Former students can be excellent representatives for your educational institution when trying to attract new international students. Their first-hand experiences and success stories can help prospective students better understand what to expect. Here's how to work effectively with your alumni to attract new students from around the world.
1. Why Former Students Matter in Student Recruitment
Alumni can speak honestly about their time at your institution because they've lived it themselves. For international students considering studying abroad, hearing from someone who has successfully made this journey can be particularly helpful.
Key benefits of working with alumni:
- They can share real experiences that promotional materials can't capture
- International students often connect better with alumni from their home country
- Their career success adds weight to your institution's reputation
Practical tip: Include alumni from different countries, programs, and career paths to show the range of possibilities at your institution.
2. Keeping Strong Connections with Former Students
To gather alumni help with recruitment, you need to maintain good relationships with them year-round, not just when you need their assistance.
Effective ways to stay connected:
- Hold online and in-person gatherings for networking and socializing
- Send updates about what's happening at the institution
- Create online spaces (like social media groups) where alumni can stay in touch
Practical tip: Show appreciation for your alumni by recognizing their achievements and offering ways to contribute through teaching, mentoring, or helping with recruitment.
3. Getting Alumni Involved in Recruitment
Once you've built strong relationships, there are many ways alumni can help attract new students:
- Ask them to speak at recruitment events (online or in-person)
- Organize online discussions where they can share their experiences
- Let them share their daily life through your social media accounts
- Feature their stories on your website
Practical tip: Give alumni clear guidelines about what information to share and how to represent the institution effectively.
4. Creating Direct Connections with Potential Students
One of the most effective approaches is to help potential students talk directly with alumni:
- Set up mentoring programs matching current and former students
- Organize small online meetings between alumni and interested students
- Host live question-and-answer sessions on social media
Practical tip: Make these connections easy by providing both alumni and potential students with the tools and information they need.
5. Sharing Alumni Success Stories
Showing how well your former students are doing can inspire potential students and show the real value of studying at your institution.
Effective ways to share success stories:
- Record short videos of alumni talking about their experiences
- Feature regular profiles of different alumni on your website
- Share alumni achievements on social media
Practical tip: When sharing these stories, include both professional achievements and personal growth to give a complete picture of the student experience.
Putting It All Together
Your former students are some of your best representatives for attracting new international students. Their experiences and success stories can help potential students better understand what your institution offers. By maintaining good relationships with alumni and involving them in recruitment thoughtfully, you can create a more effective approach to attracting international students. Your alumni prove what's possible at your institution — use their experiences to inspire future students.
Resource: For further ideas, download this helpful guide — Content Creation Ideas for Your International Students.
For in-person expertise with leveraging your alumni network, tap into Study in the USA’s decades of experience in connecting qualified students with leading academic institutions. Connect with us today!
