Driving Higher Conversion in China for the University of Adelaide

The University of Adelaide partnered with Acumen in April 2025 to strengthen its applicant conversion results in China – a priority market with high competition and a rapidly evolving applicant journey. Over a six-month project, Acumen delivered targeted, in-language engagement through its PACE Conversion Services, helping the University connect more effectively with prospective students and offer holders.

The Challenge: Driving Stronger Conversion in a Competitive Market

The University sought to improve the way it engaged Chinese applicants at the crucial offer stage. To do this, it needed a locally informed, high-touch communication approach that would ensure timely responses, personalised guidance, and culturally attuned support throughout the admissions process.

The Solution: Personalised Mandarin-Led Support for Prospective Students

Acumen deployed its China-specific conversion capability, delivering direct outreach and communication in Mandarin.

Through close coordination between the PACE Conversion team – Anshuman Gautam and Divya Paulose – and our ANZ Directors Rebecca Bendall and Filiz Block, Acumen provided:

• Proactive, in-language follow-up with applicants 
• Clear and consistent communication across time zones 
• Real-time reporting and insight sharing with the University’s international recruitment team 
• Culturally aligned guidance to help students confidently progress to enrolment 

This integrated approach ensured that students received the support they needed, when they needed it.

The Results: Higher Engagement and Meaningful Conversion Impact

The initiative delivered strong engagement and measurable outcomes:

• 2,911 total applicants handled 
• 1,715 successful connections (63%) 
• 302 students expressing strong interest in Adelaide (18% of connections) 
• 43 deposits paid (13% of interested students) 

These results highlight the power of in-language communication, timely follow-up, and a seamless partnership between local and international teams.

What the University Says

Kristina Qiu, Regional Manager (China) at the University of Adelaide, shared her experience working with Acumen:

“Partnering with Acumen has been an outstanding experience. Their team is fast, responsible, and detail-oriented, always maintaining close communication across Australia, China, and global offices to ensure every issue is handled swiftly and professionally.

They bring together deep local expertise and a truly international mindset, making collaboration smooth and results-driven. We achieved stronger outcomes than expected, thanks to their responsiveness, professionalism, and genuine understanding of the student journey. Working with Acumen feels like having an extension of our own team—efficient, reliable, and committed to success. I look forward to continuing our productive and engaging partnership.”

A Proven Model for Conversion Success in China

This project reinforces the value of Acumen’s PACE Conversion Services in helping universities improve their enrolment outcomes in China. With in-language specialists, coordinated global support, and a focus on data-driven engagement, Acumen continues to help institutions convert interest into enrolment in one of the world’s most competitive student markets.