Creating a Link Between Digital Tools & Student Recruitment

Posted on November 13, 2018 by Fabio Gomes

Following the news that Universities Minister Sam Gyimah is going to fund the implementation of mobile apps and digital tools to allow  widespread information access to all students we take a look at how higher education and digital marketing are now more interlinked than ever before.

Gyimah aims to give every single prospective university student in the UK the same choice regardless of their financial background and give them the same access through their digital devices to the different outcomes provided by different institutions and to make it easy for students to find out which degree courses at which institutions could offer them better prospects in the future.

We now live in a ‘digital world’ where pretty much everything we do we do on our phones or computers or any other portable digital device, from grocery shopping to buying furniture or simply ordering dinner is as fast and simple as swiping up/down or right/left just like tinder.

The new generation of university students were born in the digital era (in 1995 or later) they are called Generation Z and they grew up using smart phones and countless apps to connect not only with their peers but also with brands/institutions. They only remember a world where internet, social media and live streaming is available which means that they want things fast and easy. Higher education institutions have now to answer to this new generation’s wants and needs in the best possible way, so they can reach and engage them and ultimately recruit them.

According to George Beall a startup founder and Huffington post contributor Gen Z’ers are 25% more likely than Millennials to say they are addicted to their digital devices. A full 40% of Gen Z are self-identified digital device addicts.

Harley Block the senior vice president of brand partnerships ‘Awesomeness’ which creates content slates and branded content for Gen Z’ers  stated that: “Creating mobile-optimized content that’s platform specific, direct, and entertaining is essential for brands to reach Gen Z,”  “They watch 68 videos in a day — meaning this audience has the ability to sort through content faster than ever before.”

With this in mind, what is the best way to connect and engage with prospect university students? Well by using multiple digital platforms that will reach and grab their attention and showcase all the different choices these universities have to offer such as Snapchat, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and Youtube.

Ultimately Universities now have to be willing and open to work together with the applicants and students to co-create and design the university’s platforms and services such as the creation of university apps to engage and communicate with its current and prospective students. Co-creation is a trend that has been growing in the past few generations and it is now without a doubt the main change brought up by Generation Z. It is all about working together with the students instead of working for the students and allow them to feel like they have a say in the content that is shared and where the content is shared.

If you want to learn more about how Educate can help you connect with students, click here for a breakdown of our services, and do get in touch to have one of the team put together a bespoke package for you.