After the Storm
Admissions from a University Perspective
Professor Mary Stuart, Vice Chancellor, University of Lincoln
Themes
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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
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
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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 support
for 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 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
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