Announcing the Third Edition of the Connected Student Report

Earlier this year, you got a sneak peek into the early findings from the third edition of the Connected Student Report. First, in 3 Ways to Take Student Wellbeing to the Next Level and then in These Are the 3 Values at the Heart of Institutional Transformation. 

Now you can see ALL the findings, as the latest edition is here!

Check out the full report to understand the changing expectations of students and staff while uncovering opportunities to improve student experiences. Read on to discover the four major themes that emerged this year.

1. Belonging is the Foundation for Success

Students clearly state that their institutional experience depends heavily on their first few weeks on campus. In fact, students who have a great onboarding experience are 35 times more likely to have a great overall university experience. Between making friends or getting familiar with their institution, the report shares orientation strategies from institutions, such as INSEAD Business School, London Metropolitan University, and Washington University, that lay the foundation for student connections and a sense of belonging early on. 

2. Students Need Holistic Support From Application to Graduation

As students move through their academic journey, they expect continued support from their university. And demand for well-being resources rises. 40% of students report needing more help to manage their course load and 36% more well-being resources to be successful. Results show that students who received more support from their institutions were generally happier, with 74% of those who had a great experience feeling they received adequate support compared with only 18% of those who had a poor experience.

3. Students Want to Be Prepared for the Future of Work

Students want to invest in an educational experience that has a return in the form of long-term employability. Nearly half (47%) of students reported selecting their institution for career prospects, but only 11% felt very prepared for work. Building connections and developing the skills they need to have thriving careers are important, but students also have their eyes on the learning that will come after their degree. Indeed, nearly half of the students surveyed (49%) plan to continue learning through a higher education institution after graduating.  

4. Expectations for Flexibility and Diversity Have Changed

Technology enables institutions to deliver the inclusive and flexible learning experience students expect from onboarding to lifelong learning. Indeed, students who have a great experience report having: easy online access to data and resources (86% great experience vs. 49% poor experience), services available via mobile (82% vs. 61%), and personalized experiences tailored to their needs (60% vs. 11%). The survey also shares that nearly one in five (17%) institutions plan to hire a chief diversity officer or its equivalent.

And there’s more! We’ll unpack the findings with institutions leaders and industry experts on October 11th, October 20th, and October 24th (October 25th in APAC), so make sure to tune in!

About the Authors

Navneet Johal is the director of industry marketing for higher education at Salesforce.org. Before joining Salesforce, Navneet was a solution director for higher education and research at SAP, and a senior analyst at Ovum, where she led research on the use of technology in higher education. Navneet’s passion for education and technology began when she was teaching in the further education sector in the U.K. for several years before moving to the U.S.

Maëlle Lavenant is a senior product marketing manager at Salesforce.org. Focused on the European market, she explores trends within the education sector and builds inspirational content to support the higher ed community on their journey to learner and institution success.