After the StormAdmissions from a University Perspective

Professor Mary Stuart, Vice Chancellor, University of Lincoln

www.lincoln.ac.uk

• 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

Themes

www.lincoln.ac.uk

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 supportfor schools and colleges

• International partnerships with other Universities

www.lincoln.ac.uk

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

The role of supporters and decision makers

• Information advice and guidance for teachers and parents

• Responding to requestsand questions in a timely fashion

• Emphasising the visit – you will never know if you willbe happy at an institution unless you have seen it and met the people there!

www.lincoln.ac.uk

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