Requirement Based Academic Matchmaking Platform for Academic Institutes

Abstract

This project focuses on designing, developing, and evaluating Lecture Link, a web-based platform intended to connect Sri Lankan academic institutions with qualified visiting lecturers. Targeting the higher education sector, the system addresses the challenges of lecturer recruitment by implementing a requirement-driven matchmaking mechanism based on lecturer expertise, subject compatibility, and institutional standards. The main purpose of the software is to streamline lecturer selection processes, reduce full time staff workload, and enhance teaching quality through a responsive, scalable, and secure platform. It enables institutions to register, post subject requirements, and match with suitable visiting lecturers, while lecturers can manage profiles and express interest in academic opportunities. The backend of the application is built using Java Spring Boot, leveraging technologies such as Hibernate ORM, MySQL database, Firebase Storage for file management, Spring Security for authentication, and JavaMailSender for notifications. Machine learning functionalities, including lecturer prediction, are powered by a separate Python Flask API using Scikit-learn, Pandas, NumPy, and Joblib. Communication between the backend and the AI API is achieved via RESTful services. The frontend is developed using React with TypeScript and styled using Tailwind CSS, ensuring a user-friendly and mobile-responsive interface. API interactions on the frontend are managed via Axios. The application is aimed at cross-platform compatibility, being accessible through all major web browsers on Windows, macOS, and Linux systems. This project combines modern web development practices, cloud integration, AI-assisted matching, and secure data management to create a sustainable solution for academic resource optimization in Sri Lanka.