Regional Advisor (South Asia) For A UK University

About White Bridge Education

White Bridge Education is a premier market entry firm that specializes in facilitating the entry of higher education institutions into new markets. With a focus on the dynamic higher education sector, our expert team at White Bridge Education assists global universities, colleges, and government organizations in establishing and expanding their presence across Asia. Through effective stakeholder management and on-the-ground representation, we provide invaluable support for institutions seeking to navigate the intricacies of entering new markets within the education industry.

Headquartered in Mumbai, India, White Bridge Education operates as a dedicated B2B organization. Our primary objective is to support universities and educational institutions worldwide in devising and executing successful international recruitment strategies and enrolment plans in India and the broader Indian sub-continent. With our extensive knowledge and network within the region, we ensure our partners achieve their goals by connecting them with qualified students and fostering meaningful relationships with key stakeholders.

At White Bridge Education, we are committed to empowering educational institutions with the tools and expertise needed to thrive in an ever-evolving global landscape. White Bridge Education is an equal opportunities employer and is committed to the employment policies, procedures and practices which do not discriminate on grounds such as gender, marital status, family status, age, disability, race, religious belief, sexual orientation.

The Role

The in-country representative will serve as the University&aposs representative in India and certain parts of the Indian sub-continent, playing a crucial role in promoting and recruiting international students.

The University has been actively engaged in India and South Asia for over a decade, with a strong track record of student mobility and outreach initiatives in the region. The University is represented by a Senior Regional Advisor, and this role will focus on supporting and expanding the Universitys presence in the South Asian market.

The representative will contribute to the university&aposs growth by increasing revenue and diversity through international student enrolments. The role requires high level engagement with recruitment channels and stakeholders and identifying business development opportunities. Key activities also include building and nurturing relationships with students, schools, colleges, and counsellors in the region.

The position involves working closely with the Senior Regional Advisor (South Asia) in setting and achieving recruitment targets for South Asia, supporting the development and implementation of recruitment strategies, working on various conversion activities and collaborating with colleagues across the Universitys International office to ensure responsible student recruitment. This front-facing role requires excellent interpersonal skills, strong stakeholder management abilities, and experience in international environments.

Extensive travel across India is expected, with occasional involvement in activities across the South Asia region. The representative will be based in Mumbai or Kolkata in India.

Key responsibilities

• Execute comprehensive recruitment plans to drive student recruitment from across South Asia targeting both undergraduate and postgraduate levels.
• Implement day-to-day activities necessary to achieve the objectives outlined in the recruitment plans and strategies, ensuring enhanced recruitment at all stages of the enrolment process (from prospect to enrolment).
• This role includes participating in fairs, visiting schools and universities, and delivering agent-led activities.
• Engaging with prospective applicants and applying conversion strategies to increase actual enrolments to the University
• Use University based CRM and other platforms to support prospective students, streamlining conversion activities with stakeholders such as agents, school counsellors and providing efficient assistance to University Admissions team for quality conversions.
• Ability to evaluate educational documents to determine students' eligibility for desired programs, ensuring adherence to the admission criteria.
• Serve as liaison to the international team, to support alumni, faculty and other team members for strategic visits to Indian schools and colleges.
• Provide accurate and quality counselling service to students and their families about the University and programmes offered, university admission procedures, entry requirements and regulatory requirements should be delivered to the highest standard.
• Develop and maintain an in-depth knowledge of the academic programs, as well as relevant policies and procedures within each assigned school/college.
• Maintain information about South Asias latest education landscape changes, school boards and evolving visa and immigration regulations.
• Knowledge and ability to undertake creditability interviews, and guide students about the visa/arrival process.
• Manage and participate in conversion events, both virtual and in-person, such as pre-departure. These events aim to foster engagement with the University and increase the conversion rate from admitted to enrolled students.
• Excellent communication skills and ability to carry out outreach services, workshops to students, counsellors and other stakeholders within the assigned geographical locations.
• Gather, analyse, and provide market data specific to India and South Asia, aiding in the identification of potential market expansion opportunities at all levels. Offer strategic consultation and advice regarding the Universitys brand positioning in India.
• Cultivate positive relationships with key external stakeholders in India, such as school and university counsellors, British Council, and other key government and accreditation bodies.
• Develop and maintain collaborative working relationships with internal stakeholders at White Bridge Education and at the University, ensuring the effective implementation and management of robust recruitment and admissions processes.
• Support White Bridge Education in planning and coordinating the strategic student mobility schedule for visiting colleagues and faculties from the University, as necessary.

Qualifications and key skills

• Possess a bachelor&aposs degree or higher in a relevant field, such as marketing
• Have a minimum of 5 years of experience in international student recruitment or a related field
• Exhibit strong customer orientation, along with exceptional communication and interpersonal skills
• Demonstrate the ability to work both independently and collaboratively as part of a team
• Display excellent organisational and time management abilities
• Experience of living, studying, or working internationally will be considered a valuable advantage
• Excellent written and verbal communication and presentation skills, including proficiency in using digital and social media for business purposes
• Fluent in English and the local language
• Possess extensive knowledge of the higher education sector and international student recruitment
• Proficient in IT and exhibit Computer skills, including experience with CRM systems. Microsoft Teams and OneDrive
• Ability to generate reports based on complex statistical data analysis
• Familiarity with the opportunities and challenges within the global higher education market, particularly in the United Kingdom
• Proven ability to develop and implement effective recruitment and conversion plans to maximise student growth in priority markets
• Understand the significance of service delivery and collaborate with colleagues across the university to collectively work towards strategic goals
• Possess knowledge of UK policies and student recruitment practices will be an additional advantage
• Exhibit a creative and positive attitude, with the ability and confidence to quickly adapt to meet changing customer and market demands
• Strong organisational skills, with the ability to prioritise demanding workloads and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment
• Willingness to adopt a flexible working approach, including working during unsocial hours, weekends, or occasional public holidays when required
• Willingness and ability to undertake extensive travel and participate in events as required
• Ability to travel for business purposes on an unrestricted basis, including potential visits to the UK for training
• The candidate should possess a valid passport, as some overseas travel may be required on an ad-hoc basis

Line Management and Reporting

• The candidate will report directly to the leadership at White Bridge Education.
• On a daily basis, the candidate will work closely with and report to the Senior Regional Advisor (South Asia) for the University of Salford, based in India.