As the number of study abroad students increases year over year, your study abroad program should see steady growth in your participation numbers each year. A problem faced by many study abroad providers is differentiating their program and attracting students to enroll.
How can you make your program stand out during the student research process when they’re looking for program options? Check out these three ways to help differentiate your study abroad program and lead to long-term success.
1. Offer unique courses
When students come abroad they want to expand their horizons and learn things they may not have had the chance to learn back at their home university. Offer your students interesting courses that peak their interest and connect them to their new home and study abroad city.
Courses that connect students to their city by taking them out of the classroom and showing them around help them to acclimate to their surroundings while learning about the history of the various neighborhoods.
2. Organize affordable weekend trips
Students are inclined to study abroad in Europe to visit the many incredible destinations at their disposal within a short distance away. Many students are on a limited budget and won’t have the chance to check off all of their wish list trips. To alleviate some of the financial burden of your students, your program can arrange optional weekend getaways both within the study abroad country and throughout Europe. Students can choose if they would like to sign-up and pay an affordable price for these weekend trips.
These program organized trips can be facilitated by in country staff or through a third-party tour operator who can provide logistical services for them.
3. Learn from alumni and implement changes
A great resource at your disposal is the opinions and feedback from past students and have a system in place to implement changes. Programs and providers that fail to change with the demands of their students will find their potential students looking elsewhere for what they need and want out of their study abroad experience. A great way to collect consistent feedback is to send out an exit survey to your students after their program has ended and having a team meeting discussing any recurring feedback or comments that stood out.
Keep up to date to date with travel trends released each year by the European Travel Commission and always strive to provide new and unique offerings to your students!
