School Marketing Strategies

Today, I want to share an incredible story that shows how the right kind of partnerships can be a game-changer in making a real difference. Vipla Foundation was set up by Mana’s mom in 1988, & ever since, Mana, Athiya, Ahan & I have remained closely involved in their mission of enriching the lives of underprivileged children & women. Their partners, Educo ONG are a global NGO with presence in 14 countries, they do some phenomenal work for the well-being & rights of children, especially the right to receive a quality education. This isn’t about endorsing Vipla or Educo, but rather about the magic that unfolds when the right kind of collaboration comes into play. Imagine this - two organisations with a shared vision of making a positive impact by ensuring every child in India has the opportunity to learn, grow & flourish. As partners since 2014, they’ve impacted the lives of over 500,000 beneficiaries through childhood care, education, inclusion & women empowerment through skilling. They’re transforming government schools, empowering teachers & bridging learning gaps through innovation & building communities that work with a sense of ownership in the education process. The kind of work that organisations like Vipla do, make them special. What gives their ambitions wings, are the right kind of partners. In that sense, Educo is just that. That’s the thing about forging new partnerships. If it’s done right, with the right people & at the right time, it can work like magic. If the fundamentals aren’t right, it’s not going get you what you want. Through my experiences, I’ve learned to look out for the following when I’m partnering with someone, Common purpose - When there’s a shared vision, sparks fly! It’s the only way to set the stage for extraordinary impact! Complementary expertise - Solo heroes may work in the films, not in real life. Find partners who can make up for your weaknesses & complement your strengths. Flexibility - Life always throws the odd bouncer at us. As partners, everyone needs to have the ability to adapt. Long-term commitment - Nothing good happens overnight. Vipla & Educo nurtured this partnership over a decade & their patience is paying off big time! Mutual empowerment - Just like your life partner, partners at work should be able to raise each other’s games. Partners thrive when there's mutual empowerment & trust. Measurable impact - Numbers don't lie! While you can enjoy working together with a shared vision, truth is the outcome should be measurable. In a world where collaboration is the new cool, I love giving the example of Vipla & Educo, who by working together have become architects of a brighter future! So, next time you're partnering with someone, tying up with an agency or a vendor, building a company or finding the right co-founder, remember to do it with the right people for the right reasons. #CollaborationForChange #SocialImpact #ChildRights #EducationMatters

The Most Overlooked Partnership in Higher Education: Financial Aid + Registrar/Advising Too often, institutions operate in silos yet student success lives in the spaces between our departments. One of the most critical, and most overlooked, partnerships is between the Financial Aid Office and the Registrar/Academic Advising. When this relationship is strong, students thrive. When it’s weak, students struggle. Here’s some of the reasons why this connection matters: 1. Enrollment Status = Aid Eligibility Credits dropped? Program changed? Withdrawals? The registrar and advising know first, but financial aid is responsible for recalculating eligibility, Pell, loans, SAP, R2T4, and compliance. Real-time communication protects students and the institution. 2. Proactive Advising Prevents Financial Crisis Advisors guide academic paths. Financial aid sees the funding horizon. Together, they can warn students before a change impacts aid, debt, or completion. 3. Timely Data = Timely Disbursement If course loads or program structures aren’t aligned, disbursements get delayed. Students don’t see departments, they see “My school didn’t give me my aid on time.” Integrated processes = student trust and institutional credibility. 4. Shared Ownership of SAP and Retention SAP isn’t just a financial aid policy, it’s an academic performance metric. Advisors help students get back on track. Financial aid ensures compliance and access. Success happens when both offices wrap support around the student. 5. Completion and Graduation Depend on Us Working Together Registrar verifies degree progress. Advising keeps students on path. Financial aid helps them afford to stay on the path. Access without completion is not enough, our collaboration is the bridge. When Financial Aid, Registrar, and Academic Advising operate as one student success ecosystem, we don’t just process paperwork, we change lives. We move beyond transactions into transformation. We don’t just enroll students, we graduate them and we do it with accuracy, empathy, and integrity. Because student success isn’t a department. It’s a partnership.

Collaborating on Credentials The future of the workforce and the future of education lie in collaborative models where industry and academia work together to create relevant, practical learning experiences. Whether through advisory boards, design challenges and projects, or comprehensive microcredential programs, these partnerships are reshaping how we prepare talent for tomorrow's workforce. On a recent podcast, sie.ag/443UxN, I connected with Michael J. Readey and Christy Bozic, PhD, PMP, CPEM to discuss the transformative power of industry-academia partnerships. Together, we have been collaborating on credentials and sustainability to improve the circular economy digital mindset. Here are some insights we discussed that every education and industry leader should consider: The Traditional Model is Evolving: The "degree-only" mindset is shifting as we recognize the growing importance of continuous, skills-based learning. With the majority of credential-seekers being full-time professionals, the demand for flexible, targeted upskilling is clear. Industry-Academia Partnerships Matter: We must continue to invest in partnerships that bridge the critical gap between classroom theory and rapidly changing workplace demands. Together, we can enable faster identification of emerging skill needs and create timely real-world learning opportunities through immersive experiences. This provides learners with early and direct industry exposure. The Rise of Microcredentials: We're seeing a trend of professionals who actively seek, learn, and collect badges and microcredentials for career progression. Agile learning formats offer just-in-time education and experience for quick adaptation to industry needs, and flexible learning paths can address immediate and targeted skill application. Learn more about what hiring managers look for, how to build industry-relevant learning pathways, and what the future holds for collaborative academic-industry relations. I remember when I started in this industry, the focus was on how we could break down the walls between CAD and CAM. There are still walls between academia and industry we must break down. The collaboration we experienced with Michael, Christy, and the University of Colorado Boulder gives me hope for a new path forward. Listen to the full episode and share your perspective below: sie.ag/443UxN.

The current lull in news about the financial position of universities does not mean that the UK’s higher education sector is not under immense pressure. Rising costs, frozen tuition fees, the decline in international students, political demands for “value for money,” and shifting workforce needs driven by AI and sustainability are all colliding to create a system that is no longer sustainable in its current form. “Radical collaboration”, a new report from KPMG and Mills & Reeve, offers a clear message: universities can’t simply do more with less. They must rethink how they work together, moving beyond institutional pride and financial firefighting to embrace bold, long-term collaboration. This isn’t about bailing out failing institutions but about reshaping the sector to deliver research excellence, broader access, stronger regional impact, and long-term resilience and the report outlines key recommendations for the future: ➡️ Recognise the current HE model is no longer sustainable ➡️ Focus collaboration on outcomes, not just cost-cutting ➡️ Define clear purpose and objectives for any partnership ➡️ Prioritise long-term strategic leadership over institutional pride ➡️ Consider a range of models from alliances to full mergers ➡️ Create the right conditions: strong leadership, aligned values, clear communication ➡️ Address cultural and regulatory barriers early ➡️ Ensure government provides enabling support (legal, financial, regulatory) ➡️ Treat radical collaboration as a proactive strategy for sector sustainability The question now is whether the sector has the leadership, political will, and strategic clarity to act or whether it will continue to delay the inevitable. #HigherEducation #UniversityStrategy #Leadership #Collaboration #Policy #HEReform #RadicalCollaboration #FutureOfHE #Universities #PublicValue

🚀 Going International: A Practical Guide for Schools & VET Providers 📖 A comprehensive, action-oriented guide to help schools, vocational education, and adult learning centers strategically plan international activities 👉 See: https://lnkd.in/dM2ZHx5c ✒ Prepared in cooperation with the Finnish, Danish, Dutch, Hungarian and German Erasmus+ national agencies and the European Commission Here are the key takeaways: 🌍 Global Challenges Demand Cooperation: ▪ From migration to AI, international cooperation in education is crucial for resilience and innovation across Europe ✍️ Strategic Planning is Key: ▪ Effective internationalization starts with a well-structured strategy that aligns international projects with an institution's mission and vision 🎯 Key Elements of an Internationalization Strategy: 1️⃣ Operating Environment: ▪ Understand internal and external factors impacting your institution 2️⃣ Vision & Mission: ▪ Set ambitious, yet realistic goals for your international activities 3️⃣ Core Skills & Values: ▪ Leverage your institution’s strengths to build a global identity 4️⃣ Goals: ▪ Focus on 5-6 clear, measurable goals to drive real impact 5️⃣ Action Plan: ▪ Ensure all strategic actions are well-defined and backed by the necessary resources 🤝 Building Strong Partnerships: ▪ Collaboration with local and international institutions, businesses, and networks is essential for success 💼 Skills for the Future: ▪ International exposure enhances critical skills like adaptability, multilingualism, and intercultural understanding—essential for today’s job market 📊 Key Stats: ▪ Erasmus+ supports the mobility of learners and educators across borders, with accredited organizations receiving guaranteed annual funding to drive long-term progress 📈 Continuous Improvement: ▪ Embedding internationalization into everyday operations and tracking progress with quality indicators leads to sustained benefits 🔑 Leadership Matters: ▪ Effective internationalization requires active involvement and support from management. Empowering teams to co-create the strategy ensures full integration and success 🛠️ Actionable Steps: From analyzing your current activities to defining strategic goals, this guide provides a roadmap to grow your institution's international footprint 🔗 By integrating internationalization into education, you can open new horizons for learners, educators, and communities alike #Internationalization #ErasmusPlus #Education #GlobalSkills #Collaboration EU Employment & Skills Cedefop Eurofound European Training Foundation EfVET European Association of Institutes for Vocational Training (EVBB) European Vocational Training Association - EVTA EURASHE eucen Agência Nacional Erasmus+ Educação e Formação SEPIE - Servicio Español para la Internacionalización de la Educación Euro App Mobility ENAIP Veneto Anna Barbieri Mika Saarinen

☘️ Why Universities Should Collaborate More with HR Forums ☘️ In today’s rapidly changing job market, universities—both public and private—must go beyond academic instruction to ensure their students are employable, skilled, and industry-ready. While partnerships with various professional and industrial forums are valuable, collaboration with HR Forums stands out as the most impactful bridge between education and employment. 1. HR Professionals Are the Gateway to Employment 🏈 HR Leaders are directly involved in hiring decisions. They understand what organizations look for in fresh graduates — from technical knowledge to soft skills and professional attitude. Collaboration with HR Forums gives universities direct access to these insights, helping them prepare students according to real market needs, not just theoretical expectations. Regular engagement with HR communities ensures that students know what recruiters expect and how to meet those expectations effectively. 2. Bridging the “Campus to Corporate” Gap 🏈 Many graduates struggle in their early careers due to a lack of understanding of corporate culture, communication standards, and workplace expectations. HR Forums can organize career-readiness workshops, mock interviews, resume clinics, and behavioral skill sessions that help students transition smoothly from the classroom to the professional world. 3. Enhancing Employability Through Practical Exposure 🏈 Through HR Forum collaborations, universities can arrange HR Conclaves, Internship Drives, and Industry-Academia Dialogues, allowing students to learn from practitioners who hire and manage people daily. These activities not only enhance employability but also increase the university’s placement success rate and employer reputation. 4. Curriculum Alignment and Industry Relevance 🏈 HR professionals can advise universities on curriculum updates to include skills that are currently in demand — such as leadership, teamwork, adaptability, communication, and digital literacy. Involving HR Forums in academic advisory panels ensures that course content reflects the evolving corporate landscape, keeping graduates competitive and future-ready. 5. Building a Stronger Brand for the University 🏈 When HR leaders engage with a university through sessions, mentoring, and campus events, they build positive perceptions of that institution among corporate networks. This leads to stronger recruitment relationships, better internship pipelines, and higher placement quality — enhancing the university’s reputation as a “career-oriented” educational institution. 6. Long-Term Institutional Benefits 🏈 Collaboration with HR Forums helps universities stay connected to labor market trends, HR policy changes, and emerging skill requirements. This connection also supports faculty development, as teachers gain insights into what industry expects and can incorporate that into their teaching methods.

In an article for IPRA celebrating its 70 year life, I've written a thought piece called 'Industry, Higher Education and the next generation of communicators'. I propose a much deeper collaboration between the public relations industry and higher education to prepare the next gen practitioners for a world that will be radically different . This partnership is essential not only for aligning academic programmes with real-world demands, but also for ensuring new capabilities are embedded within the profession because young folk have much to offer. A key challenge for them is how to acquire that worldly wisdom that will be required of an increasingly challenging Trusted Adviser role. Some proposals for HE/profession collaboration are: 🗝️ Advisory think tanks imagining the future 🗝️ Guest lectures and part-time contributions, but not the usual career stories and achievements, but real life issues that have no immediate or single answers. 🗝️ Internship and mentorships not to be used for students to do the ‘grunt work’ that no one else wants to do, but that allow students to gain practical experience and make mistakes in a safe environment 🗝️ Scenario and business games where academics and practitioners work together to develop as real problems for students which encourage their contextual and relationship awareness. To read the full article go to

During our conversation of the future of higher education last week at the AIARD conference, of course under the "Partnerships" theme we discussed partnerships with industry and other actors. But the thing is, labeling it as a "higher education and industry" partnership isn't telling the full picture, because in almost all cases, for these partnerships to be successful, there needs to be a third partner that helps to create the enabling environment for success - government. In my work at USAID, we often spoke about this at the national level of government, but as I reflect on that work and work within the U.S., that government partner may also very well be at the local or state level. 🤝 When I was working with Missions around the world to design these partnerships, often what folks were looking for was for the private sector to "bring resources to the table"...i.e. bring in money. But I advised folks to take a step back and realize that true partnership isn't about one side bringing money to the table, but to build a relationship and mutual benefits within the partnership - which might not always be monetary or easy to measure. 🛣️ We explore all of this in the Higher Education and Industry Collaboration primer, written by the brilliant Carol Reyes a few years ago when she was a virtual student federal service intern with me. 📚 Suppose you're interested in learning more about successful higher education-industry-government partnerships? In that case, I highly recommend looking at the research from RTI International and their work in El Salvador under the Higher Education for Economic Growth Activity. I'll put a link to one of their articles in the comments.

FourthRev had built a successful business selling a catalogue of career skills courses to universities. But building strong university partnerships revealed a bigger opportunity to deliver on their important mission... Their original product was a digital academy of career skills courses, created with partners like AWS, Tableau and Salesforce, that universities could offer to degree students. While the constraints of UK and Australian degree structures made this hard to scale, close collaboration revealed what would work: university-accredited postgraduate programmes, co-created with employers. Today FourthRev run a range of successful Career Accelerators for Kings College, LSE and Cambridge University in areas like Data Science and Product Management. “If you want to build strategic partnerships with very high caliber institutions, then you need to bring in a great deal of credibility,” their founder Jack Hylands told me when he spoke to me about their journey. “Having the foundation that we built early on was really important.” Here are the key takeaways from the conversation: 1. Work hard to establish credibility first. 🤝 FourthRev's early traction with universities, and the team this enabled them to build, gave them the credibility for more ambitious proposals later. 2. Aim for founder-market fit. 🧩 In regulated industries like higher education, it is easy to get stuck if you lack experience. Find the space you know how to navigate. 3. Listen carefully to what your partners want. 👂 Universities didn't just want skills content to slot into existing degrees—they wanted entirely new career-focused programmes they could own. 4. Be prepared to evolve your model. 🦋 Once FourthRev began launching new programmes, they knew that instead of partnerships with many universities, they needed deep relationships with a smaller number of the right brands. 5. Find a model that brings value to all sides. ✅ They found product-market fit once they could provide value to universities, faculty, employers and learners. 6. Be consistent about your vision. 👁️ Maintaining a clear focus on career outcomes enabled them to adapt the solution but deliver on their mission. Want to know how they persuaded LSE, KCL and Cambridge to co-create entirely new programmes? Read the full case study on my Substack.

🚨 The Education Market is Noisy — Here’s How to Truly Stand Out 🚨 Between AI chatter and the ever-growing competition in special education, it’s loud out there. So how does a vendor partner really cut through the noise? It comes down to one word: trust. And trust isn’t built overnight. It’s built in three ways: 1️⃣ Lead with purpose, not profit. If you’re in education sales for the money, you’re in the wrong profession. Every conversation, every handshake, every demo should start with one shared goal: helping kids and supporting the teachers who serve them. Approach every opportunity as a partnership that delivers real value and lasting impact. 2️⃣ Be the megaphone for educator voices. Too often, educators doing incredible work don’t have the platform to share their success beyond their school or district. One of the things I’m most proud of in my career is amplifying thousands of these voices- many of which happened during my tenure at BrainPOP ! This week, for example, I partnered with the Special Education Director at Warren Consolidated. Her insights, combined with our work at Stages Learning with ARIS, wowed a room full of her peers at Michigan Association of Administrators of Special Education .Without our collaboration, that moment of leadership and impact wouldn’t have happened. 3️⃣ Take the conversation beyond the exhibit hall. Educators can spot a transactional vendor a mile away. Don’t just work the booth—build relationships. Connect with influencers, partner with top-tier organizations, and engage in conversations that shape the future of education. Be seen as a collaborator and a trusted innovator, not just a logo behind a table. After decades representing brands in the education market, I’ve learned this: standing out isn’t about being louder—it’s about being trusted. And when you earn that trust, you don’t just win business—you create change! #EducationLeadership #SpecialEducation #EdTech #EducationSales #PartnershipsMatter #AllMeansAll #StudentSuccess #EducatorVoices