Technology is connecting students with schools in new and interesting ways every day. This is especially helpful for prospective international students where there are lots of barriers. Here are three ways that universities and colleges can use technology to better connect with overseas students.
Skype Connects Colleges with International Students
Skype has been around for nearly a decade now, but some schools have just caught on to the popular VoIP service. Penn State DuBois, a small campus of Pennsylvania State University, has recently started Skyping with prospective overseas applicants. The admissions team finds the service incredibly valuable for talking with students before they arrive, getting their schedule ready, and providing the same services as they would for a domestic student sitting in their office. You can read the full article here.
“We used to use things like traditional mail, or were required to travel and meet with these folks. Because we have Skype, we can meet with them as if they’re here, face to face.” – Tharren Thompson, International Student Services Coordinator, Penn State DuBois
Mobile Virtual Campus Visits
We all know mobile has become incredibly important for students and schools. One company believes that offering campus tours on smartphones is the way of the future. YouVisit has created apps for mobile platforms and Facebook that feature interactive virtual campus visits. Universities can embed video content, 360-degree panoramic views, and access analytics to see how applicants are using the app. It’s just another way that technology is lowering the costs of international recruiting. You can read more about the app here.
A campus tour on a smartphone is a great option for international students that can’t be there in person.
Using Pinterest to Connect with Chinese Applicants
Social media is exploding in popularity all over the world and China is no exception. But many of the popular services in the West are blocked in China. Fortunately, the Great Firewall of China has yet to stop Pinterest. Vericant has written an article describing the benefits of using the pinboarding site to connect with prospective Chinese students. Not only does Pinterest enable schools to show off their beautiful campuses and university life through photos, but it is also an easy way to overcome the language barrier. You can read the full article here.
