Thu, 22 Oct 2015

In the UK, the University of Greenwich handles some 50,000 calls from prospective students during the 12 week enrollment period – a 97% increase on normal volumes. We see this picture repeated in universities and colleges across the world.

But the problem of how to effectively engage with the student body doesn’t begin and end with enrollment and registration.

Peaks in call volumes occur throughout the academic year – from enrollment through graduation. Student inquiries cover a variety of subjects:

• Course registration
• Housing
• Grants
• Loans

It’s not just about managing phone calls. Today’s students are choosing to get in touch online. They are doing it from their smart phones and expecting immediate response.

There’s no doubt that maintaining effective communication is a complex, time consuming and budget-sapping activity. The myriad of channels supplied, and changing expectations of today’s crop of undergraduates, only serve to exacerbate the university’s challenge.

With competition to attract feepaying students becoming ever fiercer, universities and colleges need to show a professional face. This means responding promptly and professionally to enrollment (and all other) enquiries.

A New Way To Work For Education

The challenge, then, for universities and colleges is to maintain the highest levels of student engagement, beginning with enrollment and continuing throughout the academic journey and beyond. And to do so against a background of evolving technologies, growing “customer service” expectations and increasingly constrained budgets. The question is “how?” While communication is certainly about people, technology has an important enabling role. And just as we’re seeing exciting new communication and collaboration tools enhance the teaching and learning experience, we’re seeing the beginnings of the same for engagement.

Find out more at Stand F88 at the Academies Show where Midland Telecom & Unify Partner will be on hand to discuss your needs further.