The COVID-19 pandemic has been changing the world as we know it. All industries and sectors are being affected, including education. The current status of the world is uncertain as to how long this will last. As much as we all may want to wait this out, the world cannot function in a holding pattern, and so it is up to all of us to adapt. We need to come together to figure out how we can overcome this crisis by changing the ways we use to do things.

Students will always want to study abroad – we think now more than ever. New generations strongly value international travel and exploration. The majority of the younger generations are currently feeling trapped and stuck by the lockdown declaration. As soon as the travel ban is lifted, students are planning get back to exploring new cultures. We believe that as a result of this pandemic, more students will be bitten by the ‘travel bug’ and want pursue an international education.

Times have changed – and changed greatly! The world is going to be different after the pandemic is over. Your admissions department will need to create a new international student recruitment strategy for after the crisis. Country ties will be affected, family budgets will change, and the overall perspective on international education is changing. Each international admissions office has the same ultimate goal – to grow the international student population on their campus. By creating a new recruitment strategy, you are preparing your admissions department to meet and supersede these variables that stand in the way of that goal. Afterall, we cannot go back to the exact same strategies we were doing before; we need to diversify.

After the pandemic, certain areas will return to ‘normal’ faster than others. Spending time recruiting in areas that are still recovering is not sensible. You need to take a look at the areas you previously focused on and see how they are recovering. Countries whose economy did not support its citizens who were out of work will have less to spend on an international education. Students will feel more inclined to stay home to help their families recover from the crisis.

Certain countries had major conflicts between their governments during the pandemic (ex. Italy, Vietnam, Spain, and China, among others). It’s predicted that the number of approved student visas will decrease as a result of the conflict. Therefore, any attempts you make with recruitment trips or marketing efforts will not be as effective as they were. Before continuing with an area, assess whether it is a viable option.

After the pandemic, many colleges & universities will change their overall international student recruitment goals. While your department might have heavily relied on specific large nations, they may no longer be an option, at least for the time being. You will need to be open to new areas of interest and discover new ways to market to these students. It is time to look into new regions that might have taken a backseat when previously making recruitment plans.

Not sure which areas to look into? Our team is ready to help you find the area’s best suited to meet your department goals! Connect with us HERE to begin Exploring New Opportunities!

After the COVID-19 pandemic, various markets will be affected, especially international travel. We predict that several popular areas of interest for recruiters will be ‘off limits’ for a period of time, which is why you need to invest your admissions budget in the strategies where you can target new regions while still meeting your goals, and we aren’t just referring to in person recruitment events. Some of the initiatives include:

• Geographic Advertising (Google Adwords)
• Demographic Advertising (Social Media)
• Virtual Fairs
• Digital copies of brochures, booklets, and other literature
• Virtual reality tours of your school
• Sample online classes
• Admissions blogs
• Student success stories
• Study tools

If your department has decided to create new goals in student recruitment, you will need to create a plan to achieve them. Better than throwing spaghetti at a wall and seeing what sticks, you need to develop a clear plan to achieve your new goals, working backwards is usually the best approach.

Many colleges and universities have already begun their new recruitment plan for reaching international students. While on lock-down, there are many ways you can reach students online. Some ways to reach international students include:

• Virtual Tours – offer virtual tours of your campus, housing, amenities, etc.
• Video Meetings – already have students in your data base that are interested in attending for institution? Video chat to help with applications or answer questions about your school.
• Social Media – students are spending many hours online for school and play. Be sure to connect with students on social media. To reach even more students, you can create targeted advertisements to reach different people in different areas.

To learn more about social media ads and new recruitment strategies, read our post Improving Your International Recruitment Strategy, HERE.

Just as we predict the students will be getting bitten by the ‘travel bug’, your department should be too! Once boarders are reopened and your institution offers clearance, you should get back into student recruitment. There is no reason to completely rule out the most popular way to recruit international students, but you should be adding to it. The proof is in the pudding, admissions representatives who actively visit new regions are recruiting more international students for their school than those who are not. You can get started today by looking into high school visits, international student fairs, or by setting up a visit with a high school guidance counselor. It is just that simple! Make the plans now for the future.

Need help planning your new international student recruitment strategy? We’re here to help! At Worldwide College Tours, our team is ready to help you evaluate your departments current needs and develop a recruitment strategy to yield those results.

Check out our upcoming tours - HERE!

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