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Research Report

Grow international enrollment by leveraging these 3 hidden drivers

Navigating recruitment investments amid market volatility is a perennial problem for enrollment leaders, especially for resource-intensive international recruitment. Many of our partners are tasked with maintaining a sustainable enrollment pipeline amidst travel limitations, funding declines, and ongoing global financial disruption. These persistent challenges mean institutions will have to do more with less in order to remain competitive in the years to come.

Drawing on our research and conversations with international recruitment and strategy leaders from around the globe, we’ve identified the top strategies for leveraging existing institutional resources to meet international student needs and expectations—resulting in more sustainable enrollments along the way.

Read our key takeaways from Leveraging Hidden Enrollment Drivers to Grow International Enrollment, and make sure to check out next steps. You’ll learn about why an “inside-out” strategy will be key in a volatile recruitment landscape as well as best practices to grow enrollments.

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Review the Key Takeaways

Too often, institutions feel they are leaving international student enrollments on the table

Institutions often aren’t aware of their key strengths and differentiators that will resonate with an international audience or they don’t know how to leverage them. They should identify key institutional stakeholders, unique experiences, and high-value opportunities that have drawn international students to their university in the past and invest in improving and communicating those opportunities to grow their prospect pipeline.

Most universities overestimate barriers and underestimate incentives for faculty recruitment support

Despite widespread recognition that the faculty voice resonates with prospective international students, few institutions successfully bring faculty into the fold for recruitment efforts. However, by providing multiple opportunities for engagement that speak to diverse faculty motivations, institutions can connect faculty to institutional global strategy and student recruitment.

Current students are underutilized as informal network managers

Current international students are crucial for expanding your global networks and authentically connecting with prospects. Tapping into students’ informal networks and connecting current students directly with prospects will help your institution grow its brand and prospect pipeline.

Institutional investment in career support doesn’t (yet) align with growing market demand

Career development and career preparedness is a top priority for international students, but few institutions make dedicated investment to the unique career development needs of international students. Additionally, too many institutions center international recruitment strategy based on a limited number of programs that align only to a few top industries.

To meet rising demand for career preparation and support, institutions must invest in international student-specific career services and in programs that appeal to a broader array of emerging global industries.

96% of incoming international students said “future career impact” was a key deciding factor for institution choice, but institutions spend nine times more on marketing to prospects than they do on career development and support.

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