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Announcing the winners of THE-ICE GRM Challenge 2022!

THE-ICE is delighted to announce the winners of THE-ICE GRM Challenge 2022, our global student competition exclusively for students of THE-ICE accredited member institutions. Now in its second year, THE-ICE GRM Challenge brings together students and staff across our global network, providing an opportunity to engage and build international skills and experience.

THE-ICE GRM Challenge 2022 attracted more than 60 students representing 9 institutions, who were grouped into international and inter-institutional teams to compete in an innovative and exciting challenge that tested and developed their hospitality and tourism revenue management skills.

We wish to congratulate the winning teams in THE-ICE GRM Challenge 2022, who demonstrated significant skill and international collaboration. We are delighted to reward their achievements through the following prizes, generously supported by our Business Alliance Partners STR SHARE Center and Russell Partnership Technology:

1st Place – Team 10

Jeremiah Alroi Alba, Lyceum of the Philippines University, Philippines, Lindsey Kremer, NHL Stenden University of Applied Sciences, The Netherlands, William Palma, Far Eastern University, Philippines, Stefanie, Singapore Institute of Technology, Singapore. With thanks to Staff Advisor Mr Piet Brouwer, NHL Stenden University of Applied Sciences, The Netherlands.

All members of the team will receive an $1500 AUD bursary towards study offered by any member of THE-ICE, AND a free registration on the Certification in Advanced Hospitality and Tourism Industry Analytics (CAHTA) offered by STR SHARE Center AND a free registration on the Hospitality Business Acumen (HBA) Certificate programme offered by Russell Partnership Technology.

2nd Place – Team 9

Justene Kate Arevalo, Lyceum of the Philippines University, Philippines and Danica Beltran, Far Eastern University, Philippines

All members of the team will receive a free registration on the Certification in Advanced Hospitality and Tourism Industry Analytics (CAHTA) AND a free registration on the Hospitality Business Acumen (HBA) Certificate programme.

3rd Place – Team 15

Lyziel Alvarez, Lyceum of the Philippines University, Philippines and Angelica Calma Regio, University of Santo Tomas, Philippines. With thanks to Staff Advisor Mr Ryan Joseph Calinao, Lyceum of the Philippines University, Philippines.

All members of the team will receive a free registration on the Hospitality Business Acumen (HBA) Certificate programme.

Russell Partnership Technology has also prepared a video explaining the 2022 Challenge results, which can be viewed here.

Thank you to all staff who took part in THE-ICE GRM Challenge 2022, who made this Challenge possible for the students.

We look forward to launching the next GRM Challenge, which will take place in March 2023, at the end of this year and hope that you will take the Challenge once again!

Announcing the winners of THE-ICE GRM Challenge 2021!

THE-ICE is delighted to announce the winners of THE-ICE Global Revenue Management (GRM) Challenge 2021, our global student competition exclusively for students of THE-ICE accredited member institutions. THE-ICE GRM Challenge 2021 brought together students and staff across our global network, providing an opportunity to engage and build international skills and experience.

THE-ICE GRM Challenge 2021 attracted 55 students representing 10 institutions, who were grouped into international and inter-institutional teams to compete in an innovative and exciting challenge that tested and developed their hospitality and tourism revenue management skills.

We wish to congratulate the winning teams in THE-ICE GRM Challenge 2021, who demonstrated significant skill and international collaboration. We are delighted to reward their achievements through the following prizes, generously supported by our Business Alliance Partners, STR SHARE Center and Russell Partnership Technology:

1st Place – Team 7

Wafiy Fakhrul, William Angliss Institute, Australia, John Guile Cruz, Far Eastern University, Philippines, Thor Terenz T. Manuel, University of Santo Tomas, Philippines, and Divine Reyes, Lyceum of the Philippines University, Philippines. With thanks to Staff Advisors Dr Kijung Choi, William Angliss Institute Australia & Dr Anna Pamela Jonson, Far Eastern University, Philippines.

All members of the team will receive a $AUS1500 bursary towards study offered by any member of THE-ICE, AND a free registration on the Certification in Advanced Hospitality and Tourism Industry Analytics (CAHTA) offered by STR SHARE Center AND a free registration on the Hospitality Business Acumen (HBA) Certificate programme offered by Russell Partnership Technology.

2nd Place – Team 2

Adi Elenoa Draunidalo, University of the South Pacific, Fiji, Phongphisut Janphithak, Mae Fah Luang University, Thailand, Chayle Limjoco, Lyceum of the Philippines University, Philippines, Evelien Vlijm, Hotel Management School Maastricht, Zuyd University of Applied Sciences, Netherlands and Felicia Petrescu, NHL Stenden University of Applied Sciences, Netherlands. With thanks to Staff Advisors Dr Jocelyn Y Camalig, Lyceum of the Philippines University, Philippines & Ellen van der Spoel, NHL Stenden University of Applied Sciences, Netherlands.

All members of the team will receive a free registration on the Certification in Advanced Hospitality and Tourism Industry Analytics (CAHTA) AND a free registration on the Hospitality Business Acumen (HBA) Certificate programme.

3rd Place – Team 9

Lorraine Dayle Laconsay, Far Eastern University, Philippines, Merle van Gansewinkel, Hotel Management School Maastricht, Zuyd University of Applied Sciences, Netherlands, Kane Ellisha Reyes, University of Santo Tomas, Philippines, and Jasmine Cruz, Lyceum of the Philippines University, Philippines. With thanks to Staff Advisors Luc Houben, Hotel Management School Maastricht, Zuyd University of Applied Sciences, Netherlands & Deborah Lim, Singapore Institute of Technology, Singapore.

All members of the team will receive a free registration on the Hospitality Business Acumen (HBA) Certificate programme.

Thank you to all staff who took part in THE-ICE GRM Challenge 2021, who made this Challenge possible for the students.

We look forward to announcing the next GRM Challenge in March 2022 and hope that you will take the Challenge!

THE-ICE launches new platform to support scholarship and quality

Representatives from 15 THE-ICE member institutions across 9 countries joined THE-ICE Webinar Series 16: THE-ICE Scholarship and Research to launch and explore a new platform to benefit THE-ICE members by supporting relevant research and scholarly activity.

On Thursday 18th August 2021 Dr Craig Thompson, CEO of THE-ICE, and Ms Jane Gentle, General Manager of THE-ICE, introduced the Tribe platform to THE-ICE network via webinar. To stimulate collaboration and enable the sharing of ideas and resources between members, THE-ICE has selected Tribe to create a space for members to share and discuss relevant research ideas, to seek assistance or possible collaborations for new or ongoing research projects, and to share relevant completed research.

Three (3) researchers from each member institution of THE-ICE will be invited to join the platform in its initial stage, building a community of practice for ideas and research specifically relevant to the vision of THE-ICE: to significantly and sustainably enhance the quality of higher education in tourism, hospitality, events, and culinary arts (TH&E) globally. THE-ICE is not seeking to replicate existing platforms, and the Tribe platform will only publish research related to this vision. This might include research on accreditation innovations, the development of quality systems, new course content, staff and professional development, student projects, and virtual or other alternative internships, among other relevant topics.

THE-ICE is a trusted network and Tribe will be a supportive place to share and celebrate successes, as well as providing access to top TH&E academics from around the world with a focus on collaboration, not competition. The platform is intended for all levels of research and should be accessible and useful for student and academic research alike. Dr Thompson added that a funded research topic, addressing a topical issue in TH&E education and with the outcomes to be shared with THE-ICE members, will also be launched next year alongside THE-ICE Research Grant Scheme.

Ms Jane Gentle conducted a live demonstration of Tribe , including interactions between the webinar presenters on the platform. The Tribe platform has a chronological feed, functions to search for key topics and explore popular posts, and a number of ‘Spaces’:

  • A space to share research papers
  • A space to seek data and information from THE-ICE network
  • A space to seek feedback on research ideas and to find possible collaborators

Dr Edmund Goh (Edith Cowan University, Australia) shared the experience of having his research, jointly conducted with Auditor of THE-ICE Professor Tom Baum and titled Job perceptions of Generation Z hotel employees towards working in Covid-19 quarantine hotels: the role of meaningful work, shared via Tribe. Dr Goh emphasised that this platform would remove some of the hierarchy and power distance between researchers, as well as allowing them to reach a targeted and invested audience of fellow TH&E academics.

The recording of the webinar can be accessed here

For information about upcoming webinars in THE-ICE Webinar Series, click here

THE-ICE members discuss ongoing recovery of the global hotel industry

Representatives from 10 THE-ICE member institutions across 7 countries joined THE-ICE Webinar Series 15: Global Hotel Industry Update – STR SHARE Center to discuss the recovery of the global hotel industry following the widespread closures and restrictions of the COVID-19 pandemic.

On Thursday 28th July 2021 Mr Steve Hood, Senior Vice President and Founding Director at THE-ICE Business Alliance Partner STR SHARE Center, shared indexed hotel data and regional updates on the recovery of the global hotel industry. In addition, Mr Hood discussed research opportunities, COVID-related student project ideas, and virtual internships and student certification training.

Within these areas of discussion, the following key takeaways were highlighted:

Recovery of the global hotel industry

  • Mr Hood emphasised that recovery is complicated, and that there is significant diversity in the recovery timeline between and even within regions.
  • Regions are growing, declining, or holding depending on a number of factors, including travel bubbles and corridors and the tightening or loosening of restrictions, locally and nationally.
  • Hotels in the pipeline put additional pressure on the recovery pace.
  • Big cities have been significantly more impacted because they are more reliant on tourism and/or international arrivals, while beachside markets are recovering more quickly.

Research opportunities & student project ideas

  • All the data presented during the webinar, as well as more localised and/or national data, is available for members to work with and this presents opportunities for research, including COVID-related research projects. Over 500 articles have been published using data from STR SHARE Center.
  • STR SHARE Center can supply unidentified property data, and can also correlate it with third party data or survey data.
  • Although there has been a decrease in academic research output during the pandemic, the opportunities for COVID-related research are vast. Mr Hood suggested a number of examples:
    • Comparing different areas of the world or different types of hotels during the pandemic.
    • Comparing different types of hotel business in different areas of the world and for different types of hotels during the pandemic.
    • Analyse various exceptions to the “bright spots” during the pandemic.
    • Comparing pandemic performance metrics to other periods of time.
    • Compare government response and tourism-related interventions to performance metrics.
    • Analyse events that took place in 2020 or are starting to return in 2021.

Virtual internships and student certification training

  • A major focus of STR SHARE Center is helping educators by providing data to professors and students for academic research, student projects and classroom use, as well as supporting virtual internships.
  • Not all destinations or hotels are created equal, especially in the leisure market, and it is important for students to understand that not the whole industry is suffering or recovering in the same way.
  • STR SHARE Center’s Certification in Hotel Industry Analytics (CHIA) and Certification in Advanced Hospitality and Tourism Analytics (CAHTA) are industry recognised stamps of approval that students can add to their resumes and business cards. STR SHARE Center provides everything required to deliver these certifications to students – a full training package, online videos, and free train-the-trainer sessions.

The recording of the webinar can be accessed here.

For information about upcoming webinars in THE-ICE COVID-19 webinar series, click here.

BMIHMS Suzhou recognized as Most Respected Hotel School of China 2021

Blue Mountains International Hotel Management School at Torrens University Australia (BMIHMS) in Suzhou, China is celebrating being recognised as Most Respected Hotel School of China 2021 at the prestigious China Hotel Forum and Menduner Awards. 

An accredited member of THE-ICE since 2008, BMIHMS is a leading hotel management school in Australia and the Asia Pacific region, and has launched the careers of thousands of hotel management graduates.  

Jerome Casteigt, General Manager of Business and Hospitality at Torrens University, said the award is a testament to and recognition of the quality of the school and the calibre of its graduates. “Through this award, the hotel industry is telling us that the BMIHMS students are the best trained students for the hospitality industry,” he said. “And when you think of a country like China, to have our school recognised as producing the best graduates for industry – it’s an amazing recognition of the hard work of our team in Suzhou.” 

BMIHMS at Torrens University Australia, in partnership with Suzhou Tourism and Finance Institute (STFI), has always set out to deliver world-class education for the next generation of hoteliers through their Associate Degree in Business (International Hotel and Resort Management) in Suzhou, China. Renowned for its practical focus and industry driven learning, the school prides itself on empowering its students with an immersive learning experience in all aspects of hotel and resort management, preparing them for supervisory and management positions upon graduating. 

“STFI houses a purpose-built BMIHMS campus that replicates the experience the School offers students in Leura,” said Associate Professor Simon Pawson, Associate Dean of Hospitality at Torrens University, referring especially to the hotel simulated environment BMIHMS offers. 

The Chinese tourism industry, both domestically and internationally, has seen considerable growth over recent years and a significant expansion in the hotel sector, with Suzhou being one of the country’s top tourism destinations. As China now hosts the greatest number of leading five-star hotel brands, the appetite for high quality talent has exploded, with BMIHMS ready to meet the need. 

“BMIHMS STFI students are highly sought after by hotels in the region. Over the last 15 years the School has gained a reputation for the quality and professionalism of its students,” Associate Professor Pawson added. 

Jerome Casteigt points out that the award is also a recognition of what can be accomplished from the strong industry partnerships BMIHMS has built over its 15 years in China.  

“It’s such a testament of the quality of what we do in China with our joint venture partner. We have such a history. This is one of the oldest joint venture partnerships in China,” he said. “It leverages the rich 30-year legacy of BMIHMS Australia, and the unique teaching philosophy centred around professional and personal growth practical skills development, and academic development. We’ve taken the best of our BMIHMS model, which is focused on a combination of applied learning and smart soft skills, and adapted it to meet the market and hospitality industry demands in China.”  

Click here to find out more about Blue Mountains International Hotel Management School at Torrens University by visiting their website

THE-ICE RGS facilitates collaboration between member institutions

Recently, THE-ICE was delighted to announce and congratulate the recipients of THE-ICE Research Grant Scheme (RGS) 2021:

  • Dr Ali Abdallah (Stenden Qatar University of Applied Sciences, Qatar) & Dr Chris Dutt (Emirates Academy of Hospitality Management, United Arab Emirates) for their proposal titled Sustaining the Experience: exploring virtual experiences as an alternative to practical Tourism field trips during COVID-19. 
  • Bastienne Bernasco, MA, MSc (Saxion University of Applied Sciences, The Netherlands) for her proposal titled Sustainable Food Systems in the curriculum of THE-ICE member institutions. 

Further, THE-ICE RGS 2021 has already spurred further collaboration between three member institutions – Dr Ali Abdallah (Stenden Qatar University of Applied Sciences, Qatar) & Dr Chris Dutt (Emirates Academy of Hospitality Management, United Arab Emirates) will collaborate with researchers from fellow C2Q Accredited Member of THE-ICE, Saxion University of Applied Sciences, The Netherlands, to complete their proposed project. The interinstitutional team have finalised their research plan and commenced the data collection phase, and will soon be moving on to transcription and data analysis. They report that the wider collaboration has been positive and successful.

THE-ICE was pleased to receive three times as many applications as for the inaugural RGS in 2019 and, as always, was impressed by the high calibre of research and ideas being produced within our member institutions and their networks. The outcomes of THE-ICE RGS 2021 research projects will be presented at the International Panel of Experts (IPoE) Forum 2021, to be proudly hosted by University of Derby in Buxton, United Kingdom, with the theme Securing our Future – Exploring Sustainability in & of Tourism and Hospitality Education. 

Click here to read more about THE-ICE Research Grant Scheme

THE-ICE members address internships and education in the ‘new normal’

More than 60 representatives from 19 institutions in 8 countries attended THE-ICE Webinar Series 14: Supporting Students in the ‘New Normal’ Era – evolving strategies for internship, teaching and learning. On Wednesday 16th June 2021, six (6) guest presentersfrom THE-ICE member network, including the first student presenter of THE-ICE Webinar Series, joined THE-ICE CEO Dr Craig Thompson to discuss the evolving strategies institutions are employing to support their students and adapt internships, learning and teaching in the ‘new normal’:

  • Ms Violeta Salonen, Senior Lecturer in Experience Management & Design, Haaga-Helia University of Applied Sciences, Finland.
  • Dr Atty Gezzez Giezi G Granado, Dean of the College of Tourism and Hospitality Management, University of Santo Tomas, Philippines.
  • Ms Elina Sperth, Account Manager Placement Office, Hotelschool The Hague, Netherlands.
  • Ms Jolanda Tufilli, Third-year Student, Hotelschool The Hague, Netherlands.
  • Dr Joy Sheelah Baraero-Era, Dean of the Institute of Tourism and Hotel Management, Far Eastern University, Philippines.
  • Mr Dennis Petersen, Instructor Hospitality, Breda University of Applied Sciences, Netherlands.

Through the presentations and discussion, several key themes emerged:

  • Alternatives to a traditional internship
  • Evolving strategies for teaching online
  • Evolving strategies for learning online
  • Alternative assessment for practical education
  • Student support and wellbeing

Within these areas, the following key takeaways were highlighted:

Alternatives to a traditional internship

  • Academic alternative, comprising academic coursework, desk analysis, and/or an industry capstone programme, potentially with a research output.
  • Virtual entrepreneurial internship with partner entrepreneurs/mentors.
  • Virtual internship with industry partners (traditional internship format, executed online).
  • Internship with a virtual training provider (conducted through an external training provider, and often attracting additional costs for the students).
  • Virtual consultancy internship – teams of students acted as virtual consultants for hands-on projects, providing direct value to industry partners while also expanding their professional skills and network. In this format, students completed a range of assignments spanning corporate social responsibility, event management, business development, guest experience, and more.
  • Feedback, assessment, and evaluation are important aspects of any internship, whether in-person or digital.
  • Alumni networks can be an excellent resource, allowing institutions to connect with new industry partners and/or entrepreneurs.

Evolving strategies for teaching online

  • At most institutions, teaching and learning was moved online at short notice, and Zoom fatigue quickly set in for both students and teachers despite initial enthusiasm.
  • Group teaching and discussions.
  • Industry speakers and guest lectures.
  • Creating tour videos to introduce students to the practical education facilities, even when they are not able to learn in these spaces due to the pandemic.
  • Institutions are reconsidering what is offered in their curriculum, but also how it is offered to students.

Evolving strategies for learning online

  • Individual, paired, and group activities.
  • Collaborative research.
  • Watching documentaries and engaging in debate.
  • Virtual tours from industry partners of their facilities.
  • Participating in online competitions, creating teams with students from different courses and stages of their degree.
  • Mixed online learning, combining synchronous and asynchronous learning.
  • Total analog learning, for students who have low to no internet connectivity in their homes. I this scenario, the complete course module and manual was sent to students’ homes on a USB drive, to be returned once they had completed the course.

Alternative assessment for practical education

  • Auditing module, in which hospitality students acted as their own guests and wrote a review of their experiences.
  • Self-reflective videos created by students over the course of a module or unit, rather than incorporating reflection only in the final report.
  • Creating quizzes and designing online/digital activities for their peers.

Student support and wellbeing

  • Students and teachers working together to develop the best solutions for student support.
  • Assignment of a “buddy” at the beginning of a course, to provide study and personal peer support.

The recording of the webinar can be accessed here.

For information about upcoming webinars in THE-ICE COVID-19 webinar series, click here.

Recipients of THE-ICE Research Grant Scheme (RGS) 2021 announced!

THE-ICE is delighted to announce and congratulate the recipients of THE-ICE Research Grant Scheme 2021: 

  • Dr Ali Abdallah (Stenden Qatar University of Applied Sciences, Qatar) & Dr Chris Dutt (Emirates Academy of Hospitality Management, United Arab Emirates) for their proposal titled Sustaining the Experience: exploring virtual experiences as an alternative to practical Tourism field trips during COVID-19. 
  • Bastienne Bernasco, MA, MSc (Saxion University of Applied Sciences, The Netherlands) for her proposal titled Sustainable Food Systems in the curriculum of THE-ICE member institutions. 

THE-ICE was pleased to receive three times as many applications as for the inaugural RGS in 2019 and, as always, was impressed by the high calibre of research and ideas being produced within our member institutions and their networks. The outcomes of the RGS research projects will be presented at the International Panel of Experts (IPoE) Forum 2021, to be proudly hosted by University of Derby in Buxton, United Kingdom, with the theme Securing our Future – Exploring Sustainability in & of Tourism and Hospitality Education. 

THE-ICE Research Grant Scheme (RGS) was introduced in 2019 with the purpose of facilitating and promoting research by THE-ICE member institutions, supporting THE-ICE objective to enhance the quality of higher education in tourism, hospitality, events and culinary arts (TH&E).  

For information about THE-ICE Research Grant Scheme, click here 

Ulster University becomes newest Friend of THE-ICE

THE-ICE is pleased to introduce Ulster University as our newest Friend of THE-ICE, a relationship of reciprocal support and promotion.

Ranked number one in the UK for hospitality, leisure, recreation and tourism (Complete University Guide 2021), Ulster University is prioritising education and research in these fields. Its reputation is built on the relevance of its education, the work ethic and contribution of its graduates, the application of its research to ‘real life’ challenges and its commitment to enhancing the wellbeing and economic prosperity of Northern Ireland. The Ulster University team is looking forward to using Gastronomy Summit 2022 to build long-lasting working relationships with colleagues across the international academic community. 

Question and Answer with Ulster University

What is the Gastronomy Summit 2022, and what is Ulster University’s connection to this event?

Ulster University is staging Gastronomy Summit 2022 at its central Belfast campus on the 11th to 13th April 2022. This international gathering of academics and leading practitioners will focus on the development of food and drink destinations in ways that deliver tangible benefits to local communities. Delegates and keynote contributors will share practical solutions to achieving lasting and inclusive community regeneration, including in locations that are facing considerable social, cultural and economic challenges.

How will the Gastronomy Summit make use of Ulster University’s location and facilities?

Ulster University is investing heavily in hospitality and culinary arts management education as flagship areas of provision. In September 2021 it is launching Academy: the Centre for Food, Drink and Culture, a new specialist educational institute that will incorporate a restaurant, culinary school, beverage school and meeting and conference facilities. Through education, business support, thought leadership and civic engagement, Academy will play a central role in the ongoing development of Northern Ireland as a leading food, drink and hospitality destination. Gastronomy Summit 2022 will showcase these new, state-of-the-art facilities to an international audience. 

Who should attend the Gastronomy Summit 2022, and what should they expect to gain from attending?

Gastronomy Summit 2022 will provide academics with an ideal platform to present their current research to an international audience. We are particularly keen to welcome active researchers and teachers who specialise in a broad range of areas including food, drink and hospitality as catalysts for economic, cultural and social regeneration, and as drivers of equality and social cohesion. It is also appropriate for those researching food, drink and identity, and sustainable development and destination development. Delegates will have an opportunity to build meaningful working relationships, not only with other academics, but also with internationally renowned entrepreneurs, writers, journalists and chefs. 

Will there be options for virtual engagement, for those who may not be able or willing to travel?

To achieve the widest possible level of engagement, a selection of keynote contributions will be made available online. 

Click here to visit the Ulster University website for more information

23 institutions from 13 countries join THE-ICE Member Benefits webinar

Representatives from 23 institutions in 13 countries joined THE-ICE Webinar Series 13: THE-ICE Member Benefits to discuss the increasing suite of benefits available to members of THE-ICE, with a particular focus on THE-ICE’s inaugural global student competition and their newest strategic partner, Unibuddy.

On Wednesday 19th May 2021, Mr Peter Russell (Russell Partnership Technology) and Ms Sofia Fry (Unibuddy) joined THE-ICE CEO Dr Craig Thompson to discuss THE-ICE Member Benefits, especially THE-ICE’s new partnership with Unibuddy and the inaugural global student competition, THE-ICE Global Revenue Management Challenge, presented in association with THE-ICE Business Alliance Partners Russell Partnership Technology and STR SHARE Center.

THE-ICE Global Revenue Management Challenge

Mr Peter Russell affirmed that THE-ICE Global Revenue Management (GRM) Challenge will be a truly global event, uniting students from across THE-ICE network and facilitating cross-cultural and cross-institutional networking. Revenue management is a growing area of interest and importance, and the focus of THE-ICE GRM Challenge. The Challenge is rooted in learning, with the competitive element layered over the top and networking and teamworking built in.

  • The simulation element of the Challenge allows students to apply their learning, and Russell Partnership Technology focuses on simulating the real world as closely as possible.
  • Students will be given access to the programme and onboarding, which will give teams all the information they need to compete, and technical support will be available directly from Russell Partnership Technology.
  • It is recommended that teams spend no less than three (3) hours and no more than six (6) hours to complete the Challenge. However, there is no set timeline for teams to complete the Challenge, and entries will remain open until September.
  • Although the focus of the Challenge and the simulation is on a hotel environment, students do not have to be studying hotel management or hospitality to compete.

Mr Russell showed screenshots of the programme to demonstrate some of the decisions the competitors will have to make – about room price, direct advertising, hours spent on social media, distribution channels, offers they will accept or reject – as they work through the simulation. The first two scores for each team will be submitted to the leader board although teams can repeat the simulation again if they wish, as a learning opportunity.

To read more about THE-ICE GRM Challenge, including the best ever prize package, click here.

To register your interest in participating the THE-ICE GRM Challenge, please contact accreditation@the-ice.org.

Unibuddy

Unibuddy is the newest Strategic Partner of THE-ICE and works alongside higher education institutions to improve their marketing through the power of peer-to-peer engagement. Universities want to attract and retain the best students, and students want to choose the university that will fit them best; in both cases, a digital journey is needed to attract, reassure, and recruit.

University Partnerships Coordinator Ms Sofia Fry provided an overview of Unibuddy’s services and benefits, including:

  • Connecting current and prospective students through a chat widget, enabling personalised communication that creates confidence and a sense of belonging.
  • Space to share student generated content.
  • A built-in live event platform for hosting open days, orientation, and other events to increase connection and community.
  • The platform runs on artificial intelligence (AI), so all interactions and engagement data are captured and delivered as insights, which allows for more targeted marketing and engagement.
  • Increasing applications, as well as conversions from offer to enrolment.

While some institutions do incentivise participation with gamification, certificates, and more, most current students who use the Unibuddy platform do so on a volunteer basis.

Ms Fry confirmed that Unibuddy’s annual fees are based on a tiered structure and are dependent on institution size. Institutions have the option to join Unibuddy with just one faculty instead of a whole school, and this is priced accordingly. Members of THE-ICE are eligible for a 20% discount on new contracts, and those with existing Unibuddy contracts will have the discount applied to their next renewal.

Hosco

Mr John Lohr, Director of Strategic Partnerships and Innovation for THE-ICE Business Alliance Partner Hosco, was also in attendance at the webinar, and joined the presenters to discuss the benefits that Hosco offers to members of THE-ICE. Through their partnership with Hosco, THE-ICE is able to offer an alternative perspective on quality, from alumni. THE-ICE will present this data, gathered from alumni already using the Hosco platform, to its member institutions alongside the THE-ICE ISBSB Survey feedback in the second half of the year.

The recording of the webinar can be accessed here.

For information about upcoming webinars in THE-ICE COVID-19 webinar series, click here.