OpenApply Admissions Conference Portugal

Empathy is a core ingredient in successful stakeholder engagement in a school.

Discover how we can leverage empathy, happiness, passion, transparency, and transformation to craft powerful stories that resonate with our school communities. Storytelling is integral to marketing/enrollment/admissions but how can we then celebrate these stories and strategize to foster the success of our students equitably?

In terms of ‘inclusivity’ ‘pluralism’ ‘diversity’ - what are we doing to build classrooms that ought to be representative of a wider audience and not only those who can afford our schools? Similarly, do we have a voice (as Admissions folk) at the big table? Diversity isn’t just for the student body but also within the decision-making level at a school. Admissions is an important voice.

This session will include insights, gained from working with students, staff, parents, and alumni/donors on

Establishing a strategic approach towards enrolment, with one important ingredient, 'SOUL'.
Practical tips for enhancing stakeholder engagement through storytelling.

At Villiers School, empathy and belonging are at the heart of our international admissions process. We understand the importance of connecting with families from diverse backgrounds and ensure that every applicant feels heard and valued. Our admissions approach goes beyond forms and interviews, focusing on building meaningful relationships that reflect our commitment to fostering belonging. By embracing each student’s unique cultural perspective, we create a supportive environment where all students feel they truly belong. This empathy-driven approach ensures that every student, from the moment they apply, is welcomed into the Villiers School community with care and understanding.

Every school has a story, but is yours reaching the right audience in the right way? This interactive session will guide admissions, communications, and leadership teams in creating a tailored content strategy that resonates with their unique school community. Learn how to align messaging with admissions goals, leverage data-driven insights, and ensure consistency across platforms. We’ll explore real-world examples, workshop audience-specific messaging, and provide actionable steps to refine your school’s content plan. Walk away with a customizable content framework that strengthens your school’s presence and deepens engagement with prospective and current families.

Your school’s homepage is just the beginning. While it’s a vital first impression, families looking to enroll won’t make their decision based on a homepage alone. This session dives deeper into the pages that truly impact admissions—those that tell your school’s story, answer key questions, and inspire action. From tuition transparency to student life and application support, we’ll explore what matters most to prospective families and how to optimize these pages for conversion.

To help school admissions teams learn how to balance data-driven decision-making with empathy in order to create more inclusive, fair, and community-centered admissions processes. Look at strategies for using analytics not just to process applications efficiently, but to truly understand the students behind the numbers.