The education sector has not been spared the fallout from the Covid-19 pandemic and has had to adjust quickly – from numerous changes of intake dates to how lessons and lectures are conducted.
It has been a steep learning curve for parents and students as well, and has changed how they research potential schools or institutions of higher learning.
Traditionally, parents and students visit the school or institution of higher learning to see the facilities and meet staff to learn more about the place before making the important decision as to where they will study.
But according to YouVisit.com, the number of visits by parents and potential students had been dropping noticeably in the past few years. And with Covid-19, the number has declined even more.
Instead of making physical visits, Generation Z prefers to go online to find out more about the institution they are interested in.
Bringing the campus to life with a virtual tour
A virtual tour is a collection of panoramic images taken with a 360ยบ camera that is played in sequence, like a moving video, with added sound and text effects. Some may even include models in place of real-life videos and images. Already popular for tourist spots such as museums, virtual tours of schools and institutions of higher learning are gradually becoming the norm.
They use virtual tours to present a personalised guide to potential students with curated content specifically designed to attract them. Parents and students are more likely to choose a school or tertiary institution with an engaging virtual tour.
Heriot-Watt University, for example, saw a 28% increase in traffic, collected 141 leads upon launching, observed a 58.2% increase in its website traffic with the average user spending 20 to 25 minutes per visit and reached eight countries – Malaysia, Indonesia, Hong Kong, the UK, the US, Japan, India and the United Arab Emirates – with its virtual tour.
Moreover, according to Xcalibur360 – one of the top companies offering virtual tour services – the demand for virtual tours by educational institutions has increased tremendously for numerous reasons, one of which is the ability to reach out to both the local and global student population.
Time and cost-effective
For many students, the campus can be one of the deciding factors when choosing a school. Choosing a place to study is not just about finding the school that offers the best education, it is the place they will call home for two to five years. Hence, the need to personally see what the campus can provide.
With virtual tours, students are given a sense of what the institution can offer with the help of visual, audio and interactive guides. The interactive aspect of virtual tours means further insights into daily living on campus can be obtained. A good virtual tour allows potential students to get to know the layout of the campus better and provides important information, such as where to get the best food on campus
Virtual tours are convenient as users do not have to pay a booking fee to visit. Simply click on the link and voila, the user is virtually transported to the campus. The best part is that all this can be done from the comfort of home, in pyjamas even.
Further reach to international students
Virtual tours are also a good way to attract international students. The pandemic has been a challenge to the recruitment of foreign students. Traditional destinations for international education – such as the US and the UK – are losing international students. Many institutions in those countries are struggling with enrollment and face the risk of having to discontinue some programmes and courses as a result.
The situation in Malaysia is similar. New foreign students cannot enter the country and must postpone their enrolment until Dec 31. But this should not stop institutions from encouraging international students to apply once they can enter the country. Access to virtual tours allows international students to explore the campus even before stepping foot in the country.
An engaging virtual tour would include voiceovers in multiple languages to attract international students, as well as interactive features and curated content to showcase the university’s facilities and fill in the gaps prospects could encounter when visiting a physical campus instead of making a trip via their screens.
As technology develops, it is important that institutions grow in tandem. Given the restrictions imposed by the Covid-19 pandemic, virtual tours are the best option for schools and institutions of higher learning to welcome potential students to the campus.
Afterschool.my provides information on higher education including courses, institutions, scholarships, careers as well as other higher education related topics in Malaysia.
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