Top of The Class In Global Expansion A Case Study for International Universities

Top of The Class In Global Expansion

A Case Study for International Universities

With a long academic history dating back to 1881, the University of Dundee, which was founded by an endowment from the Baxter family, has a globally recognised reputation in both teaching and

research. Nevertheless, in a highly competitive market, the University felt it needed support to extend and diversify its international future student base and better understand its intended audience.

Seeking in-country specialists, the University sought the assistance of Acumen to further its

international reach in India, Malaysia and the United Arab Emirates. As a case study, the partnership illustrates how Acumen can partner ambitious international institutions with effective solutions for a variety of objectives.

Origins The University first worked with Acumen as part of

The relationship with the University has grown at

an opportunity to develop their wider India strategy.

turned to us for support and advice on developing

a UKIERI-funded careers project which opened up

Acumen came highly recommended as being able to support the university in its internationalisation objectives.

a comfortable pace over the years as they have

new aspects of their business, from recruitment in multiple markets to faculty-based partnerships in multiple markets.

The University recognised the significant potential

At various points over the years, there have been

in-fly out model meant it was not fully achieving

chosen Acumen because of the strong existing

of the Indian market but the limitations of a fly

the outcomes it hoped for After discussion, the

University felt that the only way to make the step change they were looking for, was to take on a dedicated representative based in-market.

other options available, but the University has relationship of trust and confidence.

What made Acumen stand out against their competitors?

Acumen’s deep understanding of the needs of

partnership that has not only been mutually

crucial understanding made communication,

offered a bespoke and scalable solution for the

educational institutions instilled confidence. This operations and troubleshooting seamless from

the beginning, resulting in a dynamic and creative

beneficial, but also enjoyable. Ultimately, Acumen outcomes the University of Dundee was trying to achieve.

What were the University of Dundee’s main objectives?

The University wished to sustainably build its

It was clear that an experienced and trusted

markets. The focus was on expanding and refining

enthusiastic, highly skilled in-country representative

international profile across key volume and growth the agent networks and diversifying the intake

to a broader range of educational programmes.

Having achieved this with the support of Acumen, the next step was to identify stickier, longer-term partnership opportunities to underpin a more sustainable presence in South Asia.

partner was needed to recruit and manage an

to drive forward growth for the University. The first India representative came on board in 2018 and the team has since expanded to three

How was project implementation achieved by Acumen?

From the get-go, the Acumen team provided

After appointing the representative, Acumen

and facilitated the complete selection process,

the University to manage and define priorities and

a clear timeline for in-country implementation presenting the University with an excellent

shortlist of suitable candidates with the necessary understanding of the nuances of the international education sector.

oversaw the project at every level and worked with key performance indicators, d. This methodical

approach, coupled with excellent communication,

helped to get the project off the ground in a timely manner.

The measure of success The cornerstone of success is enrolments; since

Rebecca Trengove, Director of External Relations at

recorded a 142% increase in South Asian enrolments,

clear from the outset and they’ve always been very

partnering with Acumen in 2018, the University has

despite the impact of the global pandemic. This is in no small part down to the in-country staff and their

expertise in effectively responding to the huge uplift in Uk applications driven by the Graduate Route.

the University states “Acumen’s professionalism was straightforward to work with. In addition to offering a transparent and effective means to recruit and

manage our team in India, we’ve really valued their market insights and advice, particularly during

the pandemic when international education has experienced so much change”.

Going forward Whilst the sector continues to navigate volatile

in numerous sectors. The case study also goes

are as important as ever. Acumen’s work with the

history, knowledge and academic research can still

markets, it is clear that international partnerships

University of Dundee illustrates how well managed and orchestrated partnerships can thrive and succeed to achieve common and mutually

beneficial goals, regardless of where they are

situated on the globe and regardless of what is taking place.

The strength of Acumen’s business model and

structure means that it is well suited to offer advice to a range of clients from all over the world, and

to show how one western institution famed for its

benefit from another, which, in the case of Acumen, is crucial because of its inherent knowledge of

the South Asian markets. This further strengthens international ties and illustrates the variety of

positive outcomes that can be achieved when East meets West.

ACUMEN is committed to helping globally-ambitious university and education partners enter, explore and expand in South Asia, South East Asia, and beyond.

We offer a dedicated range of services to drive recruitment, student enrolment, develop strategic partnerships, and research collaboration. As a result, we act as an extension of your brand, by connecting you with the world’s best students, utilising strategic international education opportunities, understanding your ideal market through research and insights, and help mitigate any risks along the way.

We operate in over 20 countries, with more than 250 industry practitioners with deep local knowledge and global expertise. We help navigate a competitive education landscape from end to end, while always prioritising your success.