Key Takeaways
- Students faced long wait times of over three hours at non-8×8-supported universities during A-level Clearing.
- In contrast, 8×8-supported institutions reported average call wait times of just six seconds.
- Clearing process efficiency is crucial for securing university placements, with places awarded on a first-come, first-served basis.
Navigating the A-level Clearing Process
As A-level results were released last Thursday, students in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland rushed to secure university placements through the Clearing process. Data from 8×8, Inc. indicates that many students faced significant delays, with some waits exceeding three hours on call lines.
Clearing is a vital opportunity for students without university spots or those reconsidering their course options. With over 22,000 undergraduate courses available, the process can be overwhelming, especially in the initial days when spots are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis. The demand quickly overwhelmed phone lines across the UK.
However, students contacting universities that use the 8×8 communication platform experienced a dramatically different situation. Notably, they enjoyed average wait times of just six seconds, with most calls resolved in under eight minutes.
Following the release of A-level exam results, data from university bodies revealed several key points:
– A significant portion of applicants faced hold times of three hours or more when reaching out to non-8×8-supported universities.
– The highest call volumes occurred on the day of the exam results.
– Universities utilizing 8×8’s services reported wait times of less than eight seconds, compared to non-8×8-support institutions that had average wait times exceeding 16 minutes.
Maxine Eunson, Head of Public Sector and Universities at 8×8, highlighted the impact of long wait times on both students and universities. “Clearing is high-stakes for students and universities alike, as every second on hold adds stress and the risk of losing a place or funding,” Eunson stated. She noted that while average handling times at non-8×8 universities exceeded ten minutes, the platform’s efficiency helps streamline communications and reduce anxiety for students navigating this crucial period.
The effectiveness of the Clearing process is of paramount importance for institutions concerned with lauding their resource management and maximizing student placements. 8×8’s technology seeks to remove chaos from the communication process, thereby enhancing clarity and operational efficiency for universities.
For further insights into how 8×8 assists educational institutions, detailed information can be found on their customer success page.
Founded with a focus on revolutionizing customer experience, 8×8, Inc. merges various communication solutions into a unified platform, ensuring clearer and more effective interactions within educational and other sectors. For more information, visit www.8×8.com or connect with 8×8 on LinkedIn, X, and Facebook.
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