Connected Experiences

In late 2020 we launched the Virtual Desktop experience as an innovative response to Covid-19 challenges. This reflects the University’s commitment to explore new ways to support our students. We aim to highlight our faculties and campus culture, as well as bringing Tāmaki Makaurau and Aotearoa to the fore. The Desktop has proven to be an invaluable tool for connecting with prospective students. 

It can be personalised in many ways, including 3D items for a tailored desktop, which appear after a user answers a few questions. The items are tailored to reflect students’ interests. For example, if the system detects that a student is international, it elevates information that’s most relevant to them. The Desktop also includes videos featuring a wide range of students telling their stories. 

Exploration, collaboration and creativity are important elements of our ongoing kaupapa. Māori and Pasifika students’ viewpoints have been integral to the project, with collaboration from inception. 

We’re excited to announce the next phase of the digital experience: Your World Your Way (YWYW). This is an expansion of the now familiar Virtual Desktop, offering a fully immersive, interactive map of Tāmaki Makaurau. 

Your World Your Way product owner Jason Tutara says, “It’s essential that Your World Your Way engages the potential students of today, rather than presenting a nostalgic view of campus life. The experience needs to be fun, clear and intuitive, with the ability to get to the right information quickly. There is a genuine need to provide something personal for each visitor – the parts of campus and city life that would appeal to them the most.” 

YWYW is also part of a bigger collaboration project designed to create more robust engagement with students at every stage of the journey – prospective, current, and alumni. It will also be built for growth, evolving to create an even richer online experience. 

Watch this space!