The app offers detailed orientation that is customised and institution-specific, such as registration, scheduling, financial services, meeting with an adviser, health care, and getting to know the campus.

Developed as a joint project between Hobsons and Tiffin University in the US, the app aims to help universities and colleges to improve the effectiveness of open days and to move all orientation online, dramatically reducing printing and postage costs and over all better managing retention and attrition.

Unveiling its latest innovation during this week’s European Association of International Education (EAIE) Conference in Dublin, Hobson’s Kenny Nicholl, Commercial Director, EMEA, said “All universities and colleges are looking for ways to increase student retention and success as well as improve their own effectiveness.”

“The feedback that I have had already from admissions and student services teams is that Virtual Orientation is a win for them; allowing them to connect with new students in a meaningful and efficient way.”

The app aims to help universities and colleges to improve the effectiveness of open days

“We added Virtual Orientation to our arsenal of tools to allow our staff to be more efficient and effective and to provide more convenience to our students, ” said Amy Wood, director of degree completion admissions and student services at Tiffin University. “The online orientation allows all students to get the same consistent message.”

Hobsons has partnerships with over 50 higher education institutions in the UK, Europe and the Middle East, including the University of Bristol, the University of Birmingham and the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, and most recently, the University of Limerick in Ireland.