Student Lifecycle Project rolls out technology to support student recruitment

24 Jun 2019

Introduction of the first pan-University customer relationship management (CRM) system

The first roll-out of new technology to help staff involved in supporting student recruitment and outreach launches this month with the introduction of the first pan-University customer relationship management (CRM) system.

Monday 1 July sees the release of Microsoft Dynamics, a platform that enables colleagues to record interactions with external (student recruitment) stakeholders including international agents and advisers, UK school and colleges, sponsors and collaborative partners. 

The launch of this technology is a precursor to the wider release of new recruitment and marketing systems developed through the Student Lifecycle Project (SLP), to support student recruitment activities which will eventually allow us to better track our interactions with applicants from initial contact through to firm acceptance.

Initially the new CRM tool will be used by a small number of staff. This will ensure the new capability gained from the technology develops as colleagues learn more about the benefits it can bring to our student recruitment activities. 

When fully implemented, Microsoft Dynamics will help co-ordinate, monitor and plan our recruitment activities with students and schools.  This marks a significant improvement for the University, enabling us to standardise recruitment processes and concentrate expertise around a single CRM system.  

From events and digital recruitment campaigns through to school outreach activities, CRM will allow us to capture, track and help keep warm applicants to increase conversion activity through centralised record management, better nurture campaigns and targeted communication activity.

Commenting on the first launch of SLP, Professor Clive Agnew, UoM Project Sponsor, said, “This is the first launch from the Student Lifecycle Project and I am incredibly proud of the significant contribution from the many colleagues who have been – and will continue to be - involved in the designing, testing and implementation of all the new tools associated with the Student Lifcycle Project.”

Later in the year, SLP will deliver further CRM features as well as exciting integrations with technology platforms Gecko and Communigator, allowing us to streamline interactions with prospective students and improve the experience for staff involved in student recruitment, marketing and communications activities.

More information

You can find more detailed on the roll out of Microsoft Dynamics on the SLP website.