Most Successful Digital Initiative
In our ever-changing world, organisations must stay up to date on developments and trends in the digital arena. Digital platforms were our first line of defense in a COVID changed world, keeping our organisations connected and engaged with our student cohorts, staff members, and campus communities.
Every business is different and faces unique digital challenges that require specific goals and objectives to meet desired outcomes. There isn’t a cookie-cutter approach for building the perfect digital game plan however there are key components that point to an excellent initiative.
An excellent Digital Initiative comprises ease of user functionality, strong user engagement, and clever, user-centric design. It will showcase adaptability in evaluating and determining the right technology, choosing market trends, practices, and content tools that support creativity, consistency, and the outcomes the initiative is aiming for. It will consider device application, location, and preferences of the target user and present agile, relevant content that also supports a clear brand identity and strong brand experience.
Ultimately it will create a memorable user experience that converts your digital goals into your desired outcomes. It will also need to showcase keeping students and campus communities supported and connected.
This award celebrates excellence in Digital Initiatives delivered by a SEN member organisation in 2022/23.
Examples can include but are not limited to: campus tour videos, digital signage, educational support programs, new apps, new or upgraded websites, podcasts, social media campaigns, webinars, etc.
The Jury will be looking for entries that demonstrate excellence in the following:
- Astute recognition of the need for the Initiative
- Adaptability to the changing market
- Tangible and measurable goals and objectives
- Evidence of strong strategic planning
- Creative designs and techniques used to deliver your desired outcomes
- Effective use of resources (teams, funds, assets, digital tools)
- Inclusivity, diversity, compliance with accessibility standards, and environmental considerations
- The quality of the Initiative, its functionality, and user-centric design
- Engagement and experience factors
- Evidence of success and positive impacts with measurable results
- Innovation, leadership, and recognition* (applies to ‘Best of the Year’ submissions only).
Award Submission Criteria
Submissions need to address each of the following criteria:
- Name of organisation
- Organisation logo
- Name and contact details of the person completing the submission
- Full-time student load (total student enrolments)
- Name of Initiative
This category of the SEN Awards has two levels of recognition – ‘Award of Distinction’ and ‘Best of the Year’.
For your submission to be considered for an ‘Award of Distinction’ you will be required to complete the first 3 sets of criteria PLUS provide supporting evidence.
For your submission to be considered for the ‘Best of the Year’ Award you will be required to complete all of the ‘Award of Distinction’ requirements, PLUS the additional Innovation and Leadership criteria.
Tell us the WHY of your Initiative.
- What was the reason for the initiative?
- What were you aiming for and why?
- What were the goals and objectives you were hoping to achieve?
Tell us the HOW of your Initiative.
- What key strategies were identified and used to deliver on the goals and objectives of your initiative?
- What creative techniques, digital tools and effective use of resources were applied.
- Was there student input and if so in what capacity? Did you engage with any external partnerships and if so, what was their input?
- What communications and marketing strategies did you use to promote your Initiative?
- How did you ensure your initiative was inclusive, compliant with accessibility standards, and responsible? Please reference details such as diversity, inclusivity, accessibility to content/WGAC guidelines used, use of social/local partners or suppliers, ethical/environmental or sustainable hardware/servers, etc.
https://www.accessibility.org.au/guides/what-is-the-wcag-standard/
https://www.visionaustralia.org/services/digital-access
EVIDENCE OF SUCCESS
- What was the outcome of your initiative?
- Which of your goals and objectives did you achieve?
- What were the overall engagement and experience outcomes of the initiative on students and/or the campus community?
- How have you determined the initiative’s success?
- What were the tangible and measurable positive impacts for your organisation and students?
This section may be used to support your submission by providing evidence of your claims, it is not a substitute or an additional opportunity for answering the criteria in your submission.
The quality of your supporting documents will be measured against the rubric.
Relevant examples will include documentation that adds value and validation to your submission which could include links to:
- Before and after comparative data (quantitative & qualitative)
- Hero photos that capture the success of the initiative
- Initiative website page or platform
- Initiative social media posts
- Initiative video files
- Initiative PR or media
- Storyboards
- Feedback forms
- Written articles
- Evidence of innovation, leadership, and formal recognition* (applies to ‘Best of the Year’ submissions only)
You can collate supporting documents into a word doc to minimise the number of your uploads.
To progress your submission for consideration at the ‘Best of the Year’ level, you will be required to complete the following criteria.
- What was innovative about your digital initiative?
- What stands out about this initiative from other digital initiatives you have done before?
- What did you incorporate, and how was it coordinated or promoted in a completely innovative and different manner from any other Digital Initiatives you have created or seen before?
- How does this initiative showcase meaningful and significant leadership outcomes for your organisation, the student experience at your campus, and/or within the sector?
- How has this initiative gone over and above in addressing and delivering on an identified need within your organisation?
- How is the initiative replicable and are you offering support for its development at other organisations?
- How is it positively influencing other organisations in the sector?
- Have you received official recognition for your initiative within your own organisation, within the sector, or broader industry fields?
Each category has a rubric that will be used as a scoring guide by the Awards Jury Panel against criteria responses in your submission.
Please note:
- Criteria Responses that are a direct copy and paste from previous criteria fields in the same category submission will be marked as Basic.
- Submissions that do not provide supporting evidence of the stated claims will be marked as Basic.
- In the event of multiple applications achieving equal scores, the award decision is at the discretion of the Awards Jury Panel.
- In order to be eligible to win ‘Best of the Year’, your application will need to achieve a score of at least 13 out of 15.
- Applications submitting for ‘Best of the Year’ that do not meet the higher score ranking required to win can also be considered for an ‘Award of Distinction’ at the judge’s discretion.
Category-specific rubrics will be available to download on the submission page of each category.
Click HERE to see an example.