Results

• Nearly 100,000 messages exchanged since launch this cycle

• 107 active community group chats

• 10 events organised in the current cycle, primarily focused on faculty and subject areas

• 5,032* applicant-to-applicant connections made

• 2,240* same-subject connections established

Addressing the need for a secure and bilingual space

Bangor University wanted to create a space where offer holders could connect with each other, nurturing peer-to-peer engagement while keeping full control over the platform. Emma Campbell, UK Recruitment Marketing Manager, shares the motivation behind implementing CampusConnect in 2016:

“There were very few spaces for students to engage safely with one another at the time, especially since they’re under 18. While social media platforms like Facebook existed, we couldn’t effectively monitor those. CampusConnect gave us a secure space and the ability to provide a fully bilingual platform for our Welsh-speaking students.”

This need for a monitored, bilingual environment led the University to partner with CampusConnect, providing a safe platform for students to interact and ease into their transition to Bangor.

Creating connections and reassuring students

Rhian Lloyd-Hughes, Senior Digital Engagement Officer, notes the impact the platform has had on incoming students at the University. The peer-to-peer interaction has proven crucial, with students finding shared interests within one of the community’s many niche groups. This sense of belonging often solidifies applicants’ decisions to choose Bangor as their firm choice. Emma adds:

“Our offer holders know that the platform is exclusive to people in their position, supported by student ambassadors. This adds to the authenticity and safe environment, since users know they’re hearing about real experiences.”

Supporting staff and facilitating cross-departmental collaboration

In addition to benefiting students, CampusConnect has streamlined processes for Bangor staff, promoting cross-team collaboration and helping to pool resources. Rhian shares: 

“This year, we’ve worked closely with the events team and academic departments to run more subject-specific live chats, which has been incredibly beneficial. We plan to expand this even further next year with more events on student life, accommodation, and enrolment.”

The bespoke platform provides a space that was previously harder to find within the University. It allows marketing teams to engage directly with offer holders, a group they traditionally wouldn’t interact with as closely at this stage of the recruitment cycle. Emma explains:

“The live chats have been really beneficial this year. Setting them up isn’t onerous, and we’ve had great collaboration with the college marketing teams and academics who also participate in the sessions. The academic teams have really appreciated having a direct line of communication with offer holders.”

Tailored support from the CampusConnect team

One of the standout features of Bangor’s CampusConnect experience is the fully bilingual environment, a feature designed specifically to meet the university’s needs. Emma describes:

“The ability to provide a fully bilingual community for offer holders is one of the main draws for us. Other platforms simply cannot offer this. It’s important for students and also helps us provide the same experience for all our students regardless of language preference.”

Rhian also highlights the valuable ongoing support from the CampusConnect team, including the dedicated Community Manager, in ensuring the platform runs smoothly:

“Adele does a lot behind the scenes, from set-up to moderation. Our team monitors the community closely, but it’s great to have that extra layer of support.” 

The CampusConnect team further supports Bangor by providing monthly reports and rolling out student feedback surveys, offering valuable insights that help the university continuously adapt the platform to meet students’ needs.

Continuing to maximise the community

Looking ahead, Bangor University sees great potential in expanding the use of CampusConnect, with plans to introduce more events tailored to common queries from offer holders. Emma reflects on the platform’s strategic importance:

“From a strategic point of view, our plans for CampusConnect remain flexible. We’re focused on enhancing the live Q&A sessions, which have proven effective, and we're committed to maximising the platform's capabilities by regularly reviewing the content to ensure it meets the needs of our offer holders.”

As the primary coordinator of the community, Rhian highlights how manageable the platform is for the University: 

“We dedicate time to the initial set-up each year, but after that, it’s very easy to manage. I check it daily to monitor conversations, but it’s not resource intensive. Especially now that we’ve been doing this for several years, it’s become a smooth process.”

With this combination of flexibility, ease of management, and ongoing support from CampusConnect, Bangor University is set to continue delivering an engaging and impactful community space for future offer holders.

About CampusConnect

CampusConnect works with leading universities and business schools to build bespoke, customisable communities that deliver exceptional institutional ROI via conversion, progression, and an outstanding student experience.

Read more of our other partner success stories here