1. Marketing

Gen Z spends over four hours on social media every day (Morning Consult, 2022). If your RTO isn’t leveraging these platforms yet, now is the time to start.

Gen Z audiences were born into a world of content overload; they’re used to having a high frequency of information thrown in their face. To make sure your message cuts through, condense what you’re trying to say. Optimise for scannability—most Zoomers don’t read their emails, they skim them.

2. Enrolment

For Generation Z, reviews matter above all else. They trust the advice of their peers and will use the comments of others to shape their opinion of a training provider. To turn a prospect into a student, remember that praise from past students will be more impactful than praising yourself.

Zoomers have short attention spans and are prone to skimming content. Make sure you provide important information like fee terms and conditions in easily digestible forms. And make sure this information is provided before the point of purchase, as ASQA finds that this is where many RTOs fall short.

3. Support

Gen Z was raised in a more sheltered environment than their parents, growing up with baby-on-board stickers and rarely being left unsupervised.

They’re accustomed to being central to their parents’ lives and having the adults around them show great interest. Gen Z brings this expectation to their studies, wanting trainers to show the same interest in them. It’s important to them that they feel a personal connection with their facilitators; it helps young students recognise that they’re being supported.

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4. Training and Assessment

Gen Z has always had Google there to give them the answers they need. For them, trainers aren’t there to supply information, but to help them apply it. Young students rely on teachers to give context to information, helping them connect learnings with relevancy.

When it comes to the ideal classroom culture, Gen Z are specific about their perfect learning space: an informal, laid-back environment with plenty of practical experiences is their dream. Zoomers would much prefer to be active in problem-solving than passively listening to information, so give them plenty of opportunities to apply themselves in a judgement-free environment.

5. Completion

Use the completion stage to nurture young graduates and see it as a prime opportunity to turn Gen Z into brand loyalists. Whether it’s an exclusive alumni benefits group or an industry networking society, use it as a way to cement brand trust. This will open up opportunities for your RTO to leverage loyal past students as advocates for your training.

Part of their nurtured youth makes Gen Z want to be special. When they graduate, use this as an opportunity to make them feel remarkable. Send a congratulatory email when they complete their studies—they’ll feel supported and cherished, and be much more likely to pursue another course or recommend your RTO to others.