Navigating University Admissions: Insights from 2013 and Beyond

1. After the Storm Admissions from a University Perspective Professor Mary Stuart, Vice Chancellor, University of Lincoln

2. Themes • The watershed year • 2013 • Different students and different admissions • Supporting students making choices • The admissions lifecycle • The major influencers and the responsibilities of Universities with influencers www.lincoln.ac.uk

3. The Watershed Year • Not only higher fees – a complex and as yet not fully understood repayment system • Volatility and complexity in tariff eligibility • Challenges to international recruitment (not just immigration policy but also international HE competition) • Part-time loans and ineligibility • Post Graduate and the recession • New entrants providing HE and new Universities www.lincoln.ac.uk

4. 2013 • Admissions slight recovery but not older mature students (and we do not know about part-time yet) – Lincoln applications are considerably up (home and international) • At Lincoln reshaped our engagement with schools, teachers, parents and prospective students. We’ve also been working on repositioning the institution • (but we were doing this anyway) • Kept AABs (at 11%) • ABBs tracking at 35% • so far keeping them course and institution • right for the student! www.lincoln.ac.uk

5. Different students and different admissions • Universities have focused too much on processes that suit home UG students in the old world • Need different approaches tailored to different student needs • Requires more joining up between advisors, event organisers, social media communicators, academics and administrators www.lincoln.ac.uk

6. Supporting students making choices • Home UG students • Information ADVICE and GUIDANCE • Engagement of current students in ‘telling it like it is’ • The importance of visiting ....and academic engagement • Communication, communication, communication • No advantage in seeing students who will not be happy at your institution www.lincoln.ac.uk

7. Supporting students making choices • PG Home – at Lincoln • The role of employers and creating employer relevant curriculum • Provision that suits people in work and supports advancement in work • Engagement with Academics who will teach students • Success but more to learn and do www.lincoln.ac.uk

8. Supporting Students making choices • International students • Word of mouth and role of alumni • Virtual Open Days • Q and A sessions on line • Engagement of Academics • Support to students to navigate the minefield of UKBA • Helping with preparing for living in the heart of England www.lincoln.ac.uk

9. Admissions lifecycle • All this suggests it is NOT a simple process anymore (if it ever should have been) • Aspiration raising • Preparing for University even more vital than before • Partnership and discussions with teachers, providing appropriate support for schools and colleges • International partnerships with other Universities www.lincoln.ac.uk

10. Admissions lifecycle • For those applying a full year of engagement with lots of information and support and different academic and administrative contact • Supporting peer to peer discussion and responding where there is need • Ensuring a visit with appropriate content is part of cycle www.lincoln.ac.uk

11. The role of supporters and decision makers • Information advice and guidance for teachers and parents • Responding to requests and questions in a timely fashion • Emphasising the visit – you will never know if you will be happy at an institution unless you have seen it and met the people there! www.lincoln.ac.uk

12. Challenges and Worries • Lots of exciting opportunities in this new world • BUT – curriculum offers – Will we maintain a broad curriculum? • What happens to students at institutions where there are difficulties? • Part-time and re-skilling the workforce • International reputation becoming permanently damaged www.lincoln.ac.uk