The promotion of education abroad opportunities is a joint effort between Global Initiatives and the program director, with Global Initiatives working to promote education abroad as a whole and the directors being responsible for outreach for their individual programs. This page details the support that Global Initiatives provides to promote education abroad and faculty-led programs, as well as some tried-and-true tips to help directors maximize their reach.
Personal outreach is powerful. Students are more likely to take action when you speak to them in a classroom setting or via an in-person or online Zoom session. (See Traditional Marketing Channels below.)
Students want to hear from you and learn about you (especially if students have not taken a class with you before). It is often beneficial to include cultural elements of the host country within the info session—share information about pop culture, traditional foods or music trends! Be sure to teach the culture and the physical landscape of the host country—location, leadership, weather and major tourist attractions.
Your program has had an impact on your students' lives—they will often be very happy to share this experience with others. Ask them to reflect on their experiences, the location, and the impact study abroad has had on their lives. If they share visuals, even better! Identify student advocates and ask them for assistance at information sessions and events—your future students will thank you for it!
Here are a few simple ways to collect and use testimonials:
One-page flyers, text and photos for social media posts, digital screens, etc. can be easily shared and are a low-cost way to publicize your program. Keep it simple and uncluttered, add compelling visuals, and direct your readers to a link for more information (QR codes are great for flyers, posters, and digital signs! However, they should not be included on social media posts.)
Important! Avoid including information about program costs on your materials, especially if you plan to print them. Instead, point students to your Terra Dotta program page.
The image below uses university branding to convey a simple message for MUDEC info sessions.
Maintaining Miami brand identity is important because your program represents the university: your digital and print materials should look professional and polished.
University Communications and Marketing reviews all branded materials to ensure that communications are consistent across the university.
For internal events (e.g., an info session for students), this means:
Learn more about how to use the Miami brand:
Global Initiatives participates in first-year student orientations, including Fall and Spring sessions and transfer student orientations. We staff tables at the resource fairs and offer optional informational sessions for incoming students and families.
Education Abroad staff advise prospective students on a "big picture" level when meeting with them during advising sessions. If students are a good fit for your program, we encourage them to apply. Specific advising on faculty-led programs is also available, though we defer to directors on most program details.
We also offer on-demand info sessions throughout the academic year in classrooms, residence halls, student organization chapter meetings, and online.
When approved, Global Initiatives can add your program to our education abroad application portal. This is the source for students to research and find potential programs, and serves as the application site for programs. Students are able to search for programs based on term, location, and field of study. Miami programs are prioritized in the list.
For digital displays, you have several options.
Tips for digital displays
Many students report being overwhelmed by the sheer number of university mailings that hit their inboxes. (See 4 Reasons Students Don't Read Your Emails and How to Change That.) But there are ways to cut through the noise.
Your department may already use Emma, Miami's enterprise email marketing system. Check with your departmental communicator to see whether you can promote your program in an upcoming newsletter.
Tips for email messaging
Share your program photos: Hashtag #MiamiOHGlobal or tag Miami University Global Initiatives (@MiamiOHGlobal and @MiamiOHAbroad) in your posts for a chance to be reposted.
Snapchat/TikTok/Instagram Takeover: Many students participate in social media takeovers to share their experiences with others. If you’d like to run a social takeover during your program, check with your department/divisional communicator to see if this option is available to you. Identify a promising student as early as possible, then make arrangements before your program launches.
Other Takeover options:
Tips for social media
After you arrange the room and date, be sure to list your information session on the University Localist Calendar. Add the following filters so we can share the information on our calendar:
To host a virtual Information Session, set up a meeting in your chosen conferencing tool. Miami has capabilities for Zoom, WebEx, and Google Meet.
Many students cite classroom presentations as one of the major ways they first learned about their study abroad programs. Contact your colleagues teaching courses that are likely to have a targeted student audience, and ask for a few minutes of their class time to share information about your workshop. Get your name, your face, and your enthusiasm for your workshop out in front of a captive audience.
Your posters must align with the Miami brand. There are several tools you can use.
Visit Miami’s printing services to order your posters and other materials.
We want to help fill and promote programs that create transformative educational experiences that our students have abroad and away: programs that are possible only because of you. We appreciate your commitment and want to continue fostering this working relationship. Let us know if we can help you get the word out!
Following the Miami branding guidelines is important because your program represents the university as a whole. It's the best way to ensure that your digital and print materials look professional and polished.
