Student Communications Conference 2025
Tuesday 28th January 2025
9:30 am - 3:50pm
Virtual Conference
The Student Communications Conference 2025 will explore the next steps for designing authentic and truly integrated communications campaigns that drive enhanced engagement across the student journey.
The Conference will:
Explore practical ideas for unlocking enhanced engagement with student communications
Provide an essential toolkit for developing authentic communication that responds to student demand
Assess how to design a truly integrated institution-wide communications strategy across multiple channels
Share real solutions on improving conversion and optimising your messaging
Analyse how impactful communications can meaningfully build belonging and support improved outcomes across the student journey
Why attend the conference?
Assess how your institution can optimise its student communication strategy
Discover new solutions for improving engagement and interaction
Develop a roadmap for designing authentic content that meets evolving student expectations
2025 Confirmed Speakers
David Gilani
Head of Student Engagement
Middlesex University
Carla Creary
Student Communications Coordinator
University of Leicester
Ciara Howard
Student Communications and Engagement Manager
Middlesex University
Harvey Atkinson
Head of Student Communications & Campaigns
University of Sussex
Agenda
09:30 am
Chair’s Welcome Address
Rebecca Broadley
Head of Student Communications and Content
King’s College London (CONFIRMED)
09:40 am
“Cut Through” Youth Comms: How to Develop Campaigns that Consistently Resonate with Students
Competing for attention: What can we learn from other major brands across the youth marketing space?
Making the switch from communications outlet to ‘must have’ content designed around student demand
What is ‘cut through’ and how can we get students to own the communications space?
Hannah Burchell
Director of Marketing, Communications & External Relations
The University of Salford (CONFIRMED)
Michelle Amos
Associate Director Marketing and Digital
The University of Salford (CONFIRMED)
10:20 am
Developing a Cohesive, Cross-Institution Approach to Student Communications
How can we be joined up with other teams and departments in our communications, and what practical steps can we take to do so?
What does best practice look like for creating a consistent experience for students through our communications?
What have we learnt from developing a cohesive approach to welcome communications across 2022 to 2024 at the University of Sheffield?
May Mouque
Student Communications and Experience Officer
University of Sheffield (CONFIRMED)
11:00 am
Break and Networking
11:20 am
Right Here, Right Now: Designing a High Impact Omni-Channel Experience
What channels are right for our students and what do they expect from us?
Is email dead or can it act as a pillar to an omni-channel experience?
How can we avoid the one-hit ‘tik-tok’ wonder and support long-term engagement across all channels?
What does it really take to put students in the driving seat of content creation?
How can we design a truly integrated campaign whilst reflecting the unique tones across diverse channels?
Juliet Hasson
Student Communications Manager
University of Southampton (CONFIRMED)
Carla Creary
Student Communications Coordinator
University of Leicester (CONFIRMED)
Laura Allen
Social Media Manager
University of Staffordshire (CONFIRMED)
Monika Gopal
Student Communications & Engagement Manager
Heriot-Watt University (CONFIRMED)
12:10 pm
Break and Networking
1:00 pm
Enhancing Student Experiences with the Use of CRM
How a CRM system can help you communicate with your students
Using CRM data to understand student behaviours, preferences, and interactions with events and communications
Integrating events into the communication strategy and assessing how events can enhance your overall student communications plan
Practical advice on the challenges when integrating CRM, communications, and events across a university setting
Emily Harrison
Student Communications and Events Officer
Leeds Trinity University (CONFIRMED)
Charlotte Howlett
CRM Officer
Leeds Trinity University (CONFIRMED)
1:40 pm
How to … Build an Authentic Sense of Community and Belonging through Student Comms
How can communications campaigns drive real outcomes on belonging?
What does it take to live up to your institution’s strategic vision and values to develop a community-building narrative?
How can we be led by the student voice to deliver communications that are authentic and meaningful?
What are the practical next steps for linking your student communications strategy and tactics to the belonging agenda?
Harvey Atkinson
Head of Student Communications & Campaigns
University of Sussex (CONFIRMED)
2:20 pm
Break and Networking
2:40 pm
Unlocking Meaningful Student Engagement: What Do Students REALLY interact with?
How do we measure student engagement across the student lifecycle?
What do we know from students about how they want to interact and engage with their university and course?
Moving from clicks and sign ups to meaningful sustained dialogue with students
The left behind: how can communications teams ignite interaction with low-engagement students and those at risk of non-continuation?
Does this speak to me? From language to form and content, how do we interact with diverse student cohorts on their own terms?
David Gilani
Head of Student Engagement
Middlesex University (CONFIRMED)
Ciara Howard
Student Communications and Engagement Manager
Middlesex University (CONFIRMED)
3:20 pm
Tap in Not Out! Using Trends on Social Media Mindfully with The University of Leicester
How trends can help engage student audiences
How to execute trends effectively
When to not tap in
Understanding your audience and things to consider
Examples from across the sector and case studies from The University of Leicester
What is the purpose of using a particular trend
Carla Creary
Student Communications Coordinator
University of Leicester (CONFIRMED)
3:50 pm
Conference Close
*Programme subject to change
Audience
This Conference is designed for all higher education practitioners working in student communications and engagement. Those in attendance will include:
Directors of Communications and Marketing
Heads of Student Communications
Heads of Student Campaigns
Heads of Social Media and Creative Content
Student Communication Managers
Student Engagement Managers
Student Communication Officers
Secure Your Ticket
HE and Public Sector
£195 + VAT
Private Sector
£395 + VAT
For group discounts and enquiries about your registration please contact us on enquiries@heprofessional.co.uk