It’s no secret that university life can be overwhelming. There are lectures, assignments, part-time jobs, and social pressures, among other things. In Ireland, the lack of student support has become a growing concern. Studies show that one in three Irish college students have seriously considered dropping out, often due to financial stress, personal challenges, or simply feeling unsupported in their academic journey. That’s a hard truth to ignore.
Whether it’s the absence of regular check-ins with lecturers, difficulty accessing support services or a general sense of disconnection, the message is clear: students need more than just a timetable and a student card.
Fortunately, with the right tools, universities can offer proactive, personalised support, making sure no student slips through the cracks. School Management Software (SMS) isn’t just for admin tasks anymore. It’s a vital part of the student experience, helping institutions track progress, communicate better, and connect students to the support they need.
We’ll explore seven practical ways universities can step up and how SMS can be a powerful ally in the process.
What Irish Students Are Saying
A survey done in Ireland in 2023 showed that more than half of the students say they never talk to academic staff about their career plans. For something as important as a future path, that kind of silence is hard to ignore.
Over two in five students say they’ve never discussed their academic performance with staff either. That’s a lot of missed opportunities for guidance and encouragement.
Even more concerning, over 40% of students feel that their institution offers only some to very little support to help them succeed. And half of all students feel that way about the overall support they receive.
These numbers reflect the real experiences of students who are quietly struggling. It’s clear that many feel left to their own devices, without the academic or emotional support they need. This isn’t a minor issue. It’s a signal that change is urgently needed.
1. Strengthen Academic Advising Programmes
When over 40% report they’ve never discussed progress with a member of staff, it signals more than a communication issue—it points to a structural gap in student support.Ir
To address this, academic advising needs to move from reactive to proactive. That means embedding regular check-ins, clear intervention points, and a consistent advising framework across departments.
School Management Software provides performance tracking tools, allowing staff to identify early signs of disengagement or academic struggle. Automated alerts highlight at-risk students before they fall behind. Built-in scheduling tools make it easy to coordinate one-on-one sessions, while communication features keep everyone in the loop.
The goal isn’t to add more admin; it’s to use the tools available to create a more responsive, supportive academic environment. When advising is structured and data-informed, it stops being optional and becomes part of how student success is sustained.
2. Improve Career Guidance and Planning
Career conversations shouldn’t be an afterthought. Yet over half of Irish students say they’ve never spoken to academic staff about their career plans.
To change that, career support needs to be more than a drop-in session during final year. It should be integrated into the entire student journey, with access to mentors, career advisors, and personalised planning tools from day one.
A well-designed School Management System can help make this a reality. Universities can bring career services, internship listings, and CV resources together on a single platform, making it easy for students to find what they need. Staff can map out customised pathways based on student profiles, interests, and academic progress. Built-in scheduling features allow students to book one-on-one sessions with advisors without the hassle of back-and-forth emails.
3. Boost Communication Between Staff and Students
When students feel disconnected, it’s often because communication has broken down—or never really started. A lack of regular interaction with staff can lead to confusion, isolation, and a sense that no one is listening.
Improving communication doesn’t mean overloading inboxes. It means creating a culture where students know who to contact, how to reach them, and what kind of support they can expect.
A SMS can support this shift in several practical ways:
- Integrated messaging tools allow staff to reach students quickly and directly.
- Mobile app notifications ensure students receive important updates on time, wherever they are.
- Automated reminders for deadlines, meetings, or feedback help keep students on track.
- Two-way communication features give students a simple, structured way to ask questions and share concerns.
4. Offer Personalised Academic Support
Not every student thrives in the same environment. Some need more structure, others benefit from flexibility.
Irish universities that take a personalised approach to academic support can catch issues early, offer timely interventions, and create a learning experience that truly meets students where they are. It’s not about offering dozens of separate services. It’s about using data and tools to understand what each student needs, and when.
SMS can make this level of support scalable:
- Progress dashboards give staff and students a clear picture of academic performance at a glance.
- Learning analytics help identify trends, gaps, and at-risk students early on.
- Individualised learning plans can be created and adjusted easily to match each student’s goals and challenges.
5. Centralise Access to Support Services
Lastly, students don’t know where to go, and that’s a problem. Even when support exists, it’s not always visible or accessible. Many students aren’t sure who to contact for academic advice, mental health services, or career guidance.
An SMS creates a central, digital hub for support services. Imagine a space where students can find everything they need (from booking a counselling session to accessing academic resources or chatting with a career advisor) without having to search across five different platforms.
School Management Software can bring all of this together in one place. A unified portal, accessible on desktop or mobile, makes it easy for students to connect with the right service at the right time. Whether it’s academic help, emotional wellbeing, or career planning, it’s all within reach, clear, consistent, and easy to navigate.
How Classter Supports Student Success
As a fully integrated School Management Software, Classter gives Irish universities the power to bring everything together in one place. From academic advising and career guidance to personalised learning plans and real-time communication, Classter makes it easier for staff to support students at every stage of their journey.
By centralising data, streamlining processes, and giving both staff and students a clear view of what’s happening, Classter helps build a more responsive, student-first experience across campus. No more silos. No more missed connections. Just better support, made simple. Curious to see how Classter can work for your institution? Book a personalised demo and discover what a connected student support experience really looks like.
FAQ’S
Irish universities can strengthen support by improving academic advising, enhancing career services, boosting communication, and centralising access to support. School management software helps by offering real-time data, alerts, and tools that allow staff to proactively intervene and guide students more effectively.
Look for features like academic performance tracking, communication tools, scheduling, career planning, learning analytics, and centralised access to support services. A great SMS should be mobile-friendly, easy to use, and customisable for different institution types.
Classter offers an all-in-one, modular platform tailored to higher education. It combines academic management, student engagement tools, career services, and communication features in a single hub, making it ideal for Irish institutions looking to improve student support.