University shortlisted for national accolade

Plymouth University’s work to enhance its support for prospective students has been recognised after it was shortlisted for a national accolade.

The University has been nominated in the Outstanding Student Admissions category of the 2015 Times Higher Education Leadership and Management Awards.

In recent years, there have been concerted efforts to transform the applicant experience and ensure students are fully supported from the moment they make an application.

This has included the introduction of four Applicant Days – supported by more than 500 student ambassadors, professional and academic staff – which give an opportunity to discover more about learning and lifestyle opportunities.

Applicants also now receive individually tailored offer packs, which include direct communication with families, and last year, the team engaged with more than 3,000 parents and guardians and received very positive feedback.

The team has also enhanced its student ambassador-led call centre, introduced online chat rooms via social media and hosted HE Advisers Days and parents’ evening to support underrepresented groups.

There have also been more than 500 mentoring sessions, student shadowing, course showcases for primary school groups, and over 200 interactions with schools and colleges with large groups of students from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Isobel Rossiter, Head of Student Recruitment and Admissions at Plymouth University, said: “This nomination is a great reward for the huge amount of work that has gone into transforming the experience of our applicants. This is part of an ongoing journey to ensure a first class service is delivered to all of our prospective students.”

Professor David Coslett added: “Choosing the right university is a life-changing decision, and the journey from applicant to graduate would be much more difficult were it not for the support offered by our Student Recruitment and Admissions team in conjunction with both academic and professional staff. Their combined efforts to promote our research-informed teaching and first class student experience, while at the same time listening to applicants and meeting their individual requirements, is undoubtedly worthy of this recognition.”

The Times Higher Education Leadership and Management Awards (affectionately known as the THELMAs) are now in the seventh year, and aim to celebrate work which may often go unseen but is essential to the success of an institution.

The award winners will be announced on Thursday 18 June 2015 during a ceremony at the Grosvenor House Hotel in London’s Park Lane.

To find out more about applying to study at Plymouth University, visit www.plymouth.ac.uk or call the admissions team on 01752 585858.