Improving the international student experience
Category
UX Case Study
Year
2024
Improving the international student experience
Category
UX Case Study
Year
2024
About this Project
We wanted to help every international Humber College student transition smoothly to Canada.
We started this project with the intention of redesigning our College Campus Compass app. However, after conducting our research, we identified a much bigger problem faced by Humber College students. Every year, many students leave their home countries and move to Canada to pursue higher education. We wanted to reduce the friction and challenges these students face during this transition period.
About this Project
We wanted to help every international Humber College student transition smoothly to Canada.
We started this project with the intention of redesigning our College Campus Compass app. However, after conducting our research, we identified a much bigger problem faced by Humber College students. Every year, many students leave their home countries and move to Canada to pursue higher education. We wanted to reduce the friction and challenges these students face during this transition period.
About this Project
We wanted to help every international Humber College student transition smoothly to Canada.
We started this project with the intention of redesigning our College Campus Compass app. However, after conducting our research, we identified a much bigger problem faced by Humber College students. Every year, many students leave their home countries and move to Canada to pursue higher education. We wanted to reduce the friction and challenges these students face during this transition period.
My Goal
Research and understand all the struggles and issues that international students face when coming to Canada for the first time, and try to address them by providing a reasonable solution.
Softwares Used
Figma
Photoshop
Google Form
My Role
UX Designer
My Goal
Research and understand all the struggles and issues that international students face when coming to Canada for the first time, and try to address them by providing a reasonable solution.
Softwares Used
Figma
Photoshop
Google Form
My Role
UX Designer
My Goal
Research and understand all the struggles and issues that international students face when coming to Canada for the first time, and try to address them by providing a reasonable solution.
Software Used
Figma
Photoshop
Google Form
My Role
UX Designer
Design Process
Research
Define
Design
Test
Re-design
Design Process
Research
Define
Design
Test
Re-design
Design Process
Research
Define
Design
Test
Re-design
Research
Research
Research
Research Type
In-person Interviews
We wanted to understand how students feel, so we decided to conduct in-person interviews, as they seemed the most effective way to get genuine, firsthand insights.
Online Survey
Since we also wanted some Quantitative data, we also did online survey with the help of Google Sheets
No. of Participants
5 in-person Interviews
7 online form
Research Type
In-person Interviews
We wanted to understand how students feel, so we decided to conduct in-person interviews, as they seemed the most effective way to get genuine, firsthand insights.
Online Survey
Since we also wanted some Quantitative data, we also did online survey with the help of Google Sheets
No. of Participants
5 in-person Interviews
7 online form
Research Type
In-person Interviews
We wanted to understand how students feel, so we decided to conduct in-person interviews, as they seemed the most effective way to get genuine, firsthand insights.
Online Survey
Since we also wanted some Quantitative data, we also did online survey with the help of Google Sheets
No. of Participants
5 in-person Interviews
7 online form
What we found
1
Only 20% of students found the Humber application process to be easy.
2
Few students requested some kind of chatbot or 24*7 help desk to answer their queries.
3
Some students have around 4-5 different Humber applications installed in their phone. (Been there! Done that!)
4
Half of our interviewees had difficulties with transportation.
5
Few students had difficulties in receiving information through email.
6
Students had difficulty in navigating through the college campus as the college campus was huge.
What we found
1
Only 20% of students found the Humber application process to be easy.
2
Few students requested some kind of chatbot or 24*7 help desk to answer their queries.
3
Some students have around 4-5 different Humber applications installed in their phone. (Been there! Done that!)
4
Half of our interviewees had difficulties with transportation.
5
Few students had difficulties in receiving information through email.
6
Students had difficulty in navigating through the college campus as the college campus was huge.
What we found
1
Only 20% of students found the Humber application process to be easy.
2
Few students requested some kind of chatbot or 24*7 help desk to answer their queries.
3
Some students have around 4-5 different Humber applications installed in their phone. (Been there! Done that!)
4
Half of our interviewees had difficulties with transportation.
5
Few students had difficulties in receiving information through email.
6
Students had difficulty in navigating through the college campus as the college campus was huge.
Some users said
"To start off with, leaving home and family behind was a little tough. Another thing is fitting into the lifestyle and the new culture might be difficult sometimes!"
"To start off with, leaving home and family behind was a little tough. Another thing is fitting into the lifestyle and the new culture might be difficult sometimes!"
“I found it difficult to figure out the weather, jobs and the culture was so different!”
“I found it difficult to figure out the weather, jobs and the culture was so different!”
“International students in the beginning are really shy and come from very different backgrounds, if someone could communicate better with them and make them feel comfortable then maybe being away from home and having to face a set of extremely new challenges alone in a new country could get a bit easier.”
“International students in the beginning are really shy and come from very different backgrounds, if someone could communicate better with them and make them feel comfortable then maybe being away from home and having to face a set of extremely new challenges alone in a new country could get a bit easier.”
“Tbh, didn't really get as much of guidance or information on academic or any other field as much as i had expected for an institution so huge, the only support yet has been previously passed out students or just students who are in the same boat, trying to make their way through academic sessions.”
“Tbh, didn't really get as much of guidance or information on academic or any other field as much as i had expected for an institution so huge, the only support yet has been previously passed out students or just students who are in the same boat, trying to make their way through academic sessions.”
“An active Chatbot which is available for 24*7 to resolve all queries would be helpful.”
“An active Chatbot which is available for 24*7 to resolve all queries would be helpful.”
Define & Ideate
Define & Ideate
User Persona
After completing my reasearch, we created a User persona that reflect all the key learnings from our reasearch.
Empathy Map
We also created an Emapathy map for our user persona, to understand the kind of emotions one may feel during journey.
Map Summary - Students constantly think about how they will figure things out in a country that's alien to them, which makes them feel scared, lost, frustrated, etc. They complain about everything being so different and about missing their home and food. After feeling overwhelmed by everything, they search on Google figure things out or try to socialize as much as possible.
User Journey
Ideation
After learning everything students go through, we decided to address the issues we could with the help of an Application. Here's an image of the ideation we did to solve some of the problems
After learning everything students go through, we decided to address the issues we could with the help of an Application. Here's an image of the ideation we did to solve some of the problems
User Flow
Sketches
Sketches
First draft
Mid-Fi Wireframes
Mid-Fi Wireframes
Home Screen
Home Screen
1
Student ID
One big problem for Humber College students was that they had to download separate third-party applications to access their ID cards. So, we thought of eliminating this requirement completely and making the ID accessible within the same application.
One big problem for Humber College students was that they had to download separate third-party applications to access their ID cards. So, we thought of eliminating this requirement completely and making the ID accessible within the same application.
2
Progress tracker
Whenever a student comes to a new country, there are a set of things they are supposed to get done without fail. Students usually face a lack of information while getting these things done. This is where this app can help all these students keep track of all these things and also educate them more about the respective topics.
Whenever a student comes to a new country, there are a set of things they are supposed to get done without fail. Students usually face a lack of information while getting these things done. This is where this app can help all these students keep track of all these things and also educate them more about the respective topics.
3
Education content
We also thought of including a section with educational content like videos, blogs, etc., specifically for students regarding Canada. For example, this section could contain information on navigating public transportation in Canada, including its etiquette, or tips on preparing for the country's diverse weather conditions.
We also thought of including a section with educational content like videos, blogs, etc., specifically for students regarding Canada. For example, this section could contain information on navigating public transportation in Canada, including its etiquette, or tips on preparing for the country's diverse weather conditions.
ID Card
ID Card
1
Student Details
2
Library Code
3
Health Insurance Card
Currently, student always find it difficult to get access of their Medical Insurance card. Adding it in the application will make it more accessible to the students.
Currently, student always find it difficult to get access of their Medical Insurance card. Adding it in the application will make it more accessible to the students.
Connection page
Connection page
1
Discover new friends
Students can also find and collaborate with new friends in this application. They don’t have to rely on external services like LinkedIn or Facebook and spend hours searching for the right type of contact.
Students can also find and collaborate with new friends in this application. They don’t have to rely on external services like LinkedIn or Facebook and spend hours searching for the right type of contact.
2
Filters
Students can filter the type of contact that they want to create. They can filter connections according to country, course, campus, etc
Students can filter the type of contact that they want to create. They can filter connections according to country, course, campus, etc
Campus Map
Campus Map
1
Easy navigation through campus
For those students who have difficulty navigating the college campus, this maps page can help them locate classrooms and other areas easily.
For those students who have difficulty navigating the college campus, this maps page can help them locate classrooms and other areas easily.
2
Location list
Students can also access the list view to select a specific place they want to visit.
Students can also access the list view to select a specific place they want to visit.
Events
Events
1
Event list
Students can also access a list of all upcoming events and seminars conducted by Humber College. These seminars are very useful for students, providing a lot of relevant information. This feature allows students to keep track of all events and register for the ones they're interested in.
Students can also access a list of all upcoming events and seminars conducted by Humber College. These seminars are very useful for students, providing a lot of relevant information. This feature allows students to keep track of all events and register for the ones they're interested in.
2
Month wise view
Students can switch between different months to check all the upcoming events.
Students can switch between different months to check all the upcoming events.
3
Never miss any event
Students can register themselves to certain events so that they don’t miss out on anything.
Students can register themselves to certain events so that they don’t miss out on anything.
Final Design
Please expand the prototype window before using it.
Final Design
Final Design
