Social media has changed the way we connect, communicate and organize.
Seeing how many businesses and non-profit organizations have used social media to their advantage, Singapore Management University (SMU) is not going to just watch and do nothing!
Here are 4 ways the school and students are using social media:
1. Official SMU Facebook Page
This page was first run by a student but has now become the official SMU Facebook page. In just 3 months, the page has gathered more than 1,700 fans (the school is home to 7000 students.) Its updates include University admission news, student’s work and events announcements. The administrator also communicates like a student, making it easier to connect with him/her.
2. Co-Curriculum Activities (CCA)
Update: Check out SMU Chamber Choir on Facebook and Twitter.
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There are many CCAs in the school and they are mostly responsible for spamming my Email account. It is to the extent that more Emails get deleted than opened. So, why not use a Facebook page to gather like-minded people instead?
It doesn’t matter if you have 50 fans or 500 fans on your page, the only thing that matters is if they are interested in your content. SMUSAIC (our photography CCA) is doing particularly well. Kudos!
3. Buy/Sell Textbooks
We can do almost anything on Facebook: Buy a gift, stalk a person, or get into trouble. Naturally, for us students, buying/selling second hand textbooks can’t be left out. This innovative group of students turned the Facebook discussion board into a marketplace.
4. Learning
In Comm 215 Digital Media Across Asia class, students are encouraged to share their views and discoveries through Friendfeed discussion platform. What’s most impressive is the wiki that was built by current and past students of the class. The wiki is home to vital digital information of Asian countries, such as digital demographics and case studies; a one-stop website for online marketers.
This wiki is started by Prof Netzley.
Upcoming: Social Media CCA
Digiterati is an upcoming Social Media CCA founded by SMU student, Shitj Nigam. The objectives are thoughtfully planned out and I’m happy to be invited to join this initiative.
Check out the CCA objectives below:
1. Conducting multiple Social Media competitions to develop and hone students’ skills in the implementation of Social Media campaigns – To conduct various social media competitions, such as blogathons, social media case challenges, publicizing campaigns, awareness-creation competitions, competitions on social media analytics etc. so as to give the students a practical experience in competing at various levels of the medium.
2. Conducting seminars, talks etc. – Organizing enrichment seminars, lectures and industry talks pertaining to trends in the Internet and Social Media by actual speakers from the industry and teaching students on the how to engage in the next generation evolution of Web 2.0 products, not from simply an IT perspective, but more so from a business perspective, and to equip them with the right idea of what Social Media can and cannot do for a company.
3. Creating a single channel for the University to direct its entire Social Media marketing efforts – To establish a name for SMU in terms of its presence on Social Media by letting students handle its Social Media campaign(s). Many of the current Facebook campaigns are currently being run by SMU Students themselves and are in the process of being tapped into and formally utilized. Numerous other avenues can also be tapped upon in the short and the long run, and which will automatically provide students with the experience of designing and running a Social Media campaign independently
4. Conducting external Social Media campaigns for small and medium businesses, startups etc. – Giving the students a hands-on experience in running actual Social Media campaigns for businesses and startups
5. Internships – Creating a resource for students to find internships and jobs relating to Social Media, and in essence helping them gain an industry experience in working with Social Media on a much more practical level through these internships/jobs.
To SMU students: If you know any other ways that the SMU family is using social media, kindly share them with us!
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