How Università Cattolica Uses Genuine Student Insight to Guide Strategic Engagement

Moving From Asking to Listening

“Are universities listening enough to what students are really asking for? I think they’re trying, but we’re not there yet.”

Ilaria Bossi reflects on a familiar tension across higher education: while institutions invest heavily in programmes and support, many still remain focused on the academic experience.

“I still see a lot of focus on the academic side of things, which is absolutely fundamental,” she says. “But there’s a bit of a detachment from the new generation, their needs, their perspectives. We’re trying to translate that back into the offer we have. I really appreciate Gen Z wanting more balance, wanting to invest in something that’s going to be beneficial for them.”

At Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, student support goes further. Traditional feedback tools, like surveys or post-event evaluations, offer valuable data but rarely reveal how students actually feel in real time. For Ilaria, understanding the modern student journey means going deeper, into what students talk about, how they connect, and how they express themselves naturally.

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Understanding Students Through Cattolica’s Community Dashboard

Through Goin’s Dashboard, Cattolica can see patterns that often go unnoticed, which topics drive discussion, when excitement peaks, and where anxiety appears. Without reading individual messages, the team gains a real-time picture of community health, engagement depth, and emotional tone.

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“[The Community Dashboard] gives us data that helps us improve,” Ilaria says. “And we get insights we didn’t have before, especially in a genuine way. Because this is honest and uncontrolled interactions, instead of me surveying them directly which might spoil the answers. I find that respectful yet genuine.”

“I can understand how students are relating to each other,” Ilaria adds. Whether they’re carefree and connecting, or showing concern about specific issues.”

Cattolica’s approach is simple but powerful: measure engagement by what students say when they’re relaxed, not what they report when they’re asked.

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From Data to Action

For Cattolica, acting on insight means focusing on signals that change behavior.

“One of the data points I really appreciate is the number of connections that they’re making, how engaged and interactive they are,” says Ilaria Bossi. “Then what kind of questions they’re asking, because that also makes me understand how they are relating to each other, whether it is a genuine or carefree way of connecting, or whether they are concerned about accommodation or visas. It’s both quantitative and qualitative.”

Since launching, Cattolica’s community has generated nearly 20,000 friendships. In the 2025 cycle, students reported that talking to peers in the community helped them reduce concerns about:

• Making new friends at the university (95%)
• Cultural differences or language barriers (86%)
• Student life and expectations (94%)

Those insights help staff spot patterns early. For instance, accommodation consistently emerges as one of the most discussed topics, not just out of anxiety, but preparation. When students trade advice on neighborhoods or pricing, it’s not hesitation; it’s evidence they’re getting ready to commit.

The Goin’ Score: Sentiment Analysis That Gauges Excitement

Beyond conversation trends, Cattolica uses the Goin’ Score — a measure that blends engagement and sentiment to show how students feel as they prepare to start. It highlights who’s confident and connected, and who may still need reassurance before arrival.

“Again, the sentiment analysis [Goin’ Score], understanding who are the students with a positive feeling about it, and understanding those who are on the verge of saying, ‘Maybe I’m not going,’ or, ‘I’m absolutely happy, I can’t wait, I made friends,’ it is helpful,” Ilaria explains. “It’s getting us insights that we didn’t have before.”

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When sentiment dips or uncertainty spikes, the team can respond quickly, by connecting students with peers, clarifying housing details, or spotlighting stories from others who made the same leap successfully.

For Ilaria, this approach turns data into empathy.

“We’re getting better at facilitating fit,” she says. “Not just, ‘Are you eligible?’ but, ‘Are you going to be happy here? Are you going to be successful?’”

In Cattolica’s 2025 cycle, 77% of students said connecting with peers on Goin’ made them more likely to enrol, while 87% said it reassured them that Cattolica was the right choice.

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The Takeaway

What Università Cattolica is doing isn’t complicated,it’s consistent. They listen before they ask. They measure connection before conversion. And they use data not to predict, but to understand.

It’s a small shift with a big consequence: when universities stop trying to extract feedback and start learning from genuine student behavior, they don’t just improve engagement, they strengthen trust.

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Students goin' to Cattolica

“Being able to connect with other students heading to the same university through Goin’ is a huge advantage, especially for those moving abroad. Adjusting to a new country can be challenging, but building a support network before you even arrive makes everything easier, both socially and practically, from finding housing to navigating the city or understanding the enrollment process.”
— Derin, incoming student from Türkiye

“Honestly, having our community made the whole process of moving to a foreign country so much easier. It feels reassuring knowing there will be familiar faces to meet when classes start.”
— Lenora, incoming student from Lebanon

“Connecting with other students early on in the Goin’ community definitely eases the transition and helps build a support network before arriving. It makes moving abroad feel a lot less overwhelming.”
— Bella, incoming student from the USA

“It definitely helps ease the nerves of moving abroad and makes the whole transition feel a lot more exciting and welcoming. Personally, I think Goin’ is a great way to start building friendships, get useful tips, and feel part of a community even before classes begin.”
— Vanessa, incoming student from Peru

“Thanks to the community, I already have two friends. It’s so useful for people who are new to the university. We can communicate with current students about their experiences, find friends before classes start, and that helps reduce first-day stress, because I’ll already have friends waiting for me.”
— İrfan, incoming student from Türkiye

“It’s an amazing idea to connect with other students through Goin’ before the semester starts. It makes the process of moving abroad and starting at a new university feel less overwhelming. It also creates a sense of belonging before arriving and is super helpful for sharing tips about the city and student life.”
— Iva, incoming student from North Macedonia