Northampton University is supporting its diverse prospective students to easily navigate the UCAS applicant process. By integrating Recite Me’s Assistive Toolbar into its website, the university has enhanced accessibility. In just one month, pages viewed using the Recite Me toolbar on the Northampton University website increased by 45.5% coinciding with the UCAS application deadline.
Supporting Students When Making the Biggest Decision of Their Lives
Choosing and applying to university is a pivotal moment in any student’s life. For many, this process can feel overwhelming, especially when faced with digital barriers. Recognising this, Northampton University prioritises an inclusive online experience to ensure that all applicants, regardless of their needs, can confidently navigate their journey to higher education.
For Northampton University, diversity and inclusion are more than just values, they help to establish a positive and inclusive environment among students.
“The University’s website is our ‘window to the world’ where members of the public can find out about our events and research and budding students preparing to make what could be the biggest decision of their lives can see all we offer them. Ensuring our website is easy to navigate and accessible to all is always a high priority for us.”
James Seymour, Director of Marketing and Student Recruitment, Northampton University
Building an Inclusive Online Experience for Students with the Recite Me Toolbar
To bring their vision to life, the university integrated the Recite Me Assistive Toolbar into its main website. The toolbar equips students with a range of features, including text-to-speech functionality, translations into over 100 languages, customisable text and colour settings, and reading aids. These enhancements help to build a positive and supportive relationship with students.
A recent Universities UK report revealed that 78% of UK graduates credit their university experience with helping them secure employment. This underscores the importance of clear, inclusive communication to support student success.
A Diverse Student Body and Increased Recite Me Usage
In just one month, pages viewed using the Recite Me toolbar on the Northampton website rapidly increased by 45.5%, coinciding with the UCAS application deadline.
In January alone, over 17,000 pages were viewed by over 4,500 website visitors using the Recite Me toolbar.
“Neurodiverse students bring a wealth of experiences, perspectives and opinions which can strengthen and broaden an institution.”
The adoption of Recite Me on our website enables more students to search and apply for our courses, find out university information and learn about student life here with ease. This results in a decline in students seeking accessibility support.”
Nadine Shambrook, Team Leader, Digital Development, Northampton University
Ready to Transform Your UCAS Process for Students?
Northampton Universities success shows how accessible technology can make a real difference in building a more diverse and welcoming university. By adding tools like Recite Me, your organisation can make UCAS applications easier for students.
Interested in making your university website more inclusive? Reach out to Recite Me today to find out how we can support you in creating an environment where all students feel valued and included.
Make sure to attend a Northampton University ‘Discovery Day’ to learn more about the university, courses and all it has to offer!
