Reduce the drop-out rate in SA's higher education institutions with digital transformation

The why

Digital transformation in higher education is good for many reasons. According to Informatica, some of these reasons include:

• Student engagement

Digital transformation can reduce drop-out rates by connecting with students at key moments in their studies and supporting them throughout the learning journey. Imagine what it could do for the economy and countless households.

• Personalised earning

Most students today are digitally savvy and accustomed to the personalised, instant experiences that come with smart devices, apps and the internet. Universities that meet them where they have a competitive advantage in attracting and retaining students.

• Supporting Diversity

With South Africa’s melting pot of diversity, one-size-fits-all communication is futile. By using student data alongside some of today’s smart digital technologies, higher education institutions can meet their students as individuals, in areas where they need support, making a significant difference to their student career.

• Revenue and profitability

It’s a competitive economy and higher education is no exception. By adopting digital technologies, universities and other institutions can automate and streamline otherwise labour-intensive and time-consuming tasks, reducing costs and increasing efficiencies.

The what

Digital transformation is a broad term. What exactly does it mean in higher education? According to Forbes, it fits into two main categories:

1. Smart data collection and usage

Higher education facilities have access to in-depth student data like personal demographics, account status, study details, and results. But it doesn’t stop there. Educators can go much deeper by tracking things like clicks and views on channels like email, websites, push notifications, SMSes and even answered or unanswered voice broadcasts.

2. Intelligent student engagement

This uses the data in category one to engage with students at key moments in their learning journey. By understanding who your students are and tracking their behaviour across your channels, you can customise every communication journey, so it provides relevant guidance, on appropriate channels, at exactly the right time.

The how

Now that we’ve got the theory down, let’s explore some examples. If you’re from a higher education institution, here’s how you can use a digital transformation strategy like this to make a difference to your students’ lives:

Prospective students

Prospective students are usually young, passionate and eager to achieve their dreams. Get their attention early and add a personalised touch to make them feel welcome at your institution – not to mention, simplify, automate and streamline the application process for you. An example like this also gives you the opportunity to:

• Communicate your value proposition
  
• Share useful information
  
• Have a clear call to action
  
• Keep your brand top of mind

New student onboarding

Starting a new education journey is a big step in a student’s life. It has the potential to fill them with hope and inspiration or fear and uncertainty. Give them the support they need so the process is simple and comforting, helping them stay positive. This extra support can develop a sense of rapport and loyalty towards your institution; keeping them grounded when struggles threaten to rock their stability down the line.

Behaviour-triggered communication

Students are people with real lives that can pull them in all directions. Keeping them engaged, supported and motivated to stick with their studies isn’t just a business preference; with messaging automation tools like Everlytic available, it’s a moral obligation. Examples like this can be set up once and have a ripple effect for countless students for years to come.

Students under financial strain

Financial strain is a common catalyst for student dropouts, but with many financial aid options available, it doesn’t always need to be. With an automated communication workflow like this, you can determine why students are missing classes before they drop out, so you can give them the support they need to keep them engaged.

The South African education system may not be perfect but getting the most out of the students who are already engaged and enrolled is low-hanging fruit. This is something we can do now. Reach out to Everlytic so they can help you change more students’ lives for the better.

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*This article was originally published on the Everlytic blog on 28 February 2020.