PREVIEW DAY INSIGHTS

1. SHARING PREVIEW DAY INSIGHTS PREVIEW DAY INSIGHTS WHAT WE’VE LEARNED AND WHAT WE’VE CHANGED TO ENSURE PROSPECTIVE STUDENTS GET THE BEST POSSIBLE PREVIEW DAY

2. SHARING PREVIEW DAY INSIGHTS Agenda Our key messages The views of prospective students Changes to Preview Days for 2012 Choosing the University in 2011/2

3. SHARING PREVIEW DAY INSIGHTS Why Choose Portsmouth? (OUR KEY MESSAGES) High quality teaching • A challenging course that’s right for you. Supporting success • Outstanding facilities Real-life learning • Real-life learning spaces • Emphasis on preparing for employment Vibrant community • Seaside and urban location, campus set in the heart of a thriving city • Student life Bright futures • Graduate employment and success • Alumni success

4. SHARING PREVIEW DAY INSIGHTS It’s important that we understand what these messages mean in order to get them across to our audience, for example: What is it that makes our teaching high quality? How do we demonstrate the emphasis on employability at Portsmouth? It is not always what we offer that makes us distinct from other universities; it’s how we do things, the case studies and testimonies we can show to support these messages and the way we express them words and pictures and project when we meet people.

5. SHARING PREVIEW DAY INSIGHTS Evaluating and Selecting Universities Online New City conducted one-on-one interviews and brainstorming session using the KJ method. Who did we talk to? • Structured group brainstorming sessions using the KJ method with the following: 14 Prospective students in local colleges (2 sessions) 12 1st year Portsmouth Students (2 KJ sessions) 10 Academic staff (1 KJ session) 10 Support staff (1 KJ session) • One-on-one interviews with 4 current, first-year Portsmouth student Senior stakeholder interview (VC and DVC) • Carewords Survey with all audiences What did we ask? Prospective and Current Student • When you are/were in the process of selecting a university, what did you go to the website to find or to do? • What are the top 3 criteria in selecting a university? • How do you know a university is a good fit? Current Students • Now that you are at university, what questions do you have? What have you looked for on the website? • How would you describe your experience at university to your friends? What would you tell them? Staff • What do students and parent ask? • What do you want to tell them? • What don't they know about Portsmouth?

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8. SHARING PREVIEW DAY INSIGHTS Takeaways from the research: First students want a ‘good’ course at a university with a strong reputation – we heard that they want to feel challenged but not ‘out of their depth’ (unsupported) They are interested in success (careers opportunities, success of other students) Social aspects – what does the uni offer in terms of clubs & socs and sport and what’s the city like. So no real surprises with the above. Beyond this they really wanted to know: What it’s really like to be a student at Portsmouth What it feels like? Will I fit in / what are the other students like? What are the lecturers like? Do they care about me / are they approachable?

9. SHARING PREVIEW DAY INSIGHTS What can people expect at a Preview Day? Welcome talks from the Vice Chancellor throughout the day Twelve Information Points around campus for enquiries, directions and registration Academic talks for all subject areas – between two and four per subject Information Fairs in the morning and afternoon – support services answering questions Halls of Residence Tours Walking tours of the campus Coach tours of the city Talks from Student Housing, Student Finance and Academic Registry both morning and afternoon Tours of the Library Tours of the sports facilities Student assistants and guides to give a real students view Parking on Saturdays on campus and discounted parking at Gunwharf on Wednesday Comprehensive pre-event communications to allow them to plan their day

10. SHARING PREVIEW DAY INSIGHTS What’s changed from last year? More Saturday events due to space management issues, and feedback from visitors who preferred weekend events Increased number of Information Points for registration around campus, to prevent large queues from forming Information Fair will now run in both the morning and the afternoon due to public feedback Library tours, and sport tours will run throughout the day, instead of only part of the day Most academic departments are now offering three talks and these are spread throughout the day to offer visitors a wide range of choices Improved signage around campus – more visible enquiry points, and students holding Ask Me signs to draw attention to them

11. SHARING PREVIEW DAY INSIGHTS What’s available from support services? Tours of facilities – both the Library and the Sports and Recreation teams will be offering regular tours throughout the day of their facilities Talks – Student Housing, Student Finance and Academic Registry offer talks and Q&A sessions to guide people through accommmodation options, financial support and the application process. Each offer two talks per day. Information Fair – information stands at a morning session and an afternoon session for one-to-one enquiries with Registry, ASDAC, IS, International Office, Library, Employability, Sports and Recreation, Student Finance, Student Housing, Students’ Union, Nursery and a mature students drop in information point.

12. SHARING PREVIEW DAY INSIGHTS How can departments engage visitors? Focus on your subject area and what makes it unique from other courses Share your enthusiasm and passion for the subject What first got you interested in the subject, and what exciting paths has it taken you on? Emotive connection to the course can be a reason for selecting us over somewhere else – get them excited about what they’ll be studying What have your graduates gone on to do after leaving university? What options are available for placements and work experience? What companies do you partner with on your course? Use up to date photographs and videos to get your point across Have some current students in the presentation with you

13. SHARING PREVIEW DAY INSIGHTS ‘Choosing the University of Portsmouth 2011/12’ Reflections of first year undergraduate and postgraduate students commencing courses at the University of Portsmouth in 2011/12

14. SHARING PREVIEW DAY INSIGHTS Why Reasons under- and post- graduates accept places on courses at Portsmouth for the 2011/12 academic year Factors which influence their decision-making The findings will be used: to inform marketing activities to assess the effectiveness of its communications with prospective students and to identify key factors which influence students’ choices

15. SHARING PREVIEW DAY INSIGHTS How Questionnaire survey Quantitative and qualitative data Online and pen and paper Live from 26th September to 18th November 2011 Incentive offered (one of five £50 Amazon vouchers)

16. SHARING PREVIEW DAY INSIGHTS Who 1403 returned questionnaires (approx 17% response rate) Female (54%),male (46%) Full time (90%),part time (8%),other (2%) Campus based (86%),distance learners (14%) Undergraduate (77%),postgraduate (19%),other (4%) UK (80%), EU (9%),International (11%)

17. SHARING PREVIEW DAY INSIGHTS Considering the University Q. How did you first hear about UoP?

18. SHARING PREVIEW DAY INSIGHTS Considering the University Q. What factors did you think were important? Course content (78%) Quality of teaching/teaching should be of a high standard (54%) Reputation for course/subject (46%) That I could be happy at Portsmouth (46%) Overall reputation of University (42%) Feel/atmosphere/friendliness of University when visiting (41%) How far the University is from home (far enough/close enough) (40%) MOST important – Course content (40%)

19. SHARING PREVIEW DAY INSIGHTS Visiting the University of Portsmouth Single most important source of information = University Preview Day/Open Day/visit (30%) 61% of students surveyed made at least one visit to the University before making their final decision to study with us Of those attending a Preview Day (pre-application), 97% rated the event as either positive or very positive Of those attending a Course Open Day, 95% rated the event as either positive or very positive

20. SHARING PREVIEW DAY INSIGHTS Because ... “The teaching staff were very approachable and enthusiastic, this helped me a lot in making my decision and made my parents feel happier about me studying here” “Being able to speak to lecturers before the course influenced me to choose the course. The fact that lecturers were friendly and approachable made me feel welcome on the course”

21. SHARING PREVIEW DAY INSIGHTS National survey Reasons students choose a particular university are complex Range far beyond academic concerns Most important = impression they gained from open days 53% of students Reflect 2010 findings Source: The Sodexo University Lifestyle Survey 2012, p17

22. SHARING PREVIEW DAY INSIGHTS What students say “The fact that students on the course were able to speak freely about the course, without their lecturers overseeing them, made me feel that I was given an honest opinionof the course” “My interview was very interesting and relevant and cemented my decision to come here. My other interviews didn’t include an accommodation tour which I think may have swayed my decision as I could see myself living here and also allowed more time to bond with other prospective students”

23. SHARING PREVIEW DAY INSIGHTS And finally “ ... brilliant, definitely persuaded me to come” “ ... it’s what made me set my mind to study at Portsmouth” “ ... Portsmouth was my last choice before visiting, and then I decided I liked it so much, it changed to my first choice”