CASE Conference 2008 – Quick Overview

This afternoon I arrived home from a four-day conference in Brighton – the CASE Europe Annual Conference 2008. For those who don’t know, CASE is for Marketing, Communications, Fundraising and Alumni professionals in the Higher Education sector.

I haven’t got time to write about it all now (I need to catch up on some sleep and rest my brain) but I thought I would just list the sessions that I attended this week so that I could recap/reflect/review them in the future…

Why universities need to engage with the media
Tara Brabazon, Professor of Media Studies, University of Brighton

How do university leaders prevent the “wisdom of crowds” – of blogs, podcasts and social networking sites – from whimpering into mediocrity and banality? Since 9/11 there has never been a greater need for intelligent commentary by scholars to rebuild citizenship and a commitment to social justice. Join Tara to discuss the need to understand the impact of digitisation on the societies we serve.

Developing a brand-focused digital strategy
Helen Aspell, Head of Digital Marketing, University of Southampton; Dean Russell, Digital Marketing Consultant and James Souttar, Senior Brand Consultant, Precedent

Explore how the changing landscape of digital technologies will shape the agendas of brand development into the future. This session will present the results of the recent collaboration between Precedent and the University of Southampton, demonstrating how the adoption of technologies can be made easier with a consistent approach based on business objectives and audiences.

Consumer buying behaviour and the Higher Education decision-making process
Claire Brown, Director of Student Recruitment and Admissions and Matt Smith, Head of Student Recruitment Marketing, University of Liverpool

As prospective students adopt an increasingly consumerist approach to their decision-making in Higher Education it is important that universities understand their key choice criteria and how this may vary throughout the UCAS Cycle. Linking Kotler’s five stage consumer decision-making model to the UCAS cycle, this session reveals research which can be utilised to inform a recruitment marketing communications strategy.

Old school v new cool: How prospective students use traditional, modern and social networking media when picking their university
Eleanor Simmons, Associate Director – Higher Education, Opinionpanel Research

With the media available for prospective students to use when deciding which university to apply to ever increasing, this presentation looks at the role of modern and traditional media and the most recent addition: social networking sites.

CRM for student recruitment – A practical session on how to successfully select and implement CRM
Stephen Macdonald, CEO, Azorus and Susan Vercruysse, Assistant Register, Ryerson University

CRM can appear a daunting technology acquisition when in reality it is a platform to market your institution to today’s web savvy generation. Hear how Ryerson University, a Canadian university operating in an environment similar to the UK, has differentiated itself and gained a competitive advantage by delivering services over the web.

Crisis v “no comment” – how universities tackle the ethics of today’s media
Tara Brabazon, Professor of Media Studies, University of Brighton; Ann Mroz, Editor, Times Higher Education; Peter Slee, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Student and Staff Affairs), Northumbria University; chaired by Ian Rowley, Director of Communication and Strategy, University of Warwick

Today’s media is 24/7 leaving Vice-Chancellors and their hard working press officers no let up from the constant demands for comments in newspapers, broadcast and online communications. In a world of no fixed deadlines three experts debate how to get the best out of the media and whether it is ever safe to turn off your Blackberry.

Internet search – the journey has only just started
Richie Jones, Creative Technology Director, Yucca

This session will deal with how people use search, how this has changed in the Google Age and what the future of search could be. We’ll survey paid search (PPC) and natural search (SEO), looking at how the two can be used strategically, and ways to rapidly improve your website.

Successful University brands and reputation
Professor Chris Chapleo, Senior Lecturer, Human Resource and Marketing Management, Portsmouth University and Justin Shaw, Director of HE Practice, Communications Management

What makes a “successful” brand in higher education? In this session Chris and Justin will present findings and discuss the implications of new Portsmouth University research into perceptions (within and outside the sector) of successful university brands. Delegates will also be able to explore reputation drivers for their universities as part of this session.

Harnessing technology to enhance your marketing and recruitment processes
Maggie Frantz, Head of Operations, Hobsons

This session will explore how universities in the UK, US and Australia are using technology to engage more effectively with prospective students. Maggie and a representative from a partner university will explore how CRM systems and innovative use of Web 2.0 technologies can enhance your marketing and student recruitment activities, to convert enquirers into enrolled students.

Closing Plenary
Leadership and team-building in a transcultural marketplace
J. Frank Brown, Dean, INSEAD

The ability to build teams is a necessary skill for a leader. In the international context, building teams with a global point of view is imperative. How do we help the people we work with to transcend the boundaries of discipline, context and country? And what results can we expect if we succeed?

I haven’t blogged for ages…

I hate when blog posts start with “I haven’t blogged for ages” but I feel I need to say it! It’s been almost a month but I have been pretty busy! Very poor – especially since I was given a plug on Matthew Watson’s blog – I now have something to live up to!

So the month of July mostly consisted of my CIPR Planning Assignment but it was a massive relief to finally submit it and have it out of my life (unless of course I fail and have to re-submit!). Generally in life, I like situations when you know what the right answer or direction is – but this assignment was like feeling my way in the dark. There were so many options or possibilities that the ‘right’ answer was hard to find so who knows how I got on! Well, I guess I find out in mid-September! I am already thinking about the final project for the CIPR diploma – a 6000 word research project on a topic of our choice – but I will blog more about that another time!

Apart from that I have been enjoying having my social life back and have been to a few parties including Pickle Jar Communications 1st Birthday party and the University of Warwick’s Staff Summer Party. I have also celebrated Mom’s birthday and waved goodbye to my cousin Maria who was home for the Summer after three years living in Jakarta, and has now moved on to Singapore for two years! Plus it’s my own birthday tomorrow and on Sunday I am going to London for my friends daughters 3rd birthday. Then a week today (next Friday) my cousin is having a baby! There really is no rest for the wicked!

Work has also been pretty busy lately. People think that it’s quiet at a University during the summer months when there are no students around but they are quite wrong. There are lots of preparations to be made for new students especially with A-level results, clearing, confirmation, enrolment, preparations for induction etc. The University has also taken on a new enquiry management system to assist communications with prospective students and applicants so there is a lot of planning going in to that as well as the usual ‘comms’ stuff.

So after that re-cap, I think I need to change my approach to blogging and try a more little-but-often approach as this entry is far too long and boring…!

Looking ahead…

So I have resigned myself to the fact that, like April, July is going to be pretty much…

Where is my sunshine?

We received our CIPR planning assignment on Monday 30th June and progress so far has been slow. It’s a pretty tricky assignment and being busy with work I just haven’t made much headway with it so it’s time to knuckle down!

I have lots of things to look forward to in August so that should keep me motivated. I’m making a note of them here so that when I am struggling with the assignment and feeling miserable I can remind myself of the fun to come!

• Saturday 2nd August – Leaving Party for Sam and Mark (colleague and her husband who are moving to Brighton)
• Wednesday 6th August – Pickle Jar Communications‘ 1st Birthday Party
• Thursday 7th August – University of Warwick Staff Summer Party
• Saturday 9th August – Nottingham for final CIPR Diploma teaching session
• Tuesday 12th August – Mom’s Birthday
• Wednesday 13th August – Mom’s twin sister (Mag) coming over from Dublin
• Saturday 16th August – My Birthday – there will be a whole weekend of celebrations for this but I haven’t got round to planning it yet!
• Monday 18th August – Going to see Mary Poppins at Birmingham Hippodrome
• Friday 22nd August – Cousin Laura having baby (if not earlier!)
• Saturday 23rd August – Casey Leaver’s 30th Birthday
• Tuesday 26th – Friday 29th August – CASE Annual Conference in Brighton

EDIT: this list is not exhaustive – I shall be adding to it!

So, bring on August when I will feel more like this…

I can do anything if I try

EDIT: I also feel that August might need a theme tune so am open to suggestions…preferably in the form of links to YouTube please!

The University of Thick?

Theatre, Friends, Birthdays and Gigging

So it seems the weekend is catching up on me mid-week… this could be reinforced by the fact that I have spent the day in London at a CASE seminar (more on that another time) and last week was also busy with Custard Balti Comedy and Ideas Cafe at Warwick! Feels like I haven’t stopped lately so am quite impressed with myself for finding time to blog about it! I had a great (but busy) weekend…

On Friday night I went to see Into the Woods, a Music Theatre Warwick (student group) production at Warwick Arts Centre. It was performed in the Studio Theatre – an intimate little venue that I reckon held less than 100 people in the audience and the quality of the music, singing and acting was great! The best thing about the whole production for me was seeing members of the local community enjoying a Friday night out watching Warwick University students perform! Working in the Communications Office at Warwick, part of my job is in Community Relations and promoting the benefits of the University (and it’s students) to the local community so I really felt a warm glow when I saw some older members of the local community really enjoying the talents of our students.

On Saturday I had a night out in Birmingham for a double 26th birthday celebration – two old school friends (Lydia and Fiona) have birthdays on consecutive days so we went to the Yardbird jazz bar and Jamhouse to celebrate. A few of my friends now live in London so it’s great when there’s a birthday and they return home! What was even better was that I recently bumped into another old school friend that I haven’t seen for 8 years at a Comedy Club in Birmingham! I mentioned the night out to her and she came along with my old best friend from school! The birthday girls didn’t know about the surprise guests so there were shocks and smiles all round which was brilliant! I also had the opportunity to catch up with my friends families which is something I don’t get to do so often now that they live in London! It was really nice to catch up and reminisce about school days, sleepovers and Sutton Girls!

Finally, on Sunday I realised that my mate wasn’t returning to London until Monday so I made a flippant suggestion that Joe Lean and the Jing Jang Jong were playing Birmingham Academy in case she fancied it. At about 6pm on Sunday evening my mate called to see if I was still up for it and having seen them at Warwick University Students’ Union about a month ago I jumped at the chance to see them again (despite the slight tiredness from the previous night)! The support act, Beggars, were really great as well! Check them both out if you get chance!

A great weekend all round!