Online and overseas marketing driving steady TRU enrollment

Mar 24, 2017 | 5:00 PM

KAMLOOPS — As one of the largest universities in the province, Thompson Rivers University continues to attract hundreds of students every year.

And it’s not young high school graduates.

With numerous continuing education and online courses for mature and millennial students, campus enrollment is as varied as it is diverse, with students from around the world.

But what brings people to TRU and who are the people roping them in? 

With approximately 500 new students expected to attend Saturday’s all-day event, the majority of them from Kamloops as well some coasters and Albertans, Jesse and Gabi are busy stuffing welcome bags to hand to students when they arrive on site.

“Every year we have a fall and spring open house. it includes a huge cross-campus event in which we have information sessions, BBQ’s, and a chance to meet some students that will be coming to join us in September,” said Gabi Scollon, TRU Student Recruiter and Enrollment Representative. 

The biggest challenge for Gabi and the rest of her recruitment colleagues is convincing students to study at TRU.

TRU has produced numerous videos for both TV and online in an effort to attract more students to its campus.

And then there’s the international recruitment team.

“We have a marketing and recruitment team here that’s seven members,” said Baihua Chadwick, Associate Vice-President of TRU World Global Operations.

We also utilize a number of overseas representatives that are located in a number of different continents such as Asia, Africa, Latin America and more. 

For Chanbir Singh, who’s studying business marketing at TRU, it’s the campuses hands-on learning that convinced him to study in Canada.

“The studying environment is good and the people are so friendly,” said Singh.

For single moms like Katrina Chu juggling school and family, it was TRU’s flexibile schedule that made her sign up.

“It was the caring of the staff and educational faculty, ” said Chu. They do the best to listen and support you, there’s a big support network.” 

When you combine on-campus, continued learning, and online studies, more than 22,000 students are enrolled at TRU. 

“We’re a very unique campus in that we offer everything from trades, degrees, masters, so there’s no one program that dominates them all.”

TRU’s open house takes place Saturday from 9am to 3pm with tours, information sessions and a BBQ being offered.