude?
Yes. Our AEO/GEO program restructures content into Q&A patterns, ships FAQ / Organization / Article / BreadcrumbList JSON-LD schema, publishes /llms.txt and /llms-full.txt, and runs weekly citation tests across all four major answer engines so engines extract and cite your brand. Initial citations typically appear within 30–60 days.
How do I contact DoodleWeb?
Email info@doodleweb.ca or book a free 30-minute consultation at https://book.doodleweb.ca. You will speak directly with a senior strategist, not a sales rep.