Information Kiosk for Study Abroad Consultants – Features and Benefits

By Panashi

An information kiosk for study abroad consultants leverages the feature of automated information dissemination.

A study abroad consultant or an educational consultant can make use of an information kiosk as a 24/7 information dissemination platform. As per my opinion, overseas educational consultants have not yet fully utilized the rewarding benefits of a self-service information kiosk in their favor.

I have an interesting backdrop to share. Stay tuned…

Recently, I had a visit to a study abroad consultant in Dubai. What I witnessed was a huge number of students waiting for their turn in the lobby hall. The students had to spend a significant time with the education councilors, and therefore, those present in the lobby had to wait for several minutes or even hours.

Yes, the same old scenario – long waiting lines, congestion in the lobby, inefficient student processing, unsatisfactory visitor experience etc.

So, how about deploying a fully-equipped information kiosk at the lobby or reception of a study abroad consultant? Yes, an information kiosk can effectively provide answers to the queries of the students and perform various service-related tasks too, with utmost efficiency.

Features of an Information Kiosk

An Information kiosk comprises all the necessary hardware and software components for the purpose of efficient information dissemination and processing of applications.

The common hardware components are:

Touchscreen display the students can easily access study abroad-related content on the kiosk’s interactive touchscreen, just with few taps on the screen.
Document scanner Document scanner facilitates scanning of important documents and certificates.
Document printer the document printer takes care of printing tasks of all kinds like printing of applications, brochures, other downloadable content etc.
Webcam Webcam offers live video chat support feature for students and parents.
Speaker Speaker brings in the interactive experience while playing audio or video content.
Microphone Microphone helps students interact with counselors or admins.
Card reader reads ID cards of the students or performs banking card reading.

The important software components are:

Operating system Either a Windows-based or Linux-based operating system. We also provide Android or custom OS for the unique needs and requirements of the client.
Content management system handles the content displayed on the kiosk machine.
Program finding software Helps students find their preferred program or course based on country, type of degree, specialization, budget etc.
Remote management software takes care of remote tracking, fixing issues and bugs, and providing timely updates.
Software for payment processing Process payments in connection with services, fee payment etc.

Information Kiosks for Study Abroad Consultants - Benefits

The Information kiosk offers a plethora of benefits for both the study abroad consultants and the students. Here are some of the obvious benefits.

24/7, automated Information desk an Information kiosk can offer 24/7, accurate and updated information about a plethora of study abroad deals. It includes country-based categorization of colleges, courses, visa prerequisites, application guidelines etc. Moreover, students or even their parents can easily access relevant information at their convenience, avoiding waiting time. For example: If a student couldn’t make it to a study abroad consultant during college-hours, the same student can access the information after college hours, via a dedicated information kiosk. In fact, the kiosk machine presents a unique opportunity of 24/7, uninterrupted information dissemination.
Targeted study abroad promotions and marketing An Information kiosk presents targeted country-specific marketing opportunities for consultants. The dynamic content dissemination approach helps to gain the attention of potential candidates easily which yields far-better results when compared to website-based promotions. For example: A study abroad consultant can run two different, country-specific campaigns via two kiosk machines at an event. One of the kiosk machines may feature Study Abroad in Canada campaign and the other kiosk machine may manage Study Abroad in Australia. In fact, the study abroad consultant gets precise, targeted exposure and reach to relevant study abroad programs.
Initial consultation portal The student can perform a pre-registration at the information kiosk, and provide basic information like name of the student, education qualifications, preferred country and course etc. The kiosk system stores this information, which can be easily retrieved by the counsellors prior to the actual face-to-face discussion. Based on the retrieved information, the counsellors are in a position to offer preference-based suggestions and recommendations to students, perfectly custom-made to the student requirement. As a result, the face-to-face discussion sessions become more productive, and efficient. To add on, the information kiosk also reduces the burden on the counsellors.
Explore study abroad programs Information Kiosk offers an excellent and rewarding opportunity for students to explore various overseas programs. They get the opportunity to compare multiple programs, access campus-related videos, gather course and amenities-related information etc. Interactive video content helps students gain better understanding of various programs and helps them make better decisions, based on valid data.
Appointment booking portal the students can book appointments with counsellors via the kiosk machine. The student may decide when to have an appointment based on the most convenient time. As students are in charge of appointments, the administrative burden on the study abroad staff reduces to a significant extent. And the reduced administrative burden has a positive impact on the overall expenses of the consultant too.
Advertisement and promotional content the study abroad consultant can publish promotional videos, student testimonials, college advertisements, short clips, special discounts, or any other creative content to extent their reach. The kiosk machine can run these promotional contents during idle time. Displaying discount offers and other attractive content improves student engagement.
 Gather student data the Information kiosk for study abroad consultant allows you to collect student preference data like the most preferred or searched study abroad destinations, the most preferred courses, budget-related preferences etc. Based on the numbers, you can analyze whether a preference for a particular overseas location or program is becoming a trend or not. Based on the trends, both the consultants and the partner colleges can revamp existing marketing strategies or devise new ones.
 Visa guidance Students can access the kiosk machine to find key information related to visa formalities, like how to apply, the documents needed for the purpose, application deadlines etc. Students get ample time to go through the complex visa guidelines and instructions, eliminating chances of errors.
 Display upcoming event Getting students to register for your events or seminars is not anymore, a difficult task. Displaying engaging and creative content on upcoming seminars, conveying the benefits of participation, will help you gain the attention of prospective students. Students can easily register via the kiosk machine, without having to communicate with human agents or counsellors.
 Document submission portal By integrating specialized components like Document scanner into the Information Kiosk, students can scan and upload required documents, certificates, transcripts etc., straight to the consultant’s database. The feature offers much convenience and peace-of mind to the students.
 Multi-language facility Information kiosks are loaded with multi-language facility. The students or even their parents can select their preferred language from the list of languages. The feature is perfectly useful in multi-cultured societies like the UAE. Language is not anymore, a barrier for knowledge seekers!
 Student feedback portal The Information kiosk for study abroad consultant can collect useful and valuable feedbacks from students after sessions, or after personal interactions. What students have to say after each interaction holds a wealth of information regrading their overall experience, the services offered etc. Gathering feedbacks straight from students help to understand student requirements, preferences, and even their grievances. The agencies and consultants can use this data to make service-related improvements.
 Large interactive touchscreen the large touchscreen of the Information kiosk offers a highly interactive and engaging user experience. Both the students and parents can easily access the information displayed on the kiosk screen. The text displayed becomes more legible and easier to understand. Large screen size offer content versatility and supports quality, detail-oriented content of various formats like videos, animations, maps, etc.
 Video conferencing facility Panashi provides video conferencing solution for Information kiosk to improve session experience and student engagement. The study abroad consultant can initiate video chat sessions with backend admins or counsellors. Both students and parents can use the facility to clear doubts, or ask any specific course-related information. The video conferencing facility is highly beneficial for mobile, vehicle-assisted study abroad campaigns.

Why Students prefer study abroad?

There are several rewarding benefits associated with studying abroad. Quality education and the international exposure are two major reasons why students aim for overseas education.

International exposure Getting overseas education from an abroad country helps students attain an international exposure. Study abroad presents the opportunity to meet and interact with a multi-cultured student community, understand different perspectives and opinions, become proficient in new languages etc. They become a global citizen in no time, adjusting and adapting to the global trends.
Top-notch education standards The educational institutes or universities of their home country may not offer quality and competitive programs that are up-to-date with current industry standards. Well-known universities of the UK and the US offer programs that have world-wide recognition, students get the opportunity to conduct research under renowned personalities. Moreover, these study aboard institutions also offer top-notch facilities for students.
Improve language skills Students get the opportunity to talk, practice and immerse themselves in business languages like English, French, German etc., and become well-versed in those languages. Immersing themselves in foreign languages help in faster learning.
Cultural exchange Study abroad programs offer students understand and experience different cultures and way of living. The campus experience itself presents students a rich and unique experience of cultural diversity. The students learn to accommodate and accept other’s feelings and perspectives which helps them grow and mature as an individual.
Personal development Students learn to accomplish tasks all by themselves which offers them valuable lessons on responsibility, sense of freedom, and improves their decision-making skills.
Career opportunities Study abroad programs offer excellent career opportunities for students. Degrees or programs offered by renowned institutes are recognized by tech-giants and establishments all around the globe. Recruiters know the value of accredited and recognized foreign universities. And hence, students with study abroad degrees always have a competitive edge in interviews and recruitment processes. Additionally, recruiters are impressed with their communication and problem-solving skills.
Networking chances Students get world-wide networking opportunities. The network comprises of professionals, industry experts, university faculty, peer groups, leaders etc. who could contribute towards better job opportunities or associations in the future.
PR opportunities Many students now have PR dreams too. The improved medical facilities, improved infrastructure, better career opportunities, a balanced life - all these factors make them go for a study abroad program in a foreign country and later settle in the same country.

The final takeaway

Through self-service kiosk implementation, study abroad consultants can make their presence known to a wider audience. Apart from the premises of a study abroad consultant, an Information kiosk could be deployed at high footfall areas where student population come in large numbers. The ability to select and search programs based on diverse categories like country, college, specialization, and budget presents a highly intuitive and efficient means of program exploration. The sheer versatility and flexibility of these machines help you redeploy them to any other convenient location for maximum engagement. When students get access to legitimate and updated information, they get the opportunity to make informed decisions.

Helping students make informed decisions is one of the best things that you can do as a study abroad consultant.

For any guidance regarding information kiosk for study abroad consultants, please get in touch with Panashi technical team.