
Why is it becoming increasingly important to promote student voices in higher education? Because prospective students want to hear from real students and real faces so they can make an informed decision on where to study.
Becoming a student ambassador requires you to promote your institution through student voice, in-person events, social media and university materials. You will be cultivating a sense of belonging, making real change, recruiting new freshers, and communicating your experiences on an international scope.
Student ambassadors build community and trust for an institution. You have the chance to make a real difference. There was a time when going to university, especially as an international student, was like being thrown into the deep end. But now, with university ambassadors and new technologies, prospective students are able to ask all the important questions to a friendly face, who has experienced it all before. Which is a huge advantage.
Student ambassadors help to assist new and current students, including those who are coming abroad through study abroad or exchange programmes, helping them to feel comfortable and settled in a university environment.
Student ambassadors are relatable faces with more authentic voices, which works a lot better than the standard marketing materials that are usually produced by universities.
Student ambassadors are likely to take part in:
You will need the following skills:
Advancements in technology have transformed the ability to access student testimonials, with a range of student ambassador platforms available on the web, such as Unibuddy, WiSH and The Student Room. These platforms help to increase engagement and communication between current and prospective students. Higher education institutions should utilise these platforms in their marketing strategies in order to stay up to date with the latest trends, and to promote student engagement. Promoting student voice across a variety of platforms is a great way to get the word out about your institution.
The main point of recruiting student ambassadors is so that prospective students can interact with people who are like them or who are from their home country. It is so important to have a diverse group of student ambassadors, in terms of home country but also of course. This can help aid with international student recruitment, as students today respond well to personal stories and authentic experiences, even when it comes to education marketing. ’More than half (57%) of surveyed students said that online conversations with student ambassadors were the most helpful resource for them when they were considering which university to apply to.' Showing that students feeling comfortable and represented is more likely to influence their decision.
It is so important to showcase diversity within your student community, for example on platforms such as WiSH, universities can house a variety of their student testimonials in one place, as shown with this example for London Metropolitan University. WiSH works as a platform to promote student voice, so that prospective students can read real life testimonials before the application stage. Many of our testimonials are taken from student ambassadors, and studies show that students like to make decisions based on other students' honesty.
Student ambassador programmes are ever changing and ever developing as the influence of Gen Alpha grows. Utilising social media platforms, such as TikTok in marketing and recruitment strategy is needed now more than ever, as to stay relatable to these new audiences.
Becoming a student ambassador is usually a simple process, which starts with the university recruiting and training students. Get in touch with your personal tutor at university or current student ambassadors to find out more!
We have defined what a student ambassador is and how student ambassadors bring value to an institution. To conclude, here is a summary of the main areas that ambassadors bring value to: