ESFA – Graph API

The Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) is an executive agency of the UK’s Department for Education (DfE), formed in 2017 by merging the Education Funding Agency (EFA) and the Skills Funding Agency (SFA). Its main role is to oversee funding and delivery of education and skills training for learners of all ages. The ESFA allocates government funding to educational institutions, ensuring effective and efficient use of public funds. It collaborates with schools, colleges, training providers, and employers to shape policies, promote high-quality education, and support the development of a skilled workforce. The agency plays a vital role in fostering a world-class education system and driving economic growth through improved standards and educational opportunities across the UK.

KSB Technologies had the privilege to work on an avant-garde greenfield project for the government sector, showcasing our capabilities in delivering a serverless (Platform-as-a-Service) Web API. The project used Azure Functions, C# .Net Core 3, and Microservice architecture to deliver a pioneering Service Taxonomy, which is now used service-wide.

The project’s standout feature is its use of Graph Technology. Specifically, we employed Neo4j and Cypher Query Language to create an efficient, scalable service taxonomy. We led the discovery phase by researching various graph technologies, critiquing, and evaluating seven pre-chosen areas to ensure the selection of the most suitable technology.

After selecting the optimal technology, we developed and demonstrated a proof-of-concept to stakeholders to support the project’s Minimum Viable Product (MVP) feasibility. We worked closely with the Scrum Master to create and maintain the project backlog. This collaboration and dedication led to the successful delivery of the MVP’s first phase by developing APIs and exposing them via Azure API Management (APIM).

To provide a seamless user experience, we built custom modules for Orchard Core CMS. These modules enable users to create, update, and delete relationships and nodes for the taxonomy in Neo4j.

Working hand-in-hand with the DevOps team, we effectively created deployment pipelines for multiple environments, ensuring swift and error-free deployment of each project phase.