In an example of Macquarie’s agile response to COVID-19, Macquarie International is now home to a purpose-built media studio, allowing the team to deliver online interactive events to a global audience, strengthening the University’s international reputation and supporting international student recruitment and engagement.

The Property team carried out a quick and cost-effective renovation to scale-up MI’s Virtual Open Day events to a whole new level of sophistication, combining live presentations from the MI Global team with crosses to Macquarie academics and rich brand content co-developed by MI and Group Marketing to suit each market.

Presenters work with an ‘election style’ interactive touch screen, allowing them to guide audiences through study and degree options, and explain the new blended teaching mode that enables them to commence study in their home country while borders remain closed.

“With the border closed this year and for the foreseeable future, MI has found new ways to take the Macquarie story to the world,” says Nicole Brigg, Pro Vice-Chancellor International. “The studio is one of a number of significant innovations. It provides cost-effective, time efficient, and very polished digital capability, allowing us to host a wide range of online events and activities.”

The team’s Virtual Global Open Days have generated more than 17,500 registrations so far from across the University’s key markets: China, India, Bangladesh, Hong Kong, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Pakistan, Thailand, Brazil, Nigeria, Greater Africa, Indonesia, Philippines, Mongolia and South Korea, and Nepal.

The Virtual Open Days for India, Sri-Lanka, Hong Kong and Thailand saw the talented MI Global team and Macquarie academics working together to deliver Bloomberg-standard reporting.

“It’s amazing to present the University like a TV anchor,” says Zarana Shah, MI’s Senior Country Manager for South Asia. “Supported by this technology and a professional team – it’s a level of innovation that really differentiates us from our competitors.”

The feedback from partners and government representatives has been extremely positive, with Pro Vice-Chancellor (International) Nicole Brigg even receiving praise that Macquarie’s digital marketing was the most sophisticated among Australian universities recruiting internationally.