In the post-pandemic globalized world, meeting the needs of a diverse student population and promoting international enrollment is challenging for higher education institutions. As the first structured encounter for students with their potential educational institutions, college websites play a key role in shaping perceptions and influencing enrollment decisions. It acts like a digital front door of an institution, representing its values, culture, and offerings.

To ensure the success of this touchpoint and convert website visitors into students, universities need a robust website platform that can drive engagement, organize creative content at a scale, and provide seamless experiences for users worldwide. To navigate these challenges successfully, a powerful and flexible Content Management System (CMS) is key.

Drupal, an open-source CMS known for its adaptability, flexibility, and scalability, offers higher education institutions the tools they need to drive student engagement with a high-performing website, streamline content management, and deliver seamless on-site experiences, even with a small team. In fact, 71% of the top 100 universities use Drupal, including MIT, the University of Oxford, Stanford, and every Ivy League school.

In this article, we'll look at the wide range of features and benefits that Drupal offers, specifically designed to meet the needs of educational institutions.

Why Drupal is the ideal CMS for higher-educational institutions

• Personalized student engagement

Drupal's user-centric approach allows higher education institutions to create personalized experiences for students. By seamlessly integrating it with the CRM and utilizing user profiles and data analytics, universities can offer tailored content, academic resources, and event updates based on the users’ search history. Interactive forums and real-time chat features facilitate communication between students and faculty, all of which can be accomplished by building websites on Drupal CMS.

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• Streamlined application processing

The application process is a crucial phase for students, and providing efficient support during this stage significantly impacts enrollment rates. Drupal's adaptability allows institutions to integrate application portals, chat support, and FAQs to address common inquiries and streamline the application process. With Drupal's data analytics, universities can identify and resolve bottlenecks, leading to a more efficient and supportive application experience for prospective students.



• Seamless digital experiences

Delivering a seamless on-site experience is a necessity for attracting and retaining prospective students, especially to capitalize on the growing demand for E-learning. Drupal's focus on website speed optimization for quick page load times, mobile responsiveness, and intuitive navigation ensures that users have a positive and engaging experience, regardless of their device. With website performance optimization, universities can increase user retention, lower bounce rates, and ensure that students get the contextual information they are looking for.

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• Interactive virtual reality experiences

Studying abroad and international exchange programs are growing trends in higher education. Drupal's integration capabilities enable universities to incorporate interactive features such as virtual campus tours, multimedia resources, and interactive maps. Through these VR experiences, universities can leave a lasting impression by empowering students to explore the campus and the world of opportunities offered by the institution.



• Efficient content management

Higher education institutions generate a wealth of creative content, including research publications, student projects, and campus news. Organizing this content at scale can be challenging, but Drupal's content management system provides a seamless solution. With intuitive taxonomy and categorization features, universities can effectively organize their content, making it easily accessible to users. This approach not only enhances the website's user experience but also elevates the institution's brand and academic reputation.



• Accessibility for all

In an interconnected world, universities are seeking to attract students from diverse backgrounds. With Drupal's internationalization features like multilingual support and localization capabilities, institutions can effectively communicate with prospective students in their native languages. It also adheres to Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), ensuring that the website is accessible to users with differently abled individuals, creating an inclusive digital environment. This not only widens the global reach of the university but also fosters a sense of belonging for international students through their educational journey.



• Multi-site management

Most universities consist of multiple faculties, departments, and research centers, each with unique requirements for their web presence. Drupal's multi-site management capabilities streamline website administration and maintenance efforts. By hosting multiple sites on a single platform, universities can maintain consistent branding and user experience across all sections while enabling individual departments to manage their content independently. This approach fosters a cohesive digital identity for the entire institution.



• Search engine optimization

Drupal's well-structured and clean codebase ensures that search engines can easily crawl and index the website's content. Features such as XML sitemaps, meta tag management, canonical URLs, and SEO-friendly URL contribute to higher rankings in search results, making it more likely for potential students to discover the institution when searching for relevant programs or information, boosting student enrollment and engagement.

Learn more about optimizing your higher education website with Drupal.



• Scalable and secure website

As higher ed institutions expand, their website needs to keep pace. Drupal offers excellent scalability, allowing websites to handle increased traffic and content without compromising performance. With its flexible architecture, institutions can easily personalize its functionalities and expand their website as their needs evolve, while safeguarding their valuable data and user information. Drupal's reputation is built on its robust security features and proactive community, ensuring regular updates and patches to protect against potential threats.

These powerful capabilities of Drupal make it an ideal choice to deliver exceptional web experiences. By focusing on student-centric features, supporting faculty and staff, engaging alumni, promoting accessibility, and ensuring scalability, Drupal creates an inclusive and dynamic online environment for higher education. This fosters a sense of belonging and engagement, ultimately contributing to a thriving educational experience.

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Altudo's specialized Drupal services

At Altudo, we understand that every higher education institution is unique, and their website demands tailored solutions. Our specialized Drupal services are designed to address the specific needs of higher ed institutions and help them make the most of the Drupal platform.

• Custom website development services: Our expert Drupal developers work closely with institutions to build custom websites that align with their brand identity, goals, and user experience requirements.


• Drupal performance optimization services: We enhance the efficiency and functionality of your website such as optimizing navigation, streamlining content presentation, improving visibility in search engines, resulting in increased organic traffic and higher conversion rates.


• Website speed optimization services: We help you get a faster, more responsive website that will ultimately lead to improved user satisfaction and higher search engine rankings.


• Mobile optimization services: With the increasing use of mobile devices, having a mobile-responsive website is crucial. Our Drupal services ensure that your website is fully optimized, providing a seamless experience to users on any screen size.


• Integration solutions: We integrate Drupal websites with various third-party systems, including CRMs, student information systems, and learning management systems, enabling higher education institutions to streamline their operations and improve efficiency.


• WordPress to Drupal migration services: As a leader in Drupal migration services, Altudo has successfully executed numerous WordPress to Drupal migration projects. Our expert team follows a structured approach, meticulously planning each step to ensure a smooth and error-free migration, with minimal downtime and optimized website performance.

If you want to learn how your higher education institute can meet millennials' and gen Z’s education needs, schedule a no-obligation 1:1 consultation with us today!