strategies to build new programs
Strategies to build new programs
Experience with US Institutions
Karl Rutter Consulting LLC offers a variety of services for US institutions, including business development, marketing, partnership building, program development, recruitment, and strategy.
With more than 30 years of experience, I have worked on a broad range of projects from developing an internationalization strategy to building new programs which create additional streams of revenue. While working with partners, I pay special attention to ensure that the new initiative matches the school’s mission and brand.
I take a collaborative approach with clients, treating them as partners in the strategy design that most effectively meets their individual needs. I differentiate my process by extending services beyond the strategy: including the tactics that ensure success. Past the initial project phase, I am available for implementation partnering with an institution’s team, inclusive of agents, pathway providers, and other stakeholders.
Whether entering the international market for the first time, or working to diversify a longstanding recruitment plan, I will help you identify markets that best fit your institution’s offerings and requirements or build new programs that meet market demand. My focus is on higher education and understanding the need for a sound, sustainable business model built on sound business theory.
My
approach to client engagement can be broken down into a three-step process:
Discovery, Strategy Design, and Implementation.
Services
Creating long-term value for an institution, whether for-profit or not-for-profit, requires an acute understanding of the relationships between clients, customers, and markets. There is no one-size-fits-all approach to business development, so I work alongside clients to understand their specific assets and build tailor-made strategies that equip them with the tools for success.
Karl Rutter understands how to navigate through the maze of opportunities to find the right ones for clients, based on decades of experience. Business development opportunities may present themselves in a variety of forms, including partnerships with for-profit institutions or international companies, launching new programs, and/or adding value to current programs. My goal is to use a variety of tactics to create the right business development strategy that is unique to your institution.
Although an all-encompassing, across-the-board marketing approach may seem to save on time and expenses, I believe there is a better approach to our complex, interconnected world. The US higher education market is extremely varied; colleges and universities need to identify a unique value proposition and marketing plan. I take a more creative, unique approach to marketing, using a combination of tactics to achieve our goals.
I work with client’s end goal in mind, building out unique strategies and tactics based on institutions’ assets. Marketing plans are often based on a combination of traditional and digital tactics, depending on the goal. I find low-cost, high-impact options for schools. To create your digital footprint, we align with partners such as Studio 23 on your campaign, enhancing the student experience through beautiful website design and unique microsites. I look to build traffic, boosting search engine optimization (SEO) and customer relationship management (CRM). As a boutique agency, I can assemble the best mix to achieve clients’ goals in the most cost-effective manner.
Partnerships can evolve in many different ways, including universities looking for foreign schools for non-monetary bilateral agreements or companies hoping to invest in a program or bridging academic programs. An institution must understand the strategic necessity for the partnership and to succeed in the international market cultural values and expectations need to be aligned appropriately.
I can help to foster the right kind of collaboration and structure with your new partnerships. Historically, colleges and universities have legacy institutional partners developed organically and built on relationships. This situation may have been appropriate during a build-up stage. However, in today’s inter-connected world, more time and emphasis needs to be placed on strategic partnerships that align with a college’s or university’s goals; partnership portfolios need to be geographically balanced and have variety to limit risk. I have developed a broad variety of partnership types through a broad geographic scope, which helps minimize risk.
Past Partners with US Institutions have included: Copenhagen Business School; École Polytechnique; EDHEC Business School; Grenoble École de Management (GEM); Norwegian School of Economics (NHH); Science Po Paris; Universidad CEU; San Pablo; University Cattolica del Sacro Core; University of Lausanne; University of Liechtenstein; University Paris I; Panthéon-Sorbonne
South America: Insper; The Pontifical Catholic University of Chile; Tecnológico de Monterrey
Asia: Harbin Institute of Technology; Renmin University; Sichuan University; Xi’an Jiaotong University
Whether it is an enhancement of an existing program or building a program completely from scratch, my experience is in finding additional streams of revenue through program development, both in the domestic and international markets. With years of experience working exclusively within higher education on new program development, I understand the issues and concerns for colleges and universities. I have a broad range of experience, with special familiarity in launching non-degree programs that add value to a school’s mission and drive revenue.
Karl Rutter Consulting LLC is especially creative when it comes to program development, deriving inspiration from experience the for-profit world to ensure that new programs are built on sound business practices appropriate for non-profit institutions. Understanding business theory allows me to construct programs that satisfy clients’ goals and give the best possible experience to students. I have worked with programs for pre-college, summer, international students, and non-credit coursework. I have also found new forms of revenue to help offset the cost of the programs through creative problem solving and partnership development.
Higher education has become more competitive, with a greater diversity in program offers, locations, and platforms. Colleges and universities need to actively recruit students using a variety of recruitment tactics. I have been working specifically in recruitment for the past 15 years.
Whether it is diversifying your student base or looking for new students pursuing a master’s degree, I have worked with a variety of school programs to help build out their recruitment strategy using tactics that are appropriate to your brand. With in-depth knowledge across the international education industry, I work with clients on international recruitment plans and partnership strategies combining traditional and digital techniques. I understand the need for a balanced geographic mix and diversity of students. I can work with you to construct a program that is diverse, considering an all-inclusion approach that allows access for all.
Good strategy is the cornerstone of each engagement. Historically, there has been a more passive strategic approach allowing the market to drive enrollment. In today’s environment of razor-sharp budgets, competitive landscape, and fast-paced media, institutions need more than that. Research and experience enable us to develop solid strategy based on sound business theory, market demands, and research.
I specialize in building out the strategy for new initiatives, keeping in mind our clients’ school profile, student base, and ultimate goals. Whether that is a small private school with a religious affiliation or a large public institution in a rural community, I work to build out a strategy including reliable marketing tactics to meet these goals. I work with clients to establish assessments and markers and, if requested, continue our partnership through implementation to help ensure success.
International Experience
Karl Rutter Consulting LLC offers a variety of services for institutions outside the United States, including business development, marketing, program development, program office, and strategy.
Many institutions outside of the United States would like to see greater student mobility, both incoming and outgoing. The world has become more interdependent with the use of technology, necessitating the need for students to have a global experience to advance academically and professionally. These experiences can take many forms: internships, research assignments, study abroad, and/or even work abroad. With more than 30 years business experience within the international field, I have worked on a broad range of projects and bring this expertise to partners.
I take a collaborative approach with clients, treating them as partners in designing the strategy that most effectively meets their individual needs. I differentiate myself by extending services beyond the strategy: I also include the tactics for success. In most cases, I are available to stay on for implementation partnering with an institution’s team.
I work with client’s end goals in mind, building out unique strategies and tactics based on institutions’ strengths.
International SERVICES
Working within the global setting, there is a need to develop long-term value for an institution; whether for-profit or not-for-profit, it requires an acute understanding of the relationships between clients, customers, and markets. In the international scope, we need to add a layer of cultural reference. Culture plays a pivotal role within the dimensions of business development—having the right partner who can decipher these intricacies is of utmost importance.
I understand both the United States’ higher education market as well as the international market and can help navigate through the maze of opportunities to find the right one for clients.
The majority of universities outside the United States are public universities and have not had the need to market their schools or programs. The American higher education market is extremely varied in this respect, so having someone who understands these complexities is key in successful marketing campaigns.
I build comprehensive marketing plans with a combination of traditional and digital tactics, depending on the goal, and work to find low-cost, high-impact options that use many different tactics.
To create your digital footprint, I align with partners such as Studio 23 on your campaign, enhancing the student experience through beautiful website design and unique microsites. I look to build traffic, boosting search engine optimization (SEO) and customer relationship management (CRM). I can assemble the best mix to achieve clients’ goals in the most cost-effective manner.
Being culturally sensitive to partners means making sure that communication strategy is culturally appropriate. I can work with your written and digital communication strategy to ensure text is both grammatically correct and uses appropriate syntax. I’ll work with highly-skilled copy editors to ensure accuracy and appropriate tone.
Whether it is an enhancement of an existing program or building a program completely from scratch, I have experience in program development. I am especially creative when it comes to designing a new program, deriving inspiration from years of experience working with international students, both incoming and outgoing.
Having worked with thousands of incoming students from around the world, I understand all aspects of off-site program development, and look at risk management, overseas management, and the cultural and language differences. My experience extends to a wide variety of programs, from bilateral non-monetary exchange agreements to fee-based programs.
I can develop a series of courses in the business area that could be the cornerstone of your programming in the United Sates or integrate topics into your current program. Other services include:
- Pre-departure orientations
- Helping students overcome culture shock
- In-country orientations
- Culturally appropriate business soft skills courses, focusing on communications, negotiations, and business customs
Located in New York, I have ties to the business community and can arrange company visits and guest lectures. I partner with industry experts to help students build their knowledge of what it’s like to work in the United States, including cultural and business customs. For the subtleties of business culture, I work with experts in the field of image consulting, including Carol Davidson, on topics including “Dress for Success,” “Understanding American Business Casual,” and “Etiquette and Protocol for Professional Presence.”
Establishing an office abroad takes a great deal of expertise and resources; I can help with this undertaking. I work with clients to understand what type of services they require and help decide on the most cost-effective solution to launch an off-site office; examples include program offerings, research opportunities, and event management.
Large projects may require universities to open physical offices that are staffed by local employees. I offer program solutions, working to set up the space, write job descriptions, and hire staff. The design and structure of the program office would be based on clients’ needs and goals.
Other services provided include:
- Alumni engagement, maintaining relations with former students in the United States
- Alumni events, arranging and promoting activities and events in New York
- Assisting in faculty mobility and research opportunities
- Creating and maintaining events and study tours in New York
Good strategy is the cornerstone of each of engagements. Historically, there has been a more passive strategic approach allowing the market to drive enrollment. In today’s environment of razor-sharp budgets, competitive landscape, and fast-paced media, institutions need more than that. Research and experience enable me to develop solid strategy based on sound business theory, market demands and research.
I specialize in building out the strategy for new initiatives, keeping in mind our clients’ school profile, student base, and ultimate goals. Whether that is a small private school with a religious affiliation or a large public institution in a rural community, I build out a strategy including reliable marketing tactics to meet these goals. I work with our clients to establish assessments and markers and, if requested, continue our partnership through implementation to help ensure success.
Karl Rutter Consulting LLC has the experience working and delivering success in higher education in both Ivy League schools and self-funded, tuition-driven schools.
