SUMS will partner with you to:
- review your end to end applicant pipeline and communication process to maximise conversion
- carry out deep dives into your student recruitment and marketing functions
- evaluate your partnership management and governance.
See how we’ve supported other institutions to maximise the impact of their recruitment strategies:
Applicant communications at a Russell Group university
SUMS Consulting undertook a deep dive review of applicant communications which included content, timing, relationship with the applicant journey and ownership. SUMS provided a detailed set of recommendations which has enabled the University to develop a more holistic, student-centric approach to communicating with applicants, fix the leaks in the funnel and improve conversion at every stage of the pipeline.
Resource-benchmarking deep dive
Drawing on our experience and extensive knowledge of sector-wide best practice, we conducted an in-depth directorate review of Marketing, Recruitment and Admissions resources at one of the oldest higher education institutions in the UK. The review included consideration of both home and relevant international activity. Our recommendations included the optimum size and shape to employ an effective ‘hub-and-spoke’ model in this setting, with resources sitting centrally and embedded in the faculties. The new structures are designed to meet the renewed strategic objectives and student number targets of this ambitious institution.
TNE risk reward matrix
Transnational Education (TNE) is often an organic activity for universities, led by academic relationships. We helped a multi-campus university in Scotland shift gears to a more strategic, commercial approach while successfully keeping the academic community engaged. We achieved this by developing a risk-reward matrix tool, enabling objective, consistent and confident TNE decision-making while showing colleagues developing the partnerships what the upside was for their institution. The tool is being actively used to help the University to thoroughly assess opportunities and invest effort in those most likely to yield returns.
Partnerships management
SUMS Consulting conducted a review for a Cathedrals Group university to define best practice principles in the management of Transnational Education (TNE) and UK franchise provision. SUMS used a combination of best practice seen in the UK and internationally, adapting what we found so ensure its relevance in a small university setting with a constrained resource envelope. The recommendations balanced robust governance and compliance with strategic flexibility and cultural sensitivity, ensuring that partnership activity contributes positively to institutional reputation, finances, and student outcomes.
Read our expert insights
Transactional or transformational: reimagining university partnerships
Find out more
Or want to explore more about what we offer in this specialist area? Visit our student recruitment page here.
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