| dc.description | All in all, I feel incredibly grateful that I was able to attend the ACU PR, Marketing & Communications conference and learn from international industry leaders and peers alike. It was a fantastic networking opportunity and the marketing/recruitment knowledge gained was invaluable. I feel confident that I will be able to apply this knowledge to engage prospective students and create awareness of AU to the general public.
One of the biggest highlights at the conference was receiving the award for best “Student Publications” at the award ceremony and gala. There were only four categories (Student Publications, Corporate Publications, Websites, Outreach & Community Relations) and only one winner in each category. Hundreds of entries were received from all over the world and an international panel of experts assessed each submission. I submitted AU’s recruitment publications (AU Viewbook and Book of Answers) in the Student Publications category and was very proud to represent AU as the only Canadian university to receive an award
While the conference focused on marketing practices in higher education, its value will be applied to other areas of Advancement. This includes workshops that focused on the impact of reduced budgets, demands from staff and students for greater engagement and improved communication, and the growing importance of marketing and communications in strategic planning at an institutional level - all of which are beneficial to my colleagues within Advancement.
If there is any critique of the conference it is only that I wish there had been even more opportunities for networking and engaging in discussion outside of the presentations and workshops. The conversations I did have were so spirited and engaging that I only wish I had more of them.
Overall, the ACU PR, Marketing & Communications conference was an excellent and informative professional development experience. | en |
