{"id":12012,"date":"2016-07-27T10:32:46","date_gmt":"2016-07-27T15:32:46","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.studyabroad101.com\/?p=12012"},"modified":"2022-06-21T10:38:13","modified_gmt":"2022-06-21T14:38:13","slug":"abroad101-advisors-newsletter-summer-2016","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.studyabroad101.com\/blog\/2016\/07\/abroad101-advisors-newsletter-summer-2016\/","title":{"rendered":"Abroad101 Advisors Newsletter \u2013 Summer 2016"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Abroad101-reviews-logo-web\"<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Now more than ever, we need the first-hand accounts of what goes on in study abroad.\u00a0 Parents and families worry about health and safety in study abroad so we suggest (to use the old sports analogy) \u201cthe best defense is a good offense.\u201d\u00a0 Translated, this means we should flood the market with good news,\u00a0and by news, we are referring to student reviews.\u00a0 Each review tells a student\u2019s story and becomes yet another testimonial as to the impact that an international education experience has on a young life.\u00a0 If you are an existing user of Abroad101, this is your reminder to login and send\u00a0review invitations out.\u00a0 Below you\u2019ll find some additional suggestions and recommendations from Abroad101, THE study abroad review website.<\/span><\/p>\n

Lack of Reviews is Bad Practice<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

The word \u201ctransparency\u201d is used more and more when it comes to education.\u00a0 Despite some well-intended efforts, the field of education abroad has not conformed to the spirit of transparency and that is likely turning people away from participating.\u00a0 We hear arguments that education is different, but consumer research is pretty clear, lack of reviews turns customers away.\u00a0 Bad reviews draw more interest than good reviews AND random bad reviews don\u2019t deter buyers.\u00a0 A pattern of bad reviews does indicate trouble and would impact participation as it should.\u00a0 A search for the\u00a0negative\u00a0is often what\u00a0compels people to come to a review website and in an odd way, the negative provides reassurance to people skeptical of the rhetoric of other outlets.\u00a0 We suggest you read\u00a0the influence of reviews<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Your Best Option: Replace you Evaluation Process with a Review Process<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

We encourage you to take the leap as a number of universities have done, and become fully transparent by turning your private study abroad program evaluation process into a public review process.\u00a0 When every student is required to complete a review in order to received credit, you get more candor, usable data and testimonials of the impact of study abroad.\u00a0 \u00a0We can\u2019t help but think this transparent process positively impacts participation at these institutions.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Take a look at our Best Practice Leaders:<\/span><\/p>\n

Brandeis University<\/span><\/p>\n

Middlebury College<\/span><\/p>\n

Trinity University<\/span><\/p>\n

Wellesley College<\/span><\/p>\n

Another Option: Make a review a Re-entry Exercise<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

If your hands are tied by legacy systems and processes, perhaps you can approach the problem from the student\u2019s point of view and incorporate a study abroad review as part of a re-entry exercise.\u00a0 If a student can coherently state what happened to them in writing, they will be much more prepared to discuss their experiences with friends, family and\u00a0as the student moves beyond college.\u00a0 Showing they can express their emotions, in a published format is a big step forward and a reason to complete a review.\u00a0 Having this review published demonstrates the student can express themselves in coherent ways and is a great writing sample\u00a0and an expression of their new world view.\u00a0 You will help your students better prepare for their future by making a review part of the study abroad process.<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n

WhyAbroad101?\u00a0 It is Re-Entry in a Box<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

The Abroad101 review is 38 questions in length and is designed to walk students through a reflection of who they were before they left, who they are now and what they hope for their future.\u00a0 As part of this process, they will rate 9 different aspects of their program and provide some insight and tips for future students.\u00a0 Taking 20-30 minutes to complete, the review can help students put their feelings into words and start the process of communicating their experiences. \u00a0\u00a0They can add photos and turn their review into a point of pride, a capstone to their education abroad experience.\u00a0 As a university, you get to control this process using Abroad101.<\/span><\/p>\n

Other Uses of Reviews<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

In addition to giving you better data and providing marketing material to bring you future students, perhaps the most innovative use of reviews is to help set expectations.\u00a0 Reviews and their insight can help students and parents have a better idea of what to expect making\u00a0reviews ideal content for orientation.\u00a0 We\u2019ve heard of overseas staff who welcome students to a program by directing them to their program listing on Abroad101 and using this to start a conversation about the program.\u00a0 A few create a Facebook group for the new students and the first posting is to review the\u00a0reviews.\u00a0 It\u2019s a real fresh approach to orientation and\u00a0harnesses\u00a0the power of social media.\u00a0 Please read:\u00a010 reasons to use Abroad101<\/span><\/a>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

It\u2019s for Faculty-led and Exchange Programs Too<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

Abroad101 is happy to list your faculty-led programs in our system.\u00a0 For your exchange partnerships we have a catch-all \u201cDirect Enrollment & Exchange\u201d listing for every foreign university.\u00a0 You are welcome to use Abroad101 for each or all of\u00a0types of education abroad and study away\u00a0programs.\u00a0 Remember, you can use Abroad101 to boost your home university enrollments.\u00a0 There is a feature to turn off the inquiry option for programs not open to outside students.<\/span><\/p>\n

Managed Services, Abroad201 and Other Ways We Can Help<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

Every university is provided with an account on Abroad101 and free access to manage your portal on Abroad101.\u00a0 The software that operates our system is a fully functional program evaluation tool along with a host of utilities, provided free of charge.\u00a0 Abroad101 has a support team here to help you understand and make the most of the tools.\u00a0 We are quick to answer questions (support@abroad101.com<\/span><\/a> or +1-212-321-0928<\/span><\/a>) and in some cases we can help you with simple tasks like your approved programs list, sending out invitations, creating faculty-led program listings.<\/span><\/p>\n

If you need more, we\u2019re able to help.\u00a0 With our Managed Services, we can tie Abroad101 to your enrollment management system.\u00a0 We can extract lists of participating students from your enrollment system, oversee review collection, then tie reporting back or produce external reports.\u00a0 We know data, and for a modest fee, we\u2019d be happy help you get better data, manage it and generate effective reporting.<\/span><\/p>\n

Our Abroad201 service offers a host of customization with options as to what to survey, who to survey plus what and where you might publish the data.\u00a0 It is an industry-specific version of survey software, so if you are using SurveyMonkey or Qualtrics, think about using Abroad201.<\/span><\/p>\n

We thank you for taking the time to explore abroad 101 and for your continued support.<\/span><\/p>\n

Happy Summer!<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span>Mark Shay \/\u00a0<\/span>Abroad101<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Now more than ever, we need the first-hand accounts of what goes on in study abroad.\u00a0 Parents and families worry about health and safety in study abroad so we suggest (to use the old sports analogy) \u201cthe best defense is a good offense.\u201d\u00a0 Translated, this means we should flood the market with good news,\u00a0and by […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":23,"featured_media":4934,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_ppma_block_editor_authors":""},"categories":[445],"tags":[],"ppma_author":[683],"class_list":["post-12012","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-study-abroad-advisors","author-abroad101blog"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t