Twice as many German school-leavers – A unique opportunity for international education providers!
Information initiative: Inform German students about the bachelor programmes at your institution!
Many universities worldwide complain about low matriculation numbers resulting in unused capacities of study programmes, while many German universities have trouble handling the high number of applications and registrations. This is caused by macro factors like demographic change and reforms undertaken in the German schooling system. Especially the shortening of the secondary schooling period from 9 to 8 years, producing a doubling in the number of school-leavers, creates a great opportunity for universities that are longing for higher matriculation numbers.
Marketing activities directed at the doubled graduation classes are not only worthwhile for all international academic institutions that are interested in attracting more foreign students for full-time degree programmes in the short term. It also helps to counteract the anticipated diminishing numbers of domestic students as a result of demographic change. International students can partly fill the gap. To assist universities to take advantage of the current situation, the company border concepts is again organizing a Generation G8 marketing campaign in 2011. Universities and colleges can present their study programmes directly to the upcoming German school-leavers to make them aware of alternatives to higher education in their own region.
Cross-media approach – Three communication channels to reach the doubled graduation classes
Online, print and presentations at secondary schools are the three aspects that form the Generation G8 campaign in 2011. The interlinking of these channels is the key to effective communication with the target group.
Of course, institutions can also choose to participate in only one of these communication channels.
Online: www.generation-g8.de, Newsletter, Social Media
www.generation-g8.de is the online information portal directly aimed at the students belonging to the target group of the doubled graduation classes. It informs them about study courses, institutions, financial aspects and other relevant topics. The website also includes numerous video testimonials as well as an event calendar. Institutions have the possibility to book profiles for themselves and their study programmes on the website, to place an article in the monthly newsletter or to participate in the event calendar. Complimentary to the website there is a Facebook Fan site (www.facebook.com/generationg8) and a twitter channel (www.twitter.com/generationg8) to keep the target group informed.
Print: Generation G8 Guide
The Generation G8 Guide informs the students of the doubled graduation classes about their prospects. Primarily, it describes academic studies in Germany and abroad. Institutions can present themselves, their study programmes or special events by means of informative advertorials. The guide is issued with a circulation of 50,000 copies and is distributed among the secondary school students – the next guide will be published on March 1, 2011.
Presentations at secondary schools: Roadshow to inform the students in person
The G8 team visits numerous secondary schools and presents the participating institutions and their offer to the students. This roadshow is a very efficient way of marketing study programmes as both graduation classes of a school are reached at one go.
More information and participation
Institutions, faculties or study courses interested in participating in the Generation G8 campaign are asked to contact border concepts for more information. The media information data can be downloaded here.
