Swinburne University of Technology: Building a Next-Generation Student Support Ecosystem

At Swinburne University of Technology, they are driven by a commitment to provide students with a seamless, personalised experience that empowers them throughout their academic journey. But as student needs evolve and the scale of university cohorts expands, the challenge of maintaining personalised support grows. That’s where Vygo’s innovative student support platform comes in.

Empowering Student Connections at Scale

As universities look to create more meaningful and personalised experiences for their students, Swinburne has embraced Vygo’s student support ecosystem to enable peer-to-peer interactions and foster community building across disciplines. In today’s digital world, where students often feel disconnected or lost in large lecture halls, creating smaller, discipline-specific cohorts with Vygo has been instrumental in nurturing a sense of belonging and support.

"Vygo has allowed us to take large classes—sometimes up to 800 students—and use the platform to create smaller, engaged learning communities. This gives students a sense of connection, which is crucial in their first few weeks of university life," says Professor Laura-Anne Bull, Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Experience, and Employability at Swinburne.

Through Vygo’s platform, Swinburne has been able to support students by ensuring they have the networks, peers, and academic resources they need to succeed, long before they even set foot on campus. Whether it’s through academic mentoring, alumni engagement, or career advice, Vygo allows students to build critical connections that help them navigate their university life with confidence.

Building a Seamless Support Ecosystem

One of the key reasons Swinburne chose Vygo was its ability to integrate seamlessly with the university’s existing systems and workflows. The platform ensures smooth data flow between systems, enabling administrators to take advantage of detailed student insights and analytics. This level of integration provides the flexibility and scalability needed to support Swinburne's diverse student population.

"As we expand our student experience initiatives, Vygo allows us to take what worked well for smaller groups and scale it up to support 10,000 or even 20,000 students," shares Ian Thompson, Director of Student Experience at Swinburne. "This means that students can access everything they need in an intuitive, student-friendly way—whether it’s peer mentoring, study groups, or just finding a buddy for support."

Driving Engagement and Retention

Swinburne’s decision to partner with Vygo wasn’t just about improving student experience—it was about boosting student retention and success. One of the ongoing challenges for universities is keeping students engaged through the critical early weeks of their studies, when they are most likely to feel overwhelmed and drop out.

By using Vygo to foster early connections with peers and mentors, Swinburne is addressing this challenge head-on. The platform allows educators and administrators to proactively track student engagement and identify students at risk of falling behind. The analytics provide actionable insights that allow the university to target interventions where they’re needed most.

"Vygo gives us the tools to analyse patterns and intervene early. We can track which students are forming connections and which might be struggling, allowing us to direct them to the right support services at the right time," adds Professor Bull. "This level of personalisation is key to helping students not only stay in their courses but thrive in them."

The Future of Student Support

Swinburne’s vision for the future of student experience is one where every student feels supported, engaged, and connected. With Vygo, the university has built a next-generation student support ecosystem that’s truly tailored to the needs of each individual. From small, personalised study groups to wide-reaching mentorship programmes, the platform enables Swinburne to deliver on its promise of providing world-class support at scale.

The benefits of Vygo extend beyond just academic support. By creating a sense of community and belonging, Swinburne is ensuring that its students don’t just leave with degrees—they leave with lifelong connections and the confidence to succeed in life.

As Ian Thompson summarises, "Vygo has made it easy for us to create an environment where students can succeed academically and personally. It’s about more than just services; it’s about fostering a community where students feel they belong."

Disclaimer: Your institution may use alternate names for these systems, such as Student Management System or Student Information System.