Meet Gregory van Buskirk

To discover how Goin’ supported TUS we got together with Gregory van Buskirk to how things really were goin’!

“I am the Global Student Experience Officer here in Technological University of the Shannon or TUS in Ireland. We have campuses in the Midwest of Ireland as well as the Midlands. I'm stationed here in the wonderful city of Limerick.”

The Challenges TUS Faced

The Technological University of the Shannon (TUS), a multi-campus university spanning Ireland’s Midlands and Midwest regions, was grappling with a number of challenges that made it difficult to engage students effectively. The first was communication. Email had become an outdated method of reaching students, especially with the younger generation increasingly accustomed to the immediacy of social media.

The second challenge was the lack of pre-arrival support and connection for incoming students, particularly international ones. Many students found it daunting to prepare for their transition to Ireland, often feeling disconnected from their friends and uncertain about practical matters like accommodation and campus life.

Additionally, with multiple campuses across Ireland, nurturing a sense of community across locations was proving difficult. TUS wanted to create a stronger, unified campus culture that reflected the university’s values of inclusivity and belonging.

Gregory sums it up: “We wanted to streamline our communication to the students, getting them the information that is accurate and quick directly to them and to the masses as a whole. Email is not doing the trick at all. Everyone across higher education knows this.” 

“The role of Global Student Experience Officer came out of the need for more investment in the community-building of our students.”

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Finding the Perfect Solution with Goin’

When TUS began its search for a solution, they were determined to find a platform that was intuitive, engaging, and tailored to the needs of higher education. Goin’ quickly emerged as the clear choice.

“We found Goin’ to be the most similar to the social media type of platform but we liked that it was very student centered and that would be a great way for us to communicate to the students.”

“We also noticed that the student aspect of it was going to help us build the community and the connectivity that we've been striving to build in TUS.”

“Students can tailor their profiles, connect with others from the same program or country, or even start meeting people from all around the world,” Greg noted. “It made building connections easier rather than feeling like just another thing students had to learn.”

Goin’s student-centered approach made it particularly appealing. Students could create profiles that reflected their interests, find like-minded peers, and join groups that aligned with their passions or backgrounds.

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Implementing Goin’ at TUS

The implementation process was remarkably smooth. Goin’ worked closely with TUS to design a customised community platform, tailored to the university’s specific needs. Mass invitations were sent out to accepted students, and the response was overwhelmingly positive.

“It was a zero-effort solution,” Greg recalls. “We sent out the invites, and before we knew it, hundreds of students were on the app, eager to connect.”

Staff and ambassadors played an active role during the rollout, answering questions and engaging students on the platform. This approach helped students get answers to their questions quickly and effectively while also building a sense of trust with the university.

“We might be answering one student’s question,” Greg explained, “but if it’s in a group chat of 200 students, now 200 students have seen that information. It saved us from having to answer the same question over and over again.”

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Results: A Stronger, More Connected Student Community

The impact of Goin’ on the TUS community was immediate and profound. Students arriving on campus were not only more prepared but also more excited. 98% of the students expresses Goin’ maked them more excited about starting their studies Generating over 25,000 connections in their previous cycle.

“When students arrived in August and September, they already knew me, the ambassadors, and their classmates,” Greg shared. “It really contributed to the campus culture we’re building.”

Goin’ also helped TUS address it’s approach to improving conversion rates. By giving students direct access to ambassadors and staff, the platform eased practical concerns such as finding accommodation and understanding what life in Ireland would be like. With that, the community revealed that 85.7% of house seekers expresses that Goin' has helped them in their house seeking experience.

“Students know they can come to us with any questions—big or small—and they’re going to get the best information possible in a quick and friendly way,” Greg said.

Beyond individual engagement, Goin’ created a larger culture of community. Students felt empowered to take ownership of the platform, with many stepping up to become champions themselves. “A student helped me and was really friendly, so now I want to do the same for others,” Greg explained.

The platform also strengthened cross-campus connections, an unexpected but welcome benefit. Students from different locations began building friendships, creating a stronger sense of unity across TUS’s multiple campuses.

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The Future of Community Building at TUS

Looking ahead, TUS sees Goin’ as an integral part of its student engagement strategy. The platform has created a self-sustaining ecosystem where students are not just recipients of information but active participants in building their community.

As Greg reflects, “We started looking for a way to communicate with students, and what we got is a whole online community. It keeps bolstering the community we have now here in Ireland.”

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Learn more about the Community approach

Goin’ has revolutionized how TUS engages with its students, proving to be more than just a communication solution. It has enhanced pre-arrival excitement, streamlined communication, and empowered students to take an active role in building their community.

For institutions looking to strengthen their student engagement and create a sense of belonging, Goin’ is the platform that can support your student experience at your university. If your are curious to learn more about the impact made at other universities like TUS, schedule a meeting or fill out our form below today!