... the future of the prospectus.

Discovering Futures' latest conference on the future of the prospectus has been specially created for everyone engaged with the challenge of attracting students to their institution, college or school.

Every school, college and university produces a prospectus but have we ever really stopped to consider the value of this document and what might be the alternative should we replace it? But the question remains, what would be the alternative? The mainstay of a successful student recruitment campaign is the prospectus - without one we would be seen to be putting this strategy at risk. What is the future of the prospectus? This conference has been designed to consider this question whilst also offering some ideas, alternatives and possibly some answers.

At this event we will aim to address the future of the prospectus by giving you:

• time to reflect on what your prospectus should be

• an opportunity to hear from experts who can help you consider how you might embrace new developments

• information regarding how potential students wish to engage with you. (Are you conversant with, and prepared for, these changes?)

• feedback on the importance of clear and accessible information. (This might also help with retention rates if potential students firstly understand what they are getting into.)

• advice on how to ensure your prospectus is accurate, up-to-date and excellent at satisfying the expectations of your many stakeholders

• the opportunity to be challenged about your strategies and how you might embrace new routes to market

The agenda

The exciting and stimulating agenda features speakers from the commercial and education sectors who are leaders in their field - they will unveil a range of new developments, case studies and innovative thinking which will contribute to this important discussion on the future of the prospectus.

The rise of digital attraction methods, and associated technology, will be high on the speaker's agendas.

The forums and presentations will aim to give you new ideas and a fresh perspective to help you re-evaluate your organisation's prospectus strategies which will in turn impact on your broader marketing and recruitment strategies. The implications of these technological developments are enormous.

Why the prospectus?

Although the traditional prospectus is currently the preferred choice of recruitment tool, how much longer can we afford to print and distribute these glossy tomes? They cost a great deal to produce, they date quickly, are invariably unyieldy and attempt to be a one-stop shop appealing to all our stakeholders. Should we instead invest in the technology to allow us to respond in a more bespoke way (a phenomenon recently coined the ‘long tail’) or is the prospectus to remain a mass market tool?

These are just some of the questions and issues that will be raised and discussed in this important new conference from Discovering Futures. The Future of the Prospectus? It’s a serious question and one which this event hopes will engage some of the best brains in the sector, including your own!

Your student recruitment strategy will be utilising the full marketing mix to build a meaningful relationship with your target audiences; but are you maximizing the full potential of digital technology, harnessing the opportunities of mobile communications, realising the importance of social media, utilising the power of search, or the endless choice created by the internet and the unlimited demand and opportunity this has unleashed? All these developments are presenting new opportunities for reaching target markets whilst also threatening the traditional routes to market and the once dominant power of paper and print.

Join us

Join us for a day's debate about how digital technologies and traditional printing are both competing for your potential students attention and gain invaluable new insights into new developments and strategies.

Our keynote speaker will be Luke Mckend, Industry Head - Local/Careers at Google UK, the world's leading search engine. Also on the day's agenda are speakers from three of the country's leading printers to discuss how print is evolving; plus a panel of HEIST prospectus winners who will consider the role of the prospectus; and colleagues from the sector who will present case studies and their visions of the prospectus of the future.

Key issues

The forums and presentations will aim to give you new ideas and a fresh perspective to help you re-evaluate your organisation's prospectus strategies.

Sessions cover:

• the opportunities of successful digital marketing
• the case for print
• what makes for the best prospectus
• using the iPhone to promote your courses and institution
• personalising the prospectus - is this the way forward?
• the use of mobile marketing in recruitment
• the musings of a digital expert on the way ahead for the prospectus