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Welcome to in Focus Update… |
Past Issues << | Issue 113: Thursday 7 August 2008 |
Ahead of the game So far this year, our Admissions Team has received 15,000 UCAS (full-time, undergraduate) and 10,000 direct (part-time and postgraduate) applications for September 2008 entry. Although this represents a drop in our UCAS applications of about 9%, due to the reduction in applicants' UCAS choices from 6 to 5, overall, our offer acceptances are up by 10%, compared to the same point last year. There's more good news with direct applications, which are are up by an impressive 15%. Last year we secured about 50% of our new students between August and September. Emma Burchfield, Head of Student Admissions said: "It is particularly important for us to maintain momentum this year as many of our immediate competitors have suffered a dramatic drop in applications and will be looking to make up this shortfall over the summer period. We need to continue with our recruitment drive right up to the second week of teaching."
Pictured: L-R Susie King, Assistant Head of Student Admissions and Emma Burchfield, Head of Student Admissions.
Admission control! From 7.30am on 14 August, over 100 academic, administrative and temporary staff will be answering calls in our Summer Recruitment Telephone Centre from anxious applicants hoping to secure a place this September. Our telephone centre will once again be located in the Business School's Lower Trading Floor. Clare Olley, Registrar for our School of Law, said: "It's great to have everyone in the same place. Last year there was immediate support for staff in the centre from the Admissions Team, International Office and IT Services. There was a brilliant atmosphere too and I got to meet people that I usually only know via e-mail - always good to put a face to a name!" Some of our temporary staff, like Callum Dolan, enjoyed it so much that they are returning for another year! Callum Dolan, currently working in Residential Services, moves to the telephone centre next week. Callum said: "I felt a real sense of achievement in getting people onto the courses they really wanted to do."
Telephone centre opening hours As our opening hours show, we are gearing up to receive a huge number of calls. On Day 1 last year we took nearly 5000 calls, and with some colleges inviting students in to collect their results as early as 7am, we need to be ready to receive calls from 7.30am. Don't worry - the urn will be on and pastries available to compensate for an early start!
| Period | Hours | Weekends |
|---|---|---|
| Thurs 14 Aug – Sun 17 Aug | 8am – 8pm weekdays | Sat 16 Aug 10am – 4pm, Hotline and 1 staff member for each School required Sun 17 Aug 10am – 4pm, Hotline, School staff welcome |
| Mon 18 Aug – Sun 31 Aug | 9am – 7pm weekdays | Sat 23 Aug 10am – 4pm, Hotline Sun 24 & Mon 25 Aug, voicemail service (Bank Holiday) Sat 30 & Sun 31 Aug, voicemail service |
| Mon 1 Sep – Fri 19 Sep | 9am – 6pm weekdays | Voicemail service at weekends |
ELC joins Summer Recruitment Telephone Centre We are pleased to welcome the English Language Centre (ELC) to the telephone centre this year. Susie King, Assistant Head of Admissions, who has particular responsibility for international applicants, says: "With so many English language qualifications out there it is sometimes difficult to assess if international applicants have the right level of English language skills in order to succeed in higher education. With the International Office advising on suitable equivalencies and ELC staff offering daily testing for those without language qualifications, we can be confident that we are accepting suitable applicants and offering a great service. Even if we can't offer a place for September, we can offer a place on a pre-sessional English language programme so that applicants are both confident and qualified for a later start in February or September 2009."
New additions Our Student Recruitment and Marketing Team has particular responsibility for our home and EU market and will also have a presence in the telephone centre. Led by Amanda Kerns, the team has been working throughout the year on increasing applications, as well as converting applicants with offers into acceptances. The team are co-ordinating our summer advertising campaign as well as conversion activities for applicants during late summer recruitment. Amanda says "We have focused on recruiting and converting prospective students much earlier in the cycle and this has really paid off. As part of our customer relationship management strategy, we have used recruitment initiatives including phone, SMS, email, e-newsletter and direct mail - and this will continue throughout our late summer recruitment." The team is also busy planning and promoting the Open Day on 3 September. Our ‘Make it real’ summer advertising campaign is well underway and has already attracted numerous enquirers. Our advertising schedule has shifted much more online with targeted campaigns on Bebo, Student Room and Google as well as placements in more traditional media. So watch this space!
Recruitment Handbook available online Everything you need to know about processing applications over the summer is contained in our Summer Recruitment Handbook. The handbook has been re-organised this year so that if you read the front section of essential information you will be able to help any enquirer. A series of appendices at the back provide more detailed information. The handbook is for internal use only so you will need to know your network account and password to access it online. Printed versions will be available in the telephone centre. To view the handbook online, visit: http://www.uel.ac.uk/secure/clearing_handbook_08.doc
Don't miss the briefing session Come to our late summer recruitment staff briefing session, 13 August, at 10am in the Main Lecture Theatre of the Business School. All staff welcome. You'll get a summer recruitment overview from the Admissions Team followed by a question and answer session. We will then break into groups at 11.30am for more specific training.
| Time | Location | Audience | Content |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10am – 11.30am | BS Main lecture theatre | All welcome | Summer Recruitment Overview |
| 11.30am – 12.30pm | IT cluster, lower trading floor | Temporary staff | SITS training for data entry |
| IT cluster, lower trading floor | UEL staff – Registrars & Deans | Management Information for Summer Recruitment | |
| 12.30pm – 1.30pm | IT cluster, lower trading floor | UEL staff | SITS training for data entry |
Recent news releases:
Clearing a path to success – UEL set for record numbers of applicants on Thursday 14 August http://www.uel.ac.uk/news/press_releases/releases/clearing.htm
For the latest on our activities visit the news releases section of our website www.uel.ac.uk/news
Key Dates for summer recruitment
Sunday, 10 August A Level results received by Admissions Team and confirmation of conditional offers commences. Don't forget that we can't let applicants know about their places until results are formally released to them!
Thursday 14 August A level results are released. Our telephone centre opens at 7.30am. Applicants with places are sent a text message to confirm their places and introduce our First Week web pages.
Wednesday 3 September Open Evening, 4pm -7pm, Stratford and Docklands.
Monday 22 September First Week commences.
ICMEC Seminar
International Centre for the study of the Mixed Economy of Childcare: Investigating the reach and implications of the corporatisation of childcare in Australia: the giant in the playground Monday 1 September, 2 – 4pm, Stratford CampusThis seminar is free of charge, but to confirm your attendance please email Eva Lloyd at e.lloyd@uel.ac.uk. After 19 August we will be able to confirm your place and send you a map of the venue. For further information about ICMEC, visit: www.uel.ac.uk/icmec
Key links
Academic Board: http://www.uel.ac.uk/qa/committees/acaboard.htm
Board of Governors: http://www.uel.ac.uk/governors/board.htm
The Graduate School - Current Funding Opportunities. Please follow the link for an update on selected funding opportunities publicised weekly: http://www.uel.ac.uk/gradschool/research/ResearchUpdate.htm
See Events Calendar for a full listing: www.uel.ac.uk/marketing/support/eventscalendar.htm
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UEL Extra First Aid Courses 2008 Please contact Frances Bronzite: 020 8223 4368 or f.s.bronzite@uel.ac.uk
Learning Development Unit course dates http://www.uel.ac.uk/staff-development/index.htm
E-Learning Resources: http://www.uel.ac.uk/sdel/e_learning/resources.htm, SDEL staff development: http://www.uel.ac.uk/sdel/staff_development/index.htm, UEL Plus info: http://www.uel.ac.uk/uelplus/index.htm
European Computer Driving Licence (ECDL) Contact Greg Price, Organisational Development Manager on ext 4361 or g.price@uel.ac.uk
Final Cut Pro: A Comprehensive Study (FCP200) Whether you’re a seasoned veteran or just getting started in the video-editing field, Final Cut Pro 6 is flexible enough to meet all your editing needs and improve your career chances by offering you an Apple certified qualification. The course is a comprehensive guide to editing with Final Cut Pro which uses exciting real world footage to demonstrate both the features of the application and the practical techniques you’ll use daily in your editing projects. You will need basic knowledge of the Apple OS-X operating system to participate.
12 evening sessions, starting Wednesday 1 October, 6.30pm – 9pm, Docklands Campus. Fees: £440 inc manual, training media and Apple Pro Exam. Maximum 10 students. To book a place contact Frances Bronzite, 020 8223 4368 or f.s.bronzite@uel.ac.uk
For Learning and Development Course dates see: www.uel.ac.uk/staff-development/handbook
Fashion show for all the family Okin Okusanya, one of our students, is having a fashion show, Saturday 30 August, 12pm, at Vicarage Fields Shopping Centre, Ripple Road Barking IG11 8DQ
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If you're in Barking that day, why not pop in and say hello! You'll have an opportunity to buy the clothes after the show.
This is a free event for all the family. For more information, visit: www.shabachcreations.com
Please send comments or contributions for in Focus Update to: infocus@uel.ac.uk
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