News More than 100 live and recorded sessions replaced campus tours, and reached students overseas.La Trobe University took Open Day online. Visitors rose 157%.
· 1 min read
In 2020, La Trobe University could not host its Open Day on campus. It moved the event online and drew more visitors than the year before.
What they did
The Melbourne university ran more than 100 live and pre-recorded virtual sessions:
- Live Q&A with current students and parents
- Introductions to departments and degree paths
- Virtual campus tours
- Recorded lectures, sorted by area of interest
Sessions stayed available on demand, so students could watch when it suited them.
The results
- 157% more students visited Open Day than the year before
- Engagement data identified new prospective students in China, India and Vietnam
- The events team used that data to shape follow-up with each student
"ON24 virtual events gave us invaluable audience insights that were critical in conducting the right follow-up." — Victoria Dillion, Manager of University Events, La Trobe University
Why it matters
La Trobe is the largest provider of higher education in regional Victoria. An online Open Day removed the trip to campus for regional and international students alike.
The lesson
A webinar does not just replace an event. It can reach people who would never have come in person, and it tells you who they are.
Source: La Trobe University Increases Student Enrollment with the ON24 Digital Experience Platform, press release, 24 June 2021.