Conventional businesses reinvent themselves all the time. However, higher educational institutions only do it rarely (and sparingly). We think this is a shame. While they might not be businesses in the conventional sense, they still make money and serve people.
But how can they turn the ship around? What should universities and colleges be doing to rebrand themselves and appeal to their audiences? Here’s everything you need to know.
Address Students Where They’re At
Colleges often believe they know who their students are and how to appeal to them. But like all groups in society, cohorts change from time to time. Millennials, for example, were very different from today’s crop of Gen Zers, according to https://www.forbes.com/.
Adapting to these changing needs and requirements is an excellent way for colleges to make themselves more relevant. The more they can appeal to the specific needs of the group they want to service (and the more they can understand it), the more successful they will attract applicants.
Be More Affordable
Another thing universities can do is focus on becoming more affordable. Lowering the cost of tuition can make them more compelling and encourage students to apply and take the risk.
Sites like https://www.campusworksinc.com/shared-services/ explain more about how colleges can implement cost-saving measures. Often, it requires using more software and technology, automating tasks, and ensuring staff are constantly busy instead of having void periods where not much happens.
Being more affordable could also involve increasing the value proposition. Instead of giving students just a couple of hours of contact time per week on a history course, perhaps they might be more inclined to sign up if they knew they were going to be busy in the lab from 9 to 5.
Partner With Local Enterprises
Another strategy colleges can use to rebrand and remake themselves is to partner with local enterprises. This way, they can align themselves with the current needs of the job market.
At the moment, students are aware of the mismatch between the work available to them and the courses offered by many colleges and universities. What they want is more relevant tuition so that they can secure their careers and do better as the economy goes forward.
For instance, becoming an intern or an apprentice can be extremely valuable. As can creating programs that directly speak to the people running them.
Embrace Modern Tech
Colleges should also try to embrace modern technology in other areas. VR and AI are becoming more critical and central to the educational experience.
For many students, it is now easier to go to a chatbot and quiz them about their work than reading everything in a textbook. AI systems are complementary and can even pose problem sets in some cases.
Colleges might consider including these tools more readily in their IT departments or computer rooms. Having them available at scale can be extremely useful for researchers and students looking to expand their knowledge and understand the topic.
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