Outreach tools in advising: live and tele-communications

Your Official Source on U.S. Higher Education

Outreach tools in advising: live and tele-

communications

2010 Europe and Eurasia

EducationUSA Workshop

Prague, March 21-25, 2010

EducationUSA.state.gov

Nataliya Rozanova, Moscow, RussiaMagdalena Wącisz, Warsaw, PolandNatalia Aulchenko, Novosibirsk, RussiaTatyana Babkina, Yekaternburg, Russia


Web conferences at the Moscow

EAC

Rozanova Nataliya

EAC Director/ Senior Advisor

Moscow EducationUSA Advising Center, Russia



Web conferences at the Moscow EAC

• Hawaii Pacific University (HI)

• Roger Williams University (RI).

• Wittenberg University (OH)

• Lake Tahoe Community College (CA)



Web Conference with Wittenberg



What Do We Need?

• Internet

• Computer

• Web Camera

• Microphone (wireless)

• Speakers

• Projector

• Software (NetMeeting, MSN Messenger, Skype, etc)

• Screen



Challenges

• Time Difference

• Lack of Equipment

• Poor /Slow Internet Connection

• Advertising



Where to Find Contacts

• REAC

• Conferences/meetings

• Campus Visits (Pre or after NAFSA)

• Web sites


Your Official Source on U.S. Higher EducationEducationUSA.state.gov

Virtual Education Fair:Mission Possible

Magdalena Wącisz

Cultural Affairs Specialist/Educational Advisor

US Embassy Warsaw, Poland


First steps:Decide on the venue


- Long-term partner- Central location- Good internet connection- Equipment availability

- Couple of rooms available- Possibility to place partitions- Venue working hours till late afternoon- Open access to public


First steps:Decide on the target audience- High school or university?

- Not limited to one geographic area

- Make sure you are in touch with teachers

- It’s the quality not the quantity than counts!



American universities


- Invite both private and state schools- Include technical institutes- Include small and big colleges

-Include institutions that often host students from your country- And also those that students haven’t heard about before


What’s next?• You need a concise program with presentations on most

important issues for your students

• Include US embassy diplomats: Public Affairs Section officers, Vice consuls, etc

• You need young people in panels

• Invite representatives from testing centers

• Make sure you offer some pizza break • Always allow time for questions!




Student’s Guide to Study in the US Workshop for High School Students organized by the US embassy in Warsaw

Venue: Public Library, ul. Koszykowa 26/28 Tuesday, November 24, 2009

14:00-14:10 Welcome/Introductions

Lisa Helling, Public Affairs Officer, US Embassy Warsaw 14:10-14:20 EducationUSA: Your Guide to US Higher Education

Chuck Ashley, Cultural Attaché, US Embassy Warsaw 14:20-14:40 U.S. Undergraduate Education/Choosing the Best College for You

Ola Augustyniak, Educational Advisor, Polish-American Fulbright Commission 14:40- 15:40 Why study in the US?

Moderator: Dr. Katarzyna Pisarska Director of the European Academy of Diplomacy (Fulbright student, Harvard University)Katherine Cioch (Fulbright Student, Loyola University, Chicago) Marta Rozmyslowicz (Fulbright student, University of Pennsylvania)Maciej Kowalski (Graduate of the University of Michigan)David McGuire (Cincinnati, Ohio)

Q&A15:40 -16:00 pizza break and networking 16:00-16:20 Financing your Education

Maria Brzostek, Cultural Specialist, US Consulate Krakow

Preparing a Successful Application16:20 – 16:40 Applicant’s calendar – Magda Wacisz, Cultural Specialist, US Embassy Warsaw 16:40 – 17:00 Prepare for SAT/TOEFL exam –Ms. Patricia Shappell , Mr. Dale Kemp

College Advisors, The American School of Warsaw 17:00 – 17:20 Basics on US Student Visas – Candace Faber, Vice Consul, US embassy 17:20-17:30 Wrap-up

Chuck Ashley, Cultural Attaché, US Embassy Warsaw 17:30-18:30 Virtual student fair (moderated by Chuck Ashley and Magda Wacisz)

Learning by doing: connect US College representatives with Polish students!(Skype connection with representatives from couple of International Offices at American

Universities/colleges)


Make sure you have:

• Folders with program, university leaflets, EducationUSA materials

• List of the participating universities and contacts

• Basic info table

• Lots of business cards!



Lessons learned….


•Allow more time for Skype connection•Back-up contacts if connection doesn’t work•More working stations and smaller groups •Back up questions for Skype connections


Novosibirsk EAC Activities

Aulchenko Natalia

Educational Advisor/American Councils Regional Office Director

Novosibirsk, Russia



TOEFL iBT preparation WorkshopMoscow-Novosibirsk EACs Skype conference





Western Siberia Region

• 6 oblasts and republics

• 8 cities

• Population - 12 million people

• 150+ universities, academies and branches

• Distances from Novosibirsk – 250-650 kms



Western Siberia EducationUSA network

• Participants – Universities’ International Relations Departments, Regional libraries, other friends of advising.

• Graduate Admissions Workshops in Novosibirsk

• International Education Days in all regional cities



Graduate Admissions Workshop in Novosibirsk

• 2 days, 11 cities in Western & Eastern Siberia


2009 2008


Graduate Admissions Workshop

Including:• Universities search training• TOEFL iBT registration training• USG programs alumni

presentations on essay writing strategies



International Education Days in Western Siberia


Barnaul Novokuznetsk Kemerovo

Krasnoyarsk Biysk


Graduate Admissions Workshop, Far East extension, February 2010


Vladivostok EAC


Promoting your center through

outreach activities

Tatiana Babkina

EducationUSA Advising Center,

Yekaterinburg, Russia



VIP Contacts• Universities’ International Cooperation

departments

• Teachers/faculty

• American Corners

• Alumni

• Fulbright students and scholars

• English Language Fellows



Partnering with universities• International Cooperation Departments ***• Meet them in person• Ask them to include you in their annual plan• Freshmen Days• EAC’s billboards, monthly plans• Recruitment for USG programs – exceptional

chance to attract lots of students to your presentation and promote EducationUSA



Partnering with teachersTeachers are:

…important people in a student’s life

…spokespersons for education

…primary points of contact



Where can we come in?

• American studies lessons in high schools and universities (system of Education, admission, financial aid, students’ life)

• Practical training for Marketing students

• Press-conference training for journalism students



Partnering with American Corners

Joint outreach projects:

• “Welcome to American Center” presentations

• Library Lovers’ Month (Feb)

• Back-to-school Month (Aug-Sept)



Other contacts • Work & Travel program

providers (PDOs for hundreds of students, great feedback)

• Youth organizations and clubs



Other contacts

• Orphanage for gifted children (music)

• Sports schools/clubs (good candidates for sports scholarships)

• English language courses

• American organization (IREX, Open World, American Councils)

• Alumni



Tips and Advice

• Put your partners’ needs first

• Choose timing carefully

• Select appropriate format

• Give freebies!

• Collect feedback



Thank you for your attention!

Good luck with your virtual

and personal connections!

It’s worth every minute of your work!

QUESTIONS?


Documents

Outreach tools in advising: live and tele-communications