Using social networks to engage with international students

Alison TebbuttEuropean Officer

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Objectives• To create a sense of community among prospective,

current and former international students,

• To provide an informal forum where students can share their experience and talk about their life at the University of Southampton

• To improve the international students’ experience before and during their studies at the University

• To attract home students interested in an international experience

• To use the social network platforms as a source of market research by monitoring trends

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Implementation• Focus on three main social networking sites already being

used by students and by other University departments

– Facebook

– You Tube

– Twitter

• Collaboration with other University departments:

Alumni Office, Career Destinations, Accommodation Service, E-language department, Students’ Union,Visa Guidance Team

• Communications plan and guidelines developed for each site

• All three sites launched July 2010

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Student Ambassadors• Co-ordinated by the International Office

• Monitored daily by Student Ambassadors:

– Voluntary scheme in collaboration with Career Destinations , awarded Graduate Passport points

– 6 months pilot (July-December 2010)

– 10 Student Ambassadors each monitoring one of the sites on a rota basis

– Training provided - a workshop and a manual

– Fortnightly meetings with the International Office

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International Office website

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http://www.facebook.com/UosInternationalOffice

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http://twitter.com/UniSotonIntl

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http://www.youtube.com/UoSinternational

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Outcomes so far• Target of 500 Facebook fans met within 1 month of

launch

• Specific campaigns were run in collaboration with other departments / projects:

– Students’ Union, International Women’s Day, Marketing Officers

• Current numbers (Jun 11):

– Facebook fans 1191

– Twitter followers 154

– YouTube subscribers 39 (Total viewings 3,598)