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What works best for recruiting students globally? Compare your efforts with the top methods in 2024.

Aug 6, 2024 | EdTech

International student recruitment has become increasingly competitive. Attracting the world’s brightest minds in 2024 requires strategies that are evidence-based, innovative and match the biggest pain points of the industry.

According to IIE, 6.4 million students studied abroad in 2023. By 2025, this number is expected to reach 8 million, according to the OECD. This increase highlights greater global access to education and the growing importance of overseas study for achieving graduate success.

Beyond the classroom, international students significantly bolster local economies through tuition fees and living expenses. For educational institutions, the ability to effectively recruit and support international students leads to enhanced global reputation, increased revenue and a richer campus culture. 

While international students bring immense potential and diversity to universities, attracting them comes with its unique set of challenges. Fortunately, with the right tools and strategies, institutions can navigate these complexities and tap into this dynamic pool of talent.

DreamApply’s software has helped over 300 educational institutions in 40 countries attract 50% more international applicants, on average. Based on the feedback we receive, let’s look at 3 strategies for international student recruitment that work in 2024.

Strategy: Personalization of student recruitment 

Why does personalization work? 

Dr. Robert Cialdini’s principle of reciprocity explains why personalization is effective. According to the academic research on influence, we feel a greater desire to give back to others in the form of behavior, service or helpful information that we have received first. 

If you represent a university, you can leverage this by being the first to provide meaningful information or support, but here is the subtlety. The power of reciprocation is magnified when the service is unexpected and customized to the recipient’s current needs and preferences. 

Why is personalization more important in 2024?

Personalization is essential in 2024 because there is more social proof in terms of expecting tailored experiences. Your Generation Z applicants are used to personalized interactions in other areas of their lives, such as social media and online shopping. This expectation extends to higher education, where they seek institutions that cater to their preferences. 

Personalization is also more crucial for international student recruitment, because it addresses the unique cultural, linguistic and logistical needs of international applicants. This makes them feel valued and understood by the institution, which is a decisive factor in their decision to apply.

How to use DreamApply for personalization?

With DreamApply you can easily tailor the content, timing and even the platform of your communication based on applicants’ preferences, demographics and level of intent. 

Your applicants’ very first exposure to your institution can already be highly personalized, based on their citizenship and providing you with a competitive advantage. For example, you can use DreamApply to segment applicants by region and tailor your tuition fees, application deadlines and any other essential information. As soon as applicants visit your application portal, they are promoted to choose their citizenship, and only the information you have personalized to them will be served.

Another example is DreamApply’s two-way messaging system, which allows your admissions team to communicate with applicants in a familiar, email-like environment. When an applicant receives a message, a notification or even an offer, they can simply respond to their email notification, and their answers and submitted documents will appear in the system. It’s essential for your admissions teams’ productivity that all threads remain in one place, and DreamApply solves this problem.

Ready to personalize your international student recruitment process? Request a free consultation to get started.

Strategy: Automation of student enrollment strategies

Why does automation matter?

Automation has become essential for admissions management because of the increasing demand from admissions officers to be more time-efficient. Many universities face challenges handling the high volume of international applications and are turning to automation to streamline their workflows. 

By automating routine tasks such as application sorting, document verification and communication, universities can focus on strategic initiatives and personalized interactions that international student recruitment requires.  

Why is automation critical in 2024?

Automation is more important  now due to the growing number of international applicants. Universities must adapt quickly to handle increased application volumes and complex processes. 

Additionally, automated systems are more measurable, so they provide real-time data and analytics, which allows educational institutions to make more informed decisions.

How does DreamApply support automation?

DreamApply’s automated workflows help manage the complexities of international student recruitment, including different document requirements, language translations and visa processes.

You can automate key tasks such as sending reminders, scoring, ranking, document verification, managing invoices and more, saving 40% time processing international student applications.

Strategy: Bridging admissions management and marketing

Why is integration of admissions management and marketing essential?

When admissions and marketing work together intelligently, educational institutions can achieve their broader public relations mission, which is to establish and develop mutually beneficial relations with all the audiences, on which their success or failure depends. 

The list of target audiences goes beyond applicants and includes families, influencers, policy makers, grant distributors, recruitment partners and more.

For example, there needs to be a flow of intelligence from admissions to marketing, and vice versa, in terms of what tactics trigger an interest, what campaigns bring most applicants or what new barriers exist in terms of completing the admissions journey.

Why is this critical in 2024?

This synergy allows for more precise targeting of potential students and better allocation of resources, considering how competitive educational institutions have become in terms of attracting more applicants. 

As new AI-based tools emerge for admissions management, there is more data flowing to admissions and marketing teams, and it’s important for more consolidated action on the acquired data.

How does DreamApply support holistic international student recruitment?

DreamApply provides an integrated platform that bridges the gap between admissions and marketing, enabling seamless collaboration and data sharing. 

Both the marketing and admissions teams, along with others involved in recruitment, can work from the same analytics provided by DreamApply’s comprehensive dashboard. This unified access ensures real-time insights into applicant behavior, campaign performance and engagement metrics, which facilitates data-driven decision-making across departments. 

Additionally DreamApply’s reporting tools allow admissions and marketing teams not only notice trends, but also communicate about them with external teams or leadership at their educational institutions. 

DreamApply’s integrations with popular tools like Zapier, Google Analytics or HubSpot further enhance collaboration between marketing and admissions teams. 

Want to streamline your enrollment processes with automation? Request a demo to discover DreamApply’s solutions, personalized to your unique needs.

How Italian universities optimize international student recruitment with DreamApply

Ca’ Foscari University of Venice

Here is what Krystina Stermole, Head of the Outreach and Recruitment Unit at Ca’ Foscari University of Venice, shares,

“Before we had DreamApply, things were a lot more complicated…DreamApply simplifies things because everyone has one single context as a point of reference, and everything converges there – documents, communication, and everything else.”

This centralization of processes not only streamlines administrative tasks but also enhances the student experience by making information easily accessible​​. Moreover, Krystina appreciates the platform’s personalization features:

“We can use our institutional colors, logos, photos, videos, all the kinds of things that enrich the student experience when they’re trying to make a decision about where they’d like to go and study.” 

Hear more about DreamApply’s impact from the admissions officers and student of Ca’ Foscari University of Venice.

University of Pavia

Daria Milone, Head of the Admissions Office at the University of Pavia, highlights DreamApply’s role in efficiently managing communication:

“DreamApply acts as a ‘window to the world’ for students…since implementing DreamApply, we’ve seen a significant increase in international applications and improved coordination between our admissions and marketing teams.”

The University of Pavia experienced a 1000% increase in applications over five years, showcasing the transformative impact of DreamApply. Their full story is detailed in this case study.

About DreamApply

Founded in 2011 in Estonia, DreamApply is an innovation-driven EdTech organization that improves access to education around the globe. DreamApply’s application management software helps more than 300 educational institutions across 40 countries improve admissions, marketing, financial and other internal processes.

DreamApply’s easy-to-use and customizable software increases student enrollment by 30% and reduces application processing time by 40%. With features designed with and for educational institutions, and integrations with commonly used systems, DreamApply empowers teams to get more done with less effort.

Continue exploring by requesting your free, personalized demo.

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DreamApply does not manage admissions or scholarships.  Please get in touch with the respective universities directly if you are a student/applicant.  DreamApply is a software company that provides universities with a student admission management system.  We wish you good luck with your applications!

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