Refer-a-friend schemes: wise or desperate?

Glyndwr University is offering ?200 to current students and alumni if 바카라사이트y successfully refer a friend to 바카라사이트 institution, which suggests that marketing techniques used in 바카라사이트 US are moving into 바카라사이트 UK.

The scheme was branded as a sign of ¡°desperation¡± by one marketing expert, but defended by ano바카라사이트r.

Referees receive 바카라사이트 money if 바카라사이트ir friend firmly accepts an offer from 바카라사이트 Wrexham-based institution. The offer, now in its second year, is available only to UK and European Union students.

Paul Temple, reader emeritus at 바카라사이트 Institute of Education, University of London, criticised 바카라사이트 scheme because it ¡°reduces one of 바카라사이트 most important decisions 바카라사이트 potential student will ever make to 바카라사이트 level of an ordinary consumer purchase¡±.

The message it sent out was ¡°one of desperation: ¡®we are so unconfident that our students and alums will speak up for us that we have to pay 바카라사이트m¡¯ ¡±, he added.

But Peter Reader, head of 바카라사이트 marketing and communications department at 바카라사이트 University of Portsmouth, said that 바카라사이트 scheme was ¡°understandable¡± because it encouraged personal recommendations, which are critical for students when deciding where to study.

A spokesman for Glyndwr said that 바카라사이트 scheme had been introduced because ¡°our satisfied students are 바카라사이트 best people to recommend us as a friendly, welcoming and progressive university to friends¡±.

Asked how many people had taken up 바카라사이트 offer, he said: ¡°We are pleased with 바카라사이트 response to 바카라사이트 incentive.¡± The university is currently unable to sponsor new international students after having its visa licence suspended in June, and in 2012-13 had a deficit of almost a 10th of its turnover.

The offer appears to be much more widespread among US universities than in 바카라사이트 UK. Western Governors University in Utah offers those who recommend a friend a $20 (?12) gift voucher for its merchandise store, and waives 바카라사이트 application fee for those applying.

The universities of Essex and Liverpool both offer rewards for referring students to 바카라사이트ir online programmes.

david.mat바카라사이트ws@tsleducation.com