Chirag Parekh, International Marketing Coordinator

Chirag Parekh

International Marketing Coordinator

University of Wollongong in Dubai

Location
United Arab Emirates - Dubai
Education
Master's degree, Marketing
Experience
7 years, 9 months

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Work Experience

Total years of experience :7 years, 9 months

International Marketing Coordinator at University of Wollongong in Dubai
  • United Arab Emirates - Dubai
  • March 2010 to June 2013

The role involves Marketing and Student Recruitment activities for UOWD in South Asia, Central Asia, Middle East, Africa and Europe. The role includes the responsibilities listed below:

Marketing

Strategically position the corporate branding of the University in international markets;
Communicate the UOWD brand to international audiences and ensure that brand strengths are understood by the clients;
Develop key corporate communications strategies;
Promote the university to international students via social media;
Manage and coordinate the production of international marketing collateral and other communication material for marketing and student recruitment overseas;
Manage market research activities to identify target markets;
Assist with external relations functions with industry and corporate clients;
Develop an advertising and PR campaign in international markets;
Develop an annual calendar of international marketing and promotional events and activities;
Monitor and update international students’ website;

Student Recruitment

Assist the Director, Marketing and Student Recruitment to develop a student recruitment strategy to achieve annual international student targets from the countries specified above;
Identifying and developing new markets for UOWD;
Work closely with schools, agents, businesses, government organizations, scholarship bodies and various consulates.
Represent and promote the University at international events (exhibitions, road shows, interview programs) in an ethical manner;
Oversee and maintain the CRM system;
Maintain frequent contact with the University’s network of overseas agents;
Coordinate in-bound visits of key overseas contacts and agent familiarization visits;
Compile statistical reports pertaining to international student enrolments;

Budgeting

Bidding, planning and coordinating effective use of international marketing and student recruitment budget in excess of AED 2 million

Country Development Manager at Anglia Ruskin University
  • United Kingdom - London
  • October 2008 to March 2010

Responsible for Marketing and Student Recruitment activities in South Asia, Central Asia and Middle East. The role included the responsibilities listed below:

Developing marketing strategy for the above specified countries with India being the priority country.
Managing the university’s regional office in India and Pakistan;
Bidding, managing and allocating budgets effectively to maximize the returns;
Face to Face interaction with potential international students by participating in international student recruitment activities such as exhibitions, agent road shows, school and college visits and through student interviews at agent offices;
Establishing a strong and reliable network of overseas representatives and monitoring their performance;
Developing partnership links with local universities in India (Amity University, FrameBoxx Animation Institute, Modi College of Nursing, Mudra Institute of Communication, Ahmedabad);
Working closely with Hobson’s which handles the university’s enquiry management system to achieve a higher conversion rate of enquiries to application to enrolment;
Working closely with the Faculty to develop and tailor courses which suit the needs of international students;
Working closely with Finance to set the scholarship structure for international students from South Asia;
Working closely with Cambridge Ruskin International College (CRIC) to develop a joint marketing strategy;
Provide statistics and feedback to the Head of International Student Recruitment with regards to the marketing activities being conducted overseas.

Marketing and Student Recruitment Officer at University of Wollongong in Dubai
  • United Arab Emirates - Dubai
  • July 2004 to June 2007

Responsible for Marketing and Student Recruitment activities. The role included the responsibilities listed below:

Assist the Marketing Manager to develop a student recruitment strategy for students in the UAE;
Liaise effectively with UAE schools and visit them on a regular basis;
Assist with external relations functions with industry and corporate clients;
Assist with arrangements for the University corporate events (Graduation, Open Days, Discovery Days);
Represent and promote the University at external events (exhibitions, road shows, interview programs) in an ethical manner;
Provide accurate and appropriate information to all enquiries made in person with the goal of converting these enquiries to applications;
Counsel, assess qualifications and develop solutions to facilitate the admission of prospective students;
Develop a network of contacts to establish long-term relationships;
Assist with the production of marketing collateral and other communication material for marketing and recruitment;
Monitor and update website;
Monitor publications and promotional items stock and maintain inventory;

Education

Master's degree, Marketing
  • at Brunel University
  • November 2008

Dissertation topic "Perception of International Students towards UK higher education and how UK universities can attract international students to study in the UK".

Master's degree, International Business
  • at University of Wollongong in Dubai
  • June 2006
Bachelor's degree, Business Administration
  • at University of Wollongong in Dubai
  • June 2004

Specialties & Skills

International Marketing
Marketing Communications
Brand Management
Budget Management
Business Development
Social Media Marketing
Higher Education Management
Market Research

Languages

English
Expert
Hindi
Expert
Arabic
Beginner