Australia’s leading university for Graduate Employment delivers free taster courses

The Challenge

Higher education providers face a number of challenges in attracting new learners:

• An increasingly competitive learner acquisition market;
• Learners seeking a greater understanding of the learning experience and support model pre-enrolment; and,
• Developing a broader understanding of the potential career pathways for students.

‍Charles Sturt University (CSU) recognised that the ways in which they engaged with potential learners needed to shift.

They were in need of an effective digital channel that not only boosted their brand awareness into new markets, enabled seamless tracking of marketing initiatives, a simple enrolment process, but also reflected their focus on high quality and engaging learning experiences.

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The Solution

Boosting brand awareness by offering online, free taster courses

‍CSU launched their first taster course on OpenLearning in 2018. Having exceeded 15,000 enrolments over the past two years across their suite of courses, CSU has been able to offer students the opportunity to:

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• Explore a wide range of taster courses;
• Build confidence in their undertaking online learning through a tailor-made online learning course;
• Extend their understanding of potential career pathways;
• Engage with CSU academics; and,
• Explore accredited study options with the university.

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The Result

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This was achieved through:

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• A CSU branded portal on OpenLearning, where Open Pathways courses were created using OpenLearning's course authoring tools.
• The co-design of their first taster courses in partnership with the OpenLearning Learning Services team.
• Learning Design workshops and training for CSU staff.
• Support in undertaking market analysis and customer profiles to scope further taster courses.
• Seasonal cross-channel marketing campaigns with the goal of driving student engagement and enrolments.
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Since signing on, CSU has launched 28 successful taster courses ranging from Health to Education. These courses cover a variety of skillsets, provide learners with an insight of what it is like to study with CSU, and extend their awareness of career pathways in their chosen field

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Moving Forward

Realising the possibilities of offering scalable, on-demand, and free taster courses worldwide:

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• CSU is continuing to extend its usage of OpenLearning across the university; including its STRIVE Student Leadership Program which was nominated and shortlisted in the category Most Successful Student Outcomes Program for the Campus Link Awards in 2019.

Looking to engage lifelong learners with scalable, on-demand, and free taster courses worldwide? OpenLearning can help. Get in touch today.

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