New student recruitment tool makes 'huge difference' to university
AN innovative new technology platform adopted by a university in a bid to attract more students has made a 'huge difference' to the recruitment process.
Bosses at the University of Cumbria signed up to The Access Platform as part of efforts to revolutionise the way it recruits to both undergraduate and postgraduate courses.
Now they are reporting soaring levels of engagement, as they use the technology to build one-to-one relationships with prospective students.
Jay Walton, the university’s UK student recruitment officer, said: “We were sending out communication, but it was impersonal and hard to connect with, and that was a problem.
“However since we started to use The Access Platform, we have seen a huge difference in the way we are able to build relationships and interact with potential students.
“It is quite common for us to come across them at recruitment events and they recognise us from our conversations and interaction via TAP which is great because we then have something to build on. In terms of how the university positively interacts with students, this has been influential.”
The University of Cumbria has campuses in Carlisle, Ambleside, Lancaster, London, Barrow-in-Furness and Workington.
The pioneering technology used by the university to supercharge its recruitment abilities has been developed by London-based firm The Access Platform.
The tool is also being used by the likes of Oxford University and Kings College London.
The platform allows those considering an application for a course in Cumbria to interact with existing University of Cumbria students and members of the student recruitment team.
They are able to ask questions about life on campus and individual courses from those who are already experiencing it first hand.
Student ambassadors can reply with the answers moderated through the platform to maintain safe and secure two-way communication.
Nik Higgins, co-founder at The Access Platform, explained the technology allowed the university to provide prospective students with a more authentic experience that was simply not possible to replicate in a prospectus.
“Times are changing,” he said.
“Recruitment in higher education was once centred around open days and prospectuses. Now students want to engage with a university in a more meaningful way.
“Our technology allows them to get the information they are looking for from their peers through their preferred method of communication.
“Our research has found three quarters of students who have engaged with a university through The Access Platform are more likely to submit an application to study there in the future.”
Nik added: “It’s great to know The Access Platform technology is already helping to boost recruitment for the University of Cumbria while giving prospective students a more authentic and personal experience with the universities recruitment team and students.”
ENDS
Notes to editors
Captions
Image one: Jay Walton and his colleague Ellie Missen who are University of Cumbria student recruitment officers
Image two: Nik Higgins from The Access Platform
The Access Platform uses bespoke technology to enable universities to recruit more students through peer-to-peer conversations and user generated content.
More than 20 universities across the UK - as well in Europe and the United states - are already using the platform to provide a more authentic experience for prospective students.
Universities using The Access Platform see three quarters of applicants being ‘more likely’ to apply to their university after using the service, and up to a 195% ROI on their initial spend.
This press release is sent on behalf of The Access Platform by 32West. For more information or to arrange an interview with Nik Higgins please contact Caroline Barber on 07711 820 944.