Digital Innovation of the year - Technology finalist
We are thrilled to announce that we have been shortlisted as a finalist for our joint entry with Liverpool John Moores University in The PIEoneer Awards 2020.
The team at LJMU nominated CampusConnect in the category;
‘Digital innovation of the year - Technology
The competition invited entries from organisations in the sector to demonstrate how;
‘‘digital innovation is solving a problem faced by professionals working within the international education sector. This might be using software to better identify international students who need extra support, or to reach and identify potential students in their own country while they are considering their study options’
The PIE team received hundreds of entries this year from organisations all over the world, and for us making the shortlist is a testament to what can be achieved with a small focused and dedicated team and some great clients that have supported us from the start.
“You have done really well to be shortlisted – we received hundreds of entries this year, more than in 2019, which we hadn’t necessarily expected given the circumstances. The nominations this year have been exceptional in showcasing so much excellent work that is being carried out across the international education industry, and it was very competitive. So well done!”
We could not have achieved this without the help and support we received from Gemma Smith and the international team at Liverpool John Moores University, and all the generous testimonials and words of support from each of the teams we work with in the UK and Ireland.
Background to the entry - LJMU Applicant CampusConnect
Our joint entry focussed on the challenge university recruitment teams have in creating valuable pre-enrolment peer-to-peer communities . We demonstrated how these communities contribute to higher offer to enrolment conversion and a more personalised and better supported pre-arrival student experience.
The entry included an overview of LJMU Applicant CampusConnect with details on how the service aligns to connect international applicants with current students and alumni from their particular course of choice.
LJMU Applicant CampusConnect - Service
A mobile service for offer-holders to connect with applicants and current students on their course, make new friends, and get brilliant, first hand advice on university life from those on the inside track.
“Exceptional job by CampusConnect team to unite students before stepping into University. Made great connections and got splendid insights on University life. Very essential app for students I'd say!” - Kev J - LJMU applicant September 2020.
There was also an opportunity to assess the value of existing alternatives in the use of common channels such as Facebook and WhatsApp groups. We shared our views on the shortcoming of these channels and the additional challenges around data security and information sharing.
With help from the LJMU team we evaluated the impact the service has had on international offer to enrolment conversion rates in the last cycle.
We found that 70% of international LJMU offer-holders who used the CampusConnect service in the last cycle (18/19) actually turned up and enrolled. For non-CampusConnect international student offer-holders, there was an 11% conversion from offer to enrolment. This impact evidence was a key part of the entry and we are very grateful to the LJMU team for sharing.
Finally, teams provided testimonials showing the impact the initiative has had in their context. We are immensely grateful to everyone for their support and their kind words.
“CampusConnect is a very cost effective platform that meets the segmented and tailored needs of our applicants, and allows us to communicate with them in a highly engaged and supportive manner in a society that expects immediacy of response. The CampusConnect team adapt their product to suit our needs as a University, rather than expecting us to make our processes fit in with them. This then forms a seamless and effective part of the offer holder journey, embracing them as part of the LJMU community from the minute they are on the app”.
Gemma Smith, Head of International Recruitment, LJMU.
“The ease with which offer-holders can connect in-app is fueling important questions and conversations within our many dedicated chat groups. Applicants are discussing things with each other as opposed to directly with us, this gives us a fresh perspective on their wants and needs.
Joe Perkins, International CRM and Conversion officer, ARU.
“The CampusConnect team show great initiative based on their experience with international institutions. We have set up COVID19 support groups to keep communicating with the students and ensure they don’t feel isolated. The feedback has been very positive!” -
Pauline Di Girolamo, International officer, Maynooth University.
“The CampusConnect platform is invaluable as a space to create a community and ease concerns during this time. We can see this through the fact that the numbers of offer-holders who are signing up to the app are higher than ever for this time in the recruitment cycle.” -
Sarah Butler - International officer, UL.
Now looking forward to the award ceromony (virtually this year unfortunately) in September (Date TBA)