Thursday, May 24, 2012

StudyAbroad.com Reveals Best Practices, New Findings in Study Abroad Recruitment White Paper

Research highlights relationship of study abroad programs to student satisfaction, market competitiveness

Hoboken, New Jersey, May 24, 2012 - StudyAbroad.com, the Internet’s leading source of information on educational opportunities for students seeking study abroad programs outside the U.S., today announced the availability of a new white paper titled, “Recruiting Study Abroad Students: Current Approaches and Best Practices.” The white paper addresses best practices from StudyAbroad.com and other organizations serving students with study abroad programs as well as gaps in existing marketing strategies.

The white paper is comprised of data from surveys StudyAbroad.com and its parent company, EducationDynamics, conducted with a select group of more than 50 institutions and study abroad program providers, as well as best practices StudyAbroad.com has learned from its own experience. The white paper highlights the numerous opportunities for institutions to understand the demand in their market, how to correctly identify study abroad prospects and steps to take to boost current and future study abroad recruitment strategies.

“As interest in study abroad increases among U.S. students, there will be a need for even more polished and strategic approaches to recruitment for academic and cultural experiences overseas. A lack of understanding of who students are, how to find them and how they prefer to be communicated can negatively impact a study abroad program’s ability to grow and be successful,” said Chuck DelCamp, Product Manager at StudyAbroad.com. “This white paper is intended for individuals leading the study abroad marketing efforts at colleges, universities and non-institution based program providers to be able to take the steps needed to run successful programs. The findings included will provide useful insights and practical tactics that will benefit existing and new study abroad programs.”

Based on survey participants’ responses, StudyAbroad.com has uncovered five steps to recruiting study abroad students. This information includes:

* Knowing the market demand for study abroad programs

* Understanding and aligning marketing approaches to student preferences

* Choosing, assessing and adjusting marketing efforts for maximum effectiveness

* Qualifying study abroad student prospects

* Deciding whether (and if so, how) to outsource specific recruitment activities

While the desire to study abroad continues to increase among students, the reality is that many organizations still have much to learn when it comes to making potential participants aware of their program offerings. Competition in the market will continue to climb as well, as more than 70% of survey respondents said they plan to develop brand new study abroad programs in the next year. As the StudyAbroad.com white paper outlines, this means that the criticalness of marketing to the right individuals will only become more important to the process of recruiting study abroad participants.

Organizations interested in ordering a copy of “Recruiting Study Abroad Students: Current Approaches and Best Practices” should contact Chuck DelCamp at 484.766.2955 or cdelcamp@educationdynamics.com.

About StudyAbroad.com
StudyAbroad.com is a web resource of EducationDynamics and the Internet’s leading source of information on educational opportunities for students to study in other countries. It is a comprehensive directory of study abroad and intensive language programs organized by subject and destination. Currently information on more than 12,000 study abroad programs is available and more than two million students visit StudyAbroad.com annually. StudyAbroad.com also offers Destination Portal Pages, a handbook serving as a guide to traveling abroad; Blog Abroad, a blog that chronicles the experiences of students as they study abroad; and financial aid information. To learn more, visit www.StudyAbroad.com.

About EducationDynamics
EducationDynamics is higher education’s leading marketing information and technology services company dedicated to helping institutions find, enroll and retain students. Its content-rich and highly visible education websites, including EarnMyDegree.com, EducationConnection.com, eLearners.com, GradSchools.com, StudyAbroad.com, TestDriveCollege.com, TestDriveGradSchool.com and its special interest microsites, make EducationDynamics the premier provider of qualified prospective students for colleges and universities. In addition, the company offers a full suite of Web-delivered services proven to drive enrollment growth and reduce student attrition, as well as other innovative solutions including LeadWatchLive, its Web-based inquiry management system. Through Aslanian Market Research, the company brings decades of proprietary research, unparalleled market and student intelligence and best practice insights to clients. For more information, visit educationdynamics.com.

Contact:
Kavitha Thimmaiah
Communications Strategy Group
3225 East 2nd Avenue
Denver, CO 80206
(303) 433-7020

Bryant & Stratton College Online Hosts Virtual Open House June 4 for Prospective Students

Students considering college will have the chance to ask questions about online education and chat live with admissions and financial aid representatives

Buffalo, NY, May 24, 2012 - Bryant & Stratton College Online, a premier provider of online Associate’s degree programs, will host a free Virtual Open House on Monday, June 4, from 6:00-8:00pm EDT. Admissions representatives will be available to chat live and answer questions from prospective students about the online degree programs at Bryant & Stratton College Online. Representatives will also give an overview of the overall online college experience from application deadlines, the enrollment process and courses, to career services, opportunities and support available to students. Currently Bryant & Stratton College offers five online Bachelor’s degree programs and eleven online Associate’s degree programs including online health management degrees, business management degrees and others in the fields of business, criminal justice, financial services, healthcare, human resources and information technology.


Additionally, prospective students will have the opportunity to connect directly with financial aid representatives about financial aid options and scholarships available at Bryant & Stratton College Online. Military personnel and military spouses who are considering an online degree program will be able to speak with Ed Dennis, Military Relations Manager at Bryant & Stratton College Online, about their specific needs and concerns.

Prospective students interested in attending the Virtual Open House are invited to complete a free registration at online.bryantstratton.edu/openhouse/.

“Some students see the benefit of online education but are still unsure about how it will work once they enroll, the Virtual Open House gives the a chance to get there questions answered. It is an easy and convenient way for interested students to explore the degree programs we offer and meet with admissions representatives before applying,” said Scott Traylor, Associate Campus Director for Online Education at Bryant & Stratton College. “An online program can be an option for those who need to balance a job or family responsibilities with earning their degree or for those simply looking for a flexible course schedule. The Virtual Open House allows prospective students to gather information so they can decide if online education is a good fit.”

For more information about Bryant & Stratton College and its online degree programs, visit http://online.bryantstratton.edu.

About Bryant & Stratton College Online
Bryant & Stratton College is a private career college delivering outcomes based education and training through a flexible, contemporary curriculum in a personalized environment.  The College is regionally accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, which is an institutional accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation, and has locations in New York, Ohio, Virginia and Wisconsin, as well as an Online Education division, and a Professional Skill Center. For over 155 years, Bryant & Stratton College has been providing real world education leading to bachelor’s and associate’s degrees and professional certificates. Bryant & Stratton College Online offers five online bachelor’s degree programs, eleven online associate’s degree programs and eleven online certificate programs in a variety of fields including business, criminal justice, financial services, healthcare, human resources and information technology. Some online programs are not yet available in all states. For more information about our graduation rates, the median debt of graduates and other important information, please visit www.bryantstratton.edu/disclosures.  General information about Bryant & Stratton College and its online degrees can also be found at online.bryantstratton.edu.

Contact:
Kavitha Thimmaiah
Communications Strategy Group
3225 East 2nd Avenue
Denver CO, 80206
(303) 433-7020