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Hobsons comments on declining UCAS applications
Kenny Nicholl, Commercial Director at Hobsons, the education sector’s leading specialist provider of outsourced enrolment and offer conversion services, technology products and integrated marketing solutions. Comments on the latest UCAS application figures released January 30th 2012.
“With today’s UCAS application figures for 2011/12 showing a drop of 8.7% compared to last year, there are clear signs that prospective students are thinking longer and harder about the choice to go to university in the wake of higher tuition fees. There is still a strong desire to go to university, but it is becoming a more complex choice."
“We expect that many universities will experience something of a challenge in the next few years. Marketing and communications to students – and their parents, given the financial commitment involved, needs to step up a gear."
“For this year’s students, the time between application and enrolment will be critical. Rather than assuming students will turn up in September universities need to personalise and keep communicating with their applicants to ensure their institution remains a firm choice. They need to ensure they have adequate systems in place to deal with and track enquiries and concerns, both from home country and international students. That way, students will feel a sense of belonging to the university even before they walk through the doors later this year.”
Hobsons provides a range of services to education providers, including hosted software products, enrolment and offer conversion services through to integrated marketing solutions. http://www.hobsons.com/europe/
Hobsons acquires Intelliworks.
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25th-27th January 2012
Royal York Hotel, York
Hobsons to sponsor HELOA Annual Conference and Innovation and Best Practice Awards. Hobsons are delighted to be sponsoring the HELOA Annual Conference and their Innovation and Best Practice awards in January 2012.
HELOA is the professional association of staff in higher education who work in education liaison and provide guidance and information to prospective higher education students, their families and advisers. They have over 700 members from 140 Higher Education Institutions in the United Kingdom.
Hobsons is the education sector’s leading specialist provider of outsourced enrolment and offer conversion services, technology products and integrated marketing solutions.
The conference is the main training and networking event and always attracts prominent higher education speakers. It provides delegates with the chance to engage in debate on current issues in HE policy, education liaison, marketing, student recruitment, widening participation and admissions.
Kenny Nicholl, Commercial Director says “I am delighted that Hobsons will be sponsoring the conference and innovation and best practice awards. The awards recognise the excellent work taking place every day in higher education institutions across the United Kingdom. With increased tuition fees, the student experience and understanding the decision making choices of students has never been as important. The membership of HELOA are some of the most critical people in every higher education institution; they are the ones communicating value of higher education to the students of the future, their families and advisers.
Remember to keep the conversation going online after the conference using Twitter. Please use tag #HELOAconference your tweets and follow @HELOA_UK. Please feel free to mention @Hobsons_Europe where applicable. Looking forward to seeing you there in January!
For further information, please contact Marie Clark at Hobsons on 020 7250 6622 or mclark@hobsons.com
Save the date: Hobsons University Annual Conference
Hobsons is delighted to announce the venue and date for the much anticipated Annual Conference. Hobsons University will be on the 28th February 2012, at Prospero House, London. Whether you are looking for best practice ways of using you Hobsons solutions or you are looking to join our network of over 50 Universities in the UK, the Hobsons University Conference will deliver the content you are looking for.
At this time of unprecedented change, this key conference for education professionals offers an excellent opportunity to share and exchange experiences and ideas and also valuable networking oportunities.
Hobsons is the education sector’s leading specialist provider of outsourced enrolment and offer conversion services, technology products and integrated marketing solutions. Hobsons works with colleges and universities around the world to achieve their recruitment and retention goals.
Rachel Fletcher, Director of Operations says
“The Hobsons University is an important event for Hobsons and our partner institutions. Through the programme and networking we aim to give all our partners the information to put them one step ahead of the game when it comes to higher education communications, admissions, recruitment, enrolment. With increased tuition fees in 2012 many universities are taking a fresh look at how they are engaging with prospective students."
She added “We have had great speakers in the past and are currently taking proposals for speaker presentations. I would encourage all Hobsons partners to share the great ideas they have and changes they have made in their institutions.”
You can register by clicking here
For conference updates you can follow the conference on Twitter. Please use tag #hobsonsplc2012 in your tweets and follow @Hobsons_Europe. Looking forward to seeing you there in Feburary!
For further information and to submit a speaker proposal please contact Marie Clark at Hobsons on 020 7250 6622 or mclark@hobsons.com
Hobsons to attend premier gathering of college principals
Hobsons are delighted to announce that they will be attending this year’s Association of Colleges Annual Conference, 15-17 November in Birmingham.
At this time of unprecedented change, this key conference for further education professionals again offers an excellent opportunity to share and exchange experiences and ideas.
Hobsons is the education sector’s leading specialist provider of outsourced enrolment and offer conversion services, technology products and integrated marketing solutions. Hobsons works with colleges and universities around the world to achieve their recruitment and retention goals.
Kenny Nicholl, Commercial Director says:
“I have worked closely for a number of years with further education and recently I have been approached by a number of colleges who are actively looking to enhance their existing systems and processes. Many of them are either looking to take advantage of the changes in higher education funding and student finance or mitigate against the risk of a falling enrolments attributed to the changes in EMA funding.”
Kenny added “I am delighted that Hobsons will be at the conference and I am looking forward to meeting with a number of principals; we hear the real-time feedback of students and their decision making process and will be working closely with colleges to support their recruitment and marketing strategy.”
The Hobsons team will be at stand 36 in the Exhibition Hall and are looking forward to seeing you in Birmingham.
Remember to keep the conversation going online after AOC using Twitter. Please use tag #aocannual11 in your Tweets and follow @AoC_info. Please feel free to mention @Hobsons_Europe where applicable. Looking forward to seeing you there!
Hobsons attending 1994 Group Student Experience Conference
For the fifth year Hobsons will be attending the Enhancing the Student Experience Conference, the 1994 Group’s annual gathering of student service professionals.
This year’s event, to be held at The King’s Fund in London on Tuesday 15th November will hear from higher education Minister Rt Hon David Willets alongside other leaders including Professor Michael Farthing, Vice-Chancellor, University of Sussex, Liam Burns, newly elected President of the National Union of Students and Ben Lewis the Head of Student Advisory Services at the University of Cardiff and Vice Chair of AMOSSHE The Student Services Organisation.
Hobsons is the education sector’s leading specialist provider of outsourced enrolment and offer conversion services, technology products and integrated marketing solutions. Hobsons works with colleges and universities around the world to achieve their recruitment and retention goals.
The changes to higher education funding and finance will have a wide-ranging impact on how future students will experience higher education, including increased scrutiny from students and government on the student experience. This is the annual opportunity for higher education leaders to share and exchange experiences and ideas.
Kenny Nicholl, Commercial Director says:
“I am delighted to be attending this event, with increased tuition fees, student experience and understanding the decision making choices of students has become critical. Recently, we have been discussing with a number of universities who are thinking about their 2012 applications, how by taking a fresh look at how they are communicating with potential students, can add value to their institutions higher education offering.”
The Hobsons team will have an exhibition at the event. Remember to keep the conversation going online after the conference using Twitter. Please use tag #Hexpereince11 in your Tweets and follow @1994group. Please feel free to mention @Hobsons_Europe where applicable. Looking forward to seeing you there!
Hobsons releases new application for Facebook.
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If you have a press-related enquiry, please contact Marie Clark Marketing and Communications Manager via e-mail at mclark@hobsons.com or phone at +44 (0) 7824 320981.
