Christopher Tagg, Student Recruitment Manager - Africa, Middle East, Turkey, Russia

Christopher Tagg

Student Recruitment Manager - Africa, Middle East, Turkey, Russia

Study Group

Location
United Arab Emirates - Dubai
Education
Bachelor's degree, Spatial Design, Interior and Landscape
Experience
21 years, 3 Months

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Work Experience

Total years of experience :21 years, 3 Months

Student Recruitment Manager - Africa, Middle East, Turkey, Russia at Study Group
  • United Arab Emirates
  • My current job since January 2011

• Working within an internationally diverse matrix organisation providing world-class education to international students with overall management and responsibility for all sales and marketing activities across the Middle East, GCC, Africa and Russia into 16 University International Study Centres in the UK and Europe, primarily for English, Foundation and Bachelors programmes.
• Line-management and dotted-line responsibility for staff both locally and remotely, leading on staff recruitment and selection and continuous mentorship and leadership to drive colleagues to achieve ambitious recruitment targets.
• Required as foremost expert of the expansive Africa market and Middle East and responsible for all related market intelligence, strategy development and team direction.
• Successful implementation of B2B key account management techniques to grow business from key agents including significant experience of relationship management with all colleagues from Business owners to junior counsellors.
• A focus on conversion strategies to ensure pipeline of prospective offer holders is converted to actual students.
• Proactively leading on the review and subsequent developing of improved internal procedures, processes and print materials, regularly operating on behalf of the wider sales team; including an entirely re-designed and streamlined admissions process.
• Responsible for negotiating significant budget bids (up to £200k) and subsequent accurate and timely budget management.
• Achieve significant direct sales utilising both online and offline marketing.
• Achieved 56% growth in numbers from Africa, 2011-12, 60% growth from 1 key account in East Africa 2012-13.
• Conducting independent overseas travel totalling 15 weeks per year.

International Officer, Africa & ME at University of Bolton
  • United Kingdom - Manchester
  • January 2010 to January 2011

• Worked within a multi-disciplinary team with responsibility for increasing international student recruitment numbers from allocated countries into the University; completing the process from initial contact through conversion to enrolment.
• Initiated and developed partnerships and institutional links, offering progression opportunities primarily for African students.
• Negotiated scholarships, fee discounts and competitive commission rates with partners and sponsors.
• Liaised with academic departments to develop top-up degrees, conducted mapping exercises and product development.
• Management responsibility of market specific share of £180k international recruitment budget.
• Managed relationships with external bodies including international partners, agents, and Government and Embassy officials.
• Autonomous responsibility for essentially all marketing activities relating to recruitment, conducted independent overseas travel
totalling 15 weeks per year and supporting academic colleagues' travel.
• Achieved 40% growth from Nigeria 2009-10.

Marketing Manager, South Asia & Admissions & Student Support at Navitas
  • United Kingdom - London
  • January 2007 to December 2009

• Autonomous responsibility for increasing international student recruitment numbers from allocated markets and supporting
colleagues' recruitment from all markets, conducted, analysed and responded to market research.
• Successful relationship and account management of key agents, ensuring regular and targeted communication.
• Developed institutional links with international schools in specific regions offering progression opportunities and scholarships.
• Implemented innovative strategic marketing plans for recruitment from specific international markets including the use of new
media eg Facebook, Google, and YouTube.
• Devised PR and brand campaigns in specific markets including writing and issuing press releases and managing the production of print and web based materials.
• Successfully managed market budget up to £70k ensuring return of investment for all activities.
• Conducted independent overseas travel of around 15 weeks per year.
• Managed and developed the Student Services provision for all International students within the College.
• Responsible for the advice service covering areas such as Immigration, financial support, accommodation and delivering
workshops to support students.
• Deputy-managed the full Admissions function, from application to offer, with responsibility for managing and coordinating 2-4
Admissions staff including seasonal staff.

Student Union President at Falmouth and Exeter Students' Union
  • United Kingdom
  • January 2006 to January 2007

• Trustee and management responsibilities within the organisation; involved in ensuring its successful operational delivery and organisational development.
• Worked within a multi-disciplinary team, being responsible for representing students' interests and issues within the senior
management and operational structures of the SU and UCF.
• Successfully project-managed a number of design projects including a new website, marketing materials and a clothing range,
having both strategic and operational responsibilities throughout.
• Experience writing and issuing press releases and coordinating PR campaigns.
• Successful budget management of events and marketing activities; negotiated terms & conditions with suppliers and third
parties.
• Devised and developed a strong brand strategy for the future of the organisation.
• Attended and participated in a range of meetings including Board of Governors for UCF and FXU Board of Trustees.
• Contributed to agendas, preparing papers / reports, etc as required.

Student Ambassador Recruitment - UK at University College Falmouth
  • United Kingdom
  • January 2003 to January 2006

• Primary responsibility for coordinating, managing and attending UCAS fairs across the UK, promoting Falmouth University.
• Responsible for employing and managing additional student staff with responsibility for budget and time management.
• Created innovative and creative exhibition stands utilising multimedia, at a time when exhibitions were staid and simple.
• Coordinated campus tours, individual student visits, open days, orientation weeks and initiated and managed a new student
mentoring scheme.

Education

Bachelor's degree, Spatial Design, Interior and Landscape
  • at University College Falmouth
  • June 2006

• Design discipline concentrating on the design of interior and exterior space and the way in which people interact with the space. • Core skills included Live Briefs, responding to client requirements with time and budget constraints, professional practice, business planning, researching, presentations and dissertation.

High school or equivalent, A-Levels
  • at Bridgwater College
  • June 2003

City and Guilds Part 2 Furniture (4 Distinctions 2 Credits) National Diploma Design (Distinction)

High school or equivalent, A-Levels
  • at Bridgwater College
  • January 2002

A-Levels Maths (B), German (B), Art ****

High school or equivalent, GCSEs
  • at Huish Episcopi School
  • June 1998

10 GCSE's at grade A*-B including Maths and English

Specialties & Skills

Leading People
Relationship Development
Account Management
Student Recruitment
ACCOUNT MANAGEMENT
BUDGET MANAGEMENT
FINANCIAL SUPPORT
MARKETING
MENTORING
RECRUITMENT
TIME MANAGEMENT

Languages

English
Expert
Welsh
Beginner

Hobbies

  • Being international
  • The environment
  • Snowboarding