Washington State University (WSU) Tri-Cities recently incorporated Pokémon GO into its campus tours as a way to improve engagement among prospective students. Not only does the new initiative add an digital element to the tour, but it also captures the attention of youth who might otherwise see Universities as out of touch with the current generation of students.
The Pokémon GO-integrated tours will be available for the university's north Richland campus, which is situated along the Columbia River. In addition to a tour of the campus' many facilities, prospective students will also be able to visit 15 different Pokéstops and two of the school's designated Pokémon gyms. The university is even adding extra time to its tours in order to give visitors time to explore the campus in search of the virtual creatures.
By incorporating Pokémon GO into its campus tours, WSU Tri-Cities demonstrates how post-secondary institutions can connect with a new generation of students.
Key Themes Behind This Trend
- Gamified Campus Tours
- Incorporating popular games like Pokémon GO into campus tours to improve engagement among prospective students.
- Digital Campus Tours
- Using digital elements to enhance traditional campus tours and create lasting impressions on prospective students.
- Youth-oriented Marketing
- Adopting marketing strategies that specifically target the attention of youth to increase engagement and interest in higher education.
Where This Applies
- Higher Education
- Post-secondary institutions can adopt digital strategies like gamified tours to engage with prospective students in more relevant ways.
- Mobile Gaming
- Opportunities for game developers to partner with higher education institutions to create branded games that promote engagement and awareness of campus facilities.
- Marketing and Advertising
- Marketing agencies can provide expertise on youth-oriented strategies and help institutions create memorable and engaging experiences during campus tours.
