Now that university fees have increased, there seems to be a shift in students’ attitudes and expectations. As paying customers, notonly do they expect to secure a job after graduating, but they also expect state-of-the-art facilities. They want robust and reliable Wi-Fi access across the campus, and the ability to connect to the student network from their own devices, easily. They also want the freedom to visit personal and social sites, as well as continued access to university devices, such as desktop computers.
So, how are universities responding to this demand, and how can they deliver it in order to remain competitive?
University Challenges
All universities face IT challenges – from adhering to strict budgets, to working with outdated systems. Many are still using traditional processes, which are both costly and time consuming. However,they’re not the only challenge.
Universities also have to master new ways to connect and communicate with students, manage the student lifecycle, and measure academic and
institutional performance. There are also pressures to turn academic paths into career paths, and to prepare graduates for work in the real world.
How to Gain a Competitive Edge
One way that universities and educational providers can face these challenges and remain competitive is by embracing new technologies. For
example, adopting the technologies and practices that prospective employers will expect their employees to be familiar with, such as social, mobile,
analytics and cloud. The University of Amsterdam, for example, uses SAP technology to create a one-stop-shop for student records. Now, students can
manage their academic careers online from admission through to graduation, helping the university to streamline its administration processes and cut costs. The platform also makes it easier for staff to plan courses and follow up with their students – resulting in fewer drop outs.
The University of Kentucky has also gained a competitive edge by using analytics to understand its operations and students better. It can quickly identify students in trouble and can react by offering additional services. As a result, it’s been able to improve student retention to 70%, while saving $250,000 year-over-year.
What do Students Really Want?
If universities want to attract and retain students, they need to listen to students’ needs and wants. Discover how new technology can help universities stay competitive by providing students with the IT experience they expect and creating new ways of learning. Visit http://spr.ly/TopTip6-1 to find out more.
