Education Solutions for the 21st Century - What's driving the race.

Whether it is Twitter, Facebook, SnapChat or Instagram, this is the lexicon of the average student today. It's all about always-on connectivity and instant access to information and the desire for instant and immediate gratification.  There is no doubt that this has fundamentally changed education and will continue to do so for a long time to come. So, in that context there is much focus by most institutions on the use of technology to drive learning and the administration thereof, it is fair to say that many institutions have neglected their own technological capabilities and profiles in terms of more effective management of these organisations.

With an ever increasing demand by students for more digital interaction, those education bodies are facing a challenge which could affect their competitiveness in what is a very competitive market. Whether it is public or private, the higher education community has t o review their approach to the enrolment process and student retention in the face of ever increasing competition for the best students.  The focus must be on improving the student experience, enabling easier digital access to a multitude of services like enrolment, registration, marks management and certain communications, amongst others.

This is where it becomes interesting, almost a marriage of the old and the new, the traditional with the modern and a deployment of an integrated platform to bring together the internal requirements of the institution and the requirements of the students in a completely integrated fashion.  The solution:- A modern ERP environment!

There are a few elements which are key.  Institutional management and administration, the administration of all aspects of the student, the ability to market and sell the institution and the standard back office functions have traditionally been separated but what an ERP platform offers, is an integrated and holistic solution which will support the process from recruitment to graduation.  The ability then to make all relevant information available to the student through various existing and new digital channels is the new game in town and this is what will ultimately provide a major advantage to those institutions who focus on that aspect. Remember, its all about instant gratification, where I want it, when I want it!

With every institution competing for great students, each with their own vision for the growth and prosperity, it MUST be about working more cleverly, being able to drive the all aspects of the operation smoothly and efficiently and above all being able to offer quality education to each student who passes through the institution.  Disparate platforms make that very difficult and by successfully combining the back office, sales and marketing, student management, new digital channels and business intelligence, there is no doubt that a new course will be set to greater efficiency and greater success, let by the way the "modern" student thinks.