A brave new world of peer recruitment for the University of Auckland

Traditionally, young people considering higher education might have turned first to their parents for advice, as well as consulting school career advisers, prospectuses, and of course their friends. Nowadays, they’re more likely to check out a university website or Facebook page to help them decide where and what to study, and are looking more often to hear from their peers who are already at tertiary level.

The University of Auckland is partnering with London-based EdTech firm The Access Platform to make virtual conversations between peers a reality. Student ambassadors will be trained to engage with interested students from anywhere in the world via a mobile app, showcasing the University, life in Auckland, and sharing their own personal experiences.

EdTech, or educational technology, has also seen a rise since the increased demand for remote learning during the Covid-19 pandemic. Students and parents alike are now much more familiar with interacting online when face-to-face meetings aren’t possible. A post-Covid world creates space for institutions to make use of the more successful digital solutions to improve the way they support students.

According to Nik Higgins, co-founder of The Access Platform, “Conversations with peers have always had significant influence on the decisions made by prospective students. Anyone who has attended a university open day will attest to this. However, as the behaviour, modes of research, and favoured engagement channels of prospective students have become increasingly digital, these peer-led conversations have taken on a renewed importance in the online space. It’s wonderful to see the University of Auckland, as New Zealand's foremost tertiary institution, taking the lead on this kind of approach.”

Communicating directly with current students will give future students an authentic insight to the opportunities awaiting them at the University, and will enable the International Office to reach potentially thousands of prospects in a dynamic way.

Brett Berquist, Director International at the University, says, “What better source than to hear directly from a student living the experience? As we improve our digital ecosystem to support international students in their process of deciding the best choice for their educational goals, we are excited to join forces with The Access Platform to help interested students connect directly with students on campus.”

Once up and running, the student ambassador pilot programme has potential for the University to explore using the platform for other needs, from student support to crisis management communication or alumni engagement.