ICEF Podcast: Recent Episodes
ICEF GmbH
ICEF Podcast is designed especially for international education professionals. We bring ICEF market experts and outstanding education professionals together to shed light on how to respond to the challenges facing the international education sector, helping you grow your business into the future.
News & developments:
- Netherlands reports first-ever decrease in foreign enrolment for 2025/26
- Ascending in world university rankings and highly affordable, Azerbaijan is strengthening its offer to international students
Main topic:
“Good, steady, and disciplined’’: New Zealand's plan for sustainable international enrolment growth
This episode is sponsored by: ICEF Academy
with
Rod Hearps (moderator)
VP Oceania
ICEF
Sharon-May McCrostie
Director, International and Sector Engagement
Education New Zealand | Manapou ki te Ao
Celia Coombes
Director Visa
Students, Immigration New Zealand | Rōpū Manene
Craig Riggs
Editor in Chief
ICEF Monitor
Martijn van de Veen (host)
CBDO
ICEF
News & developments:
- US immigration officials allege OPT is being widely abused and say “more actions are forthcoming”
- UK universities bracing for a further decline in international enrolments
Main topic:
Student flows are shifting - are agencies following suit?
with
Alexandre Argenta
President
BELTA - Brazilian Educational & Language Travel Association
Craig Riggs
Editor in Chief
ICEF Monitor
Martijn van de Veen (host)
CBDO
ICEF
News & developments:
- A common challenge: Strengthening student confidence in the ROI of study abroad
- Study finds strong agent interest in partnering with Japanese universities
Main topic:
Sustainable international student recruitment from a UK-China perspective
This episode is sponsored by: ICEF USA
with
Kiran Patel
Senior Director Commercial & Deputy Head of China
CBBC
Jian Li
Deputy Director (Education)
British Council
Cheryl Xu
Director of China Office
University of Portsmouth
Dave Amor
Founder & Director
Higher Insights Ltd.
Christina Ke
Managing Director
Uoffer Global
Tony Lee
Chief Visionary Officer
ICEF
Craig Riggs
Editor in Chief
ICEF Monitor
Martijn van de Veen (host)
CBDO
ICEF
News & developments:
- Irish higher education reports a fourth straight year of foreign enrolment growth
- Canada and India deepen educational ties; India repositions as an equal player in international education
Main topic:
Are you using the right digital channels to reach international students?
This episode is sponsored by: ICEF USA
with
Jennifer Parsons
Exec Director of Partnerships
UniQuest
Nicolas Chu
CEO & Founder
Sinorbis
Craig Riggs
Editor in Chief
ICEF Monitor
Martijn van de Veen (host)
CBDO
ICEF
News & developments:
- Canada’s foreign enrolment has fallen by nearly 300,000 students over the last two years
- Inside Spain’s growing appeal for international students
Main topic:
Students are switching to AI for search. Are you ready?
with
Tim O'Brien
SVP - New Partner Development
INTO University Partnerships
Guus Goorts
Education Marketing Coach & Author
Guus Goorts Online Marketing Training for HE
Craig Riggs
Editor in Chief
ICEF Monitor
Martijn van de Veen (host)
CBDO
ICEF
News & developments:
- Global agent survey highlights the most important factors influencing study abroad decisions
- The ChatGPT Generation: How AI Is quietly rewriting the global student search experience
Main topic:
Stop losing applicants: How qualification recognition drives seamless international enrolment
with
Noah W. Sobe
Chief of Section, Higher Education
UNESCO
Esther T. Benjamin
CEO and Executive Director
World Education Services (WES)
Craig Riggs
Editor in Chief
ICEF Monitor
Martijn van de Veen (host)
CBDO
ICEF
News & developments:
- There are now more than 400,000 international students in Germany
- New Zealand’s international student numbers climbing amid strong public support
Main topic:
Engine of growth: The true value and impact of the international education sector
with
Jeremy Neufeld
Director of Immigration Policy
IFP
Natalie Lulia
Regional Director Americas, Europe & Gulf Cooperation Council, Councellor – Education
Education New Zealand | Manapou ki te Ao
Cindy McIntyre
Senior Advisor and Chief of Staff
Canadian Bureau for International Education - CBIE
Craig Riggs
Editor in Chief
ICEF Monitor
Martijn van de Veen (host)
CBDO
ICEF
News & developments:
- Kazakhstan sets its sights on being a regional hub for international students
- US: Study estimates that changes to international student policies could reduce GDP by up to US$481 billion per year
Main topic:
Live from ICEF Berlin 2025: Current trends in international student recruitment
with
Novie Tajuddin
CEO
Education Malaysia
Shawn Silverstone
Director of international marketing and recruitment
Coquitlam School District
Philippe Taza
CEO
Higher Education Marketing
Andrew Mangion
Executive Chairman and CEO
EC English Language Centres
Craig Riggs
Editor in Chief
ICEF Monitor
Martijn van de Veen (host)
CBDO
ICEF
News & developments:
- Mystery shopping study finds broad improvement in student enquiry handling this year
- South Korea hits its 300,000 student target two years ahead of schedule
Main topic:
Beyond the offer letter: The services that drive international student success
Sarah Todd
Principal Consultant
QS
Gordon Scott
Managing Director
Successful Graduate
Craig Riggs
Editor in Chief
ICEF Monitor
Martijn van de Veen (host)
CBDO
ICEF
• Main topic: From 'policy focused' to 'student centred': A new era in international education?
with
Craig Riggs
Editor in Chief
ICEF Monitor
Martijn van de Veen (host)
CBDO
ICEF
• News & developments
- Search data highlights surge in student interest in Asian and Middle Eastern destinations at mid-year
- Australia raises enrolment limits for 2025/26 but are they reachable?
• Main topic: From ‘Big Four’ to ‘Big Fourteen’: Redrawing the map of global student flows
with
Kym Nguyen
Vice President, Student Recruitment
QS
Andrew Ness
Senior Vice-President, Analytics and Consulting, North America
Studyportals
Craig Riggs
Editor in Chief
ICEF Monitor
Martijn van de Veen (host)
CBDO
ICEF
• News & developments
- Dutch government walks back controversial measures to constrain English-taught degrees
- New Zealand announces strong foreign enrolment growth along with a new international education strategy
• Main topic: Bridging borders: Why cultural intelligence is essential now
• Keys to the market: Uzbekistan
with
Leanne Linacre
Co-Founder
Lead5050
Sagar Bahadur
Executive Director - India, South Asia & South East Asia
Acumen
Susan Fang
Co-founder & CEO
OxBridge Consulting, Inc.
Craig Riggs
Editor in Chief
ICEF Monitor
Martijn van de Veen (host)
CBDO
ICEF
Episode Notes
• News & developments
- Irish ELT sector sounds note of “cautious stability” for 2024
- US ELT numbers moving toward pre-pandemic norms
• Main topic: Together for transparency: Building global standards for ethical international student recruitment
• Keys to the market: Egypt
with
Gordon Lunan
VP, Commercial Operations
INTO University Partnerships
Ghadah Khojah
Founder
Cayenne Education, UK
Flavio Crusoé
CEO
BEX - Brazilian Exchange
Craig Riggs
Editor in Chief
ICEF Monitor
Martijn van de Veen (host)
CBDO
ICEF
• News & developments
- Sector and students shocked as US State Department says it will “aggressively revoke visas for Chinese students”
- Trump administration orders a pause on new student visa interviews
• Main topic: Study destination USA in times of political turmoil - live from NAFSA 2025
• Keys to the market: Bangladesh
with
Vern Granger
Director of Undergraduate Admissions
University of Connecticut
Daryl Bish
President
EnglishUSA
Jill Welch
Co-Founder and Senior Consultant
U.S. for Success Coalition
Rachel Fletcher
Managing Director, Enrolment Services
Keystone Enrolment Services
Craig Riggs
Editor in Chief
ICEF Monitor
Martijn van de Veen (host)
CBDO
ICEF
• News & developments
- International student policy in the spotlight during Australian election
- Ireland: Non-EU international students will be most affected by a new, increased threshold for available funds
• Main topic: Domestic enrolment cliff: A global phenomenon?
• Keys to the market: Thailand
with
Angel Ahmed
Founder and CEO
GNET-Global Network
Kirsten L. Feddersen
VP of Partnerships, USA
IDP
Craig Riggs
Editor in Chief
ICEF Monitor
Martijn van de Veen (host)
CBDO
ICEF
• News & developments
- Global survey highlights new phase of internationalisation: From a “market era” to a “managed era”
- Report projects need for greater diversification in international student recruitment this year
• Main topic: How are schools and agents adapting to rising visa rejection rates?
• Keys to the market: East Africa
with
Michal Sestak
Managing Director and Principal migration agent
AustraliaOnline
Shawn Silverstone
Director, International Marketing and Recruitment
Coquitlam School District
Craig Riggs
Editor in Chief
ICEF Monitor
Martijn van de Veen (host)
CBDO
ICEF
• News & developments
- The Netherlands: Debate around student recruitment and retention continues amid foreign enrolment decline
- Student mobility in MENA boosted by foreign partnerships and branch campuses
• Main topic: Shifting horizons: Global trends in international secondary education
• Keys to the market: Mexico
with
Elizabeth Drake
Director of Partnerships, US
Illume Student Advisory Service
Bethan Hudson
Executive Director Specialist Services
The BSA Group
Craig Riggs
Editor in Chief
ICEF Monitor
Martijn van de Veen (host)
CBDO
ICEF
• News & developments
- Irish higher education booked another strong year of foreign enrolment growth in 2024
- Malaysia’s growing appeal as a study destination
• Main topic: A whole new world: International student recruitment in 2025
• Keys to the market: Sri Lanka
with
Roger Brindley
President - North America
Acumen | Sannam S4 Group
Sarah Todd
Vice President (Global)
Griffith University
Harris Rosen
Barrister and Solicitor
Harris Rosen Professional Corporation
Craig Riggs
Editor in Chief
ICEF
Martijn van de Veen (host)
CBDO
ICEF
• News & developments
- Three international education trends for 2025: Revenue optimisation, marketing personalisation, and on-the-ground local intelligence
• Main topic: How new technologies impact international student employability
• Keys to the market: Japan
with
Puneet Kohli
Chief Executive Officer
Careerflow.ai
Sue Attewell
Head of AI
Jisc
Craig Riggs
Editor in Chief
ICEF
Martijn van de Veen (host)
CBDO
ICEF
• News & developments
- The human factor in international student recruitment
• Main topic: Live from Berlin: Current trends in international student recruitment
• Keys to the market: Germany
with
Holly Sanders
Chief Transformation Officer
World Education Services
Matt Hird
Director of Sales
Malvern International
Brett Blacker
Managing Director, Australia and New Zealand
Duolingo
Ilaria Bossi
Head Manager - International Marketing and Recruitment
Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore
Kofi Agyeman-Duah Boachie-Danquah
Global Sales Manager - International Hub
Private University of Applied Sciences, Göttingen
Reka Lenart
Association Manager
ALTO
Hannah Youell
Diversity & Inclusion Advisor
International House World Organisation
Sushil Sukhwani
Director
Edwise International
Craig Riggs
Editor in Chief
ICEF
Martijn van de Veen (host)
CBDO
ICEF
• News & developments
- International education has a data problem. It’s time to do something about it
- In a time of shifting student demand, a speedy response to enquiries is a must
• Main topic: Getting past policy shock: How the sector is responding to new migration settings
• Keys to the market: China
With
Rachel MacSween
Director of Partnerships and Stakeholder Engagement
IDP
Marie Braswell
Associate Vice President Global Strategy & Market Development
Centennial College
Andy Howells
Chief Marketing Officer
NCUK
Bobby Mehta
Pro Vice-Chancellor (Global Engagement)
University of Portsmouth
Sara Sandford (moderator)
Consultant
Edified
Craig Riggs
Editor in Chief
ICEF Monitor
Martijn van de Veen
CBDO
ICEF
• News & developments
- Australia announces cap on student commencements for 2025
- What is the cost of policy intended to reduce international student flows?
• Main topic: The future of ELT: A call to action
• Keys to the market: Colombia
With
Ian Aird
CEO
English Australia
Jodie Gray
Chief Executive
English UK
Craig Riggs
Editor in Chief
ICEF
Martijn van de Veen (host)
CBDO
ICEF
• News & developments
- Quarterly survey finds rents for student housing in Europe increasing ahead of new academic year
- UK reports record foreign enrolment for 2022/23
• Main topic: Is Artificial Intelligence the biggest threat for digital agent recruitment platforms?
• Keys to the market: China
With
Louise Nicol
Founder & CEO
Asia Careers Group SDN BHD
Craig Riggs
Editor in Chief
ICEF
Martijn van de Veen (host)
CBDO
ICEF
This special episode of ICEF Podcast is produced in collaboration with Housed - The shared living Podcast and our sponsor is VITA STUDENT.
With
Sarah Canning
Co-Founder
The Property Marketing Strategists
Deenie Lee
Co-Founder
The Property Marketing Strategists
Daniel Smith
Managing Director
Student Housing Consultancy
Martijn van de Veen
CBDO
ICEF
• Useful links
- The global student experience by Etio
- European Commission - Study in Europe
• News & developments
- UK ELT providers report restricting enrolment because of bed shortages
- Would a second Trump presidency make the US more or less attractive to foreign students?
• Main topic: The complexities of international student accommodation
• Keys to the market: Brazil
With
Jasper Witteveen
Project Officer (Erasmus Mundus)
European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA)
Nannette Ripmeester
Director - Performance Benchmarking Europe and North America
Etio
Craig Riggs
Editor in Chief
ICEF Monitor
Martijn van de Veen (host)
CBDO
ICEF
• News & developments
- Agent survey finds growing interest in alternative destinations; many students “hedging” plans with multiple applications
- UK confirms Graduate Route will remain in place; plans “crackdown” on student visas and “rogue agents”
• Main topic: The outlook for international education in the USA - live from NAFSA
• Keys to the market: Mexico
With
Jessica Sandberg
Dean of International Enrollment
Duke Kunshan University
Amber McKenzie
Assistant Dean of Global Education and Strategic Partnerships
Community Colleges of Spokane
Mirka Martel
Head of Research, Evaluation and Learning
Institute of International Education
Craig Riggs
Editor in Chief
ICEF
Martijn van de Veen (host)
CBDO
ICEF
• News & developments
- Foreign exchange: What could a stronger pound and dollar mean for international students this year?
- The art of the short: Viral video for international student recruitment
• Main topic: How policy interventions are impacting student planning for study abroad
• Keys to the market: the Philippines
With
Victoria Martin
Chief Commercial and Compliance Officer
GUS Canada
Robin Garcha
Partnerships Director, Solutions Lead
IDP Education
Craig Riggs
Editor in Chief
ICEF
Martijn van de Veen (host)
CBDO
ICEF
• News & developments
- Canadian immigration minister releases official cap figures and targets for 2024
- Australia: Record-high foreign enrolment but tighter immigration settings now taking hold
• Main topic: Start-ups in international education: disrupters or innovators?
• Keys to the market: Sweden
With
Kasper Baars
Co-Founder / Co-director
The Discov
Lydia Jones
CEO and founder
Housemates
Carla Wyburn
CEO and co-founder
English Coach AI
Craig Riggs
Editor in Chief
ICEF
Martijn van de Veen (host)
CBDO
ICEF
• News & developments:
- Demand for study abroad in Australia, Canada, UK already affected by new international education policies
- South Korea announces results of annual evaluation of universities and colleges’ international programmes
• Main topic: How Fintech innovations are making international education more inclusive
• Keys to the market: Egypt
With
Suzanne Tyson
Founder and former CEO
HigherEdPoints
Dino Leo
Head of Education, Europe
Convera
Jesse Dyer
Director of University Relations
MPower Financing
Shelley Clayton
Director of Financial Aid
University of New Brunswick
Craig Riggs
Editor in Chief
ICEF
Martijn van de Veen (host)
CBDO
ICEF
Main Sponsor • ICEF Finance
========
References
https://convera.com/blog/
Government of Canada site has information for international students:
https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/study-canada.html?_ga=2.252707145.1160912607.1517234482-1177322266.1514990229%20
International Experience Canada:
https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/work-canada/iec/about.html
Canada Visa: https://www.canadavisa.com/
StudyInCanada: https://www.studyincanada.com/
Scholarships, bursaries and other awards:
•Canadian Government:
https://www.educanada.ca/scholarships-bourses/search-scholarships-rechercher-bourses.aspx?lang=eng
•ScholarshipsCanada.com: https://www.scholarshipscanada.com/Index.aspx
In search box, enter “international” with a Citizenship filter set to “Any but Canada”, see 841 scholarships worth ~$2.5MM
•Every campus has a Financial Aid office
Work
•Devant: https://www.devant.ca/home
'Get Hired at Home': The FREE virtual career development expo for international students & alumni. Attend online workshops to boost your employability. Then, access 50+ job opportunities and network with 25+ employers live at their virtual booths.
• News & developments: What we’ve learned (so far) about Canada’s new student visa rules
• Main topic: AI evolution: Artificial General Intelligence, and how it impacts international education
• Keys to the market: Czech Republic
With
Bart Caylor
President and Founder
Caylor Solutions and The Higher Ed Marketer
John Moravec
Founder and CEO
Education Futures LLC
Craig Riggs
Editor in Chief
ICEF
Martijn van de Veen (host)
CBDO
ICEF
Main Sponsor • ICEF Digital
• News & developments: The 2023 international education trends that will extend into 2024
• Main topic: How growth and sustainable development goals can co-exist in international education
• Keys to the market: South Korea
With
Sarah Mines
Founding Member, Director of Sustainable Growth
Alethea Global Cooperative
Stephen Robinson
Director and Professor
Champlain College, Dublin Campus
Craig Riggs
Editor in Chief
ICEF
Martijn van de Veen (host)
CBDO
ICEF
Main Sponsor • ICEF Finance
• News & developments: The 2023 international education trends that will extend into 2024
• Main topic: The enduring appeal of study destination USA: trends, facts and figures
• Keys to the market: Punjab (India)
With
Mark Kopenski
Consultant to the Vice President of Enrollment
Rowan University, Glassboro NJ
Mindi Hertzog
International Trade Specialist
U.S. Department of Commerce
Ian Cann
VP, Americas
ICEF
Craig Riggs
Editor in Chief
ICEF Monitor
Martijn van de Veen (host)
CBDO
ICEF
Main Sponsor • International Education Evaluation
Keys to the market sponsor • Western Overseas
ICEF Podcast episode format
1) News & Developments
2) Main Topic
3) Keys to the market
1) News & developments
• A discussion of some noteworthy industry news and developments as published on ICEF Monitor.
- How is Indian student mobility changing in 2023?
- Dutch election result and its impact on international education
2) Main topic
• "How podcasting can help engage with prospective international students"
Main topic sponsor: ICEF Agency Status
3) Keys to the market • Poland
Keys to the Market sponsor: PERFECT – Study. Work. Travel. is an education agency based in Poland, with 2 offices: in Wroclaw and in Warsaw.
Speakers
Benjamin Lorch
Founder
The Berlin School of Podcasting
John Craige
International Communications Officer
Producer, Lund University International Podcast
Lund University
Craig Riggs
Editor in Chief
ICEF Monitor
Martijn van de Veen
Chief Business Development Officer
ICEF
ICEF Podcast episode format
1) News & Developments
2) Main Topic
3) Keys to the market
1) News & developments
• A discussion of some noteworthy industry news and developments as published on ICEF Monitor.
- Australia: Parliamentary report recommends diversification and expanded regulation of agents
- International enrolments in German higher education rise again for a new record
2) Main topic
• "How the pandemic shaped international education"
Main topic sponsor: ICEF Finance
3) Keys to the market • Saudi Arabia
Keys to the Market sponsor: IGEC - International Group for Educational Consultancy- The largest educational consultancy firm in the Middle East and North Africa.
Speakers
Markus Badde
CEO
ICEF
Craig Riggs
Editor in Chief
ICEF Monitor
Martijn van de Veen
Chief Business Development Officer
ICEF
ICEF Podcast episode format
1) News & Developments
2) Main Topic
3) Keys to the market
1) News & developments
• A discussion of some noteworthy industry news and developments as published on ICEF Monitor.
- UK student housing crunch projected to worsen through 2026
- Five student research insights to keep in mind going into 2024
2) Main topic
• "The increasing appeal of Asian destinations in international student recruitment"
Main topic sponsor: ICEF Digital
3) Keys to the market • Mexico
Keys to the Market sponsor: AMTE - The Mexican Association of Educational Tourism
Speakers
Sarah Todd
Vice President • Griffith University
Former president of the Asia-Pacific Association for International Education
Gary Bowerman
Founder & Managing Director
Asia Travel Re:Set
Craig Riggs
Editor in Chief
ICEF Monitor
Martijn van de Veen (Moderator)
Chief Business Development Officer
ICEF
ICEF Podcast episode format
1) News & Developments
2) Main Topic
3) Keys to the market
1) News & developments
• A discussion of some noteworthy industry news and developments as published on ICEF Monitor.
- EdTech investment cooling in 2023 but growth outlook remains strong
- Despite rising rejection rates, US student visa issuances now exceed pre-COVID levels
2) Main topic
• "Beyond future and career prospects: Understanding what tomorrow’s international students really want"
Main topic sponsor: ICEF Academy
3) Keys to the market • Nepal
Keys to the Market sponsor: ECAN - Educational Consultancy Association of Nepal
Speakers
Selma Toohey
Executive Director
QS Quacquarelli Symonds
Nannette Ripmeester
Founder & Director
Expertise in Labour Mobility
Craig Riggs
Editor in Chief
ICEF Monitor
Martijn van de Veen (Moderator)
Chief Business Development Officer
ICEF
ICEF Podcast episode format
1) News & developments 2) Main Topic - Keys to the market
1) News & developments • A discussion of some noteworthy industry news and developments as published on ICEF Monitor
- Measuring the massive vocational training opportunity in developing economies
- AI tools help to smooth student housing search but supply crunch remains
2) Main topic • "Bridging the skills gap: Preparing international students for their future careers"
Main topic sponsor: ICEF Digital
3) Keys to the market • Tunisia
Keys to the Market sponsor: Eduworld, premium student recruitment agency for global Educational opportunities.
Speakers
Scott Cederbaum
Head of Degree Marketing
Coursera
Andy Hockley
Academic Director
Bell Teacher Academy
Cambridge University Press & Assessment
Craig Riggs
Editor in Chief
ICEF Monitor
Martijn van de Veen (Moderator)
Chief Business Development Officer
ICEF
Also in this episode:
- A discussion of some noteworthy industry news and developments as published on ICEF Monitor
- UK to block dependants from accompanying international students as of January 2024
- After domestic tuition hikes, Chinese officials reportedly considering an increase in international student fees
- Keys to the Market: Ecuador
Main topic sponsor: ICEF Digital
Keys to the Market sponsor: COICEC - “La Confederación de Organizaciones de Intercambio Cultural del Ecuador”
Speakers
Gautham Kolluri
Founder/Managing Director
CIP STUDY ABROAD
Chris Price
Senior VP Partnerships (UK & Europe)
Adventus
Craig Riggs
Editor in Chief
ICEF Monitor
Martijn van de Veen (Moderator)
Chief Business Development Officer
ICEF
Speakers
Keith Monrose
Executive Director
Seneca College
Sandeep Singh
Marketing Director
Brampton Immigration Consultancy
Rahul Paitka
Managing Director
Charms Education & Immigration Services
Kayla Briel
Associate Director, Business & Innovation
Global University Systems
Craig Riggs
Editor in Chief
ICEF Monitor
Martijn van de Veen (Moderator)
Chief Business Development Officer
ICEF
Speakers
Professor Seyedali Mirjalili
Founding director of the Centre for Artificial Intelligence Research and Optimisation (AIRO)
Torrens University
Pablo Pereira
Business Development Manager
Edvisor
Jack Whaley
Senior Manager University Relations (ANZ)
Leverage Edu
Martijn van de Veen (Moderator)
Chief Business Development Officer
ICEF
News&Developments:
🔘Inbound and outbound student trends for South Africa, Egypt, and Morocco
🔘Japan aims to rebuild foreign enrolment by 2027
Main topic:
🔘"Study destination promotion: the vital role of education agencies"
Keys to the Market:
🔘New Zealand
In this episode, representatives from student accommodation service providers discuss and respond to the housing challenges that exist across popular study destinations in all corners of the world, and what can be done by educators, agents or students themselves to secure appropriate and affordable accommodation in the study destination of their choice.
ICEF Podcast Feb episode now available! Main topic: How ChatGPT affects the future of international education.
Sponsored by Fair Future Education Consultants
Episode also covers:
🔘 News & developments
"Canada's foreign enrolment grew by more than 30% in 2022"
"Many international students may not be aware of STEM programmes they could apply to"
🔘 Keys to the Market: 🇰🇿Kazakhstan
Sponsored by M&K Study Centre
Digital learning is beneficial for all ages and levels of students. As institutions, we often focus on the academic aspects of an online education. But, what is available beyond the classroom? In this session, we will explore the ways in which online learners can enrich their learning and development by including extracurricular programmes, summer sessions, internships, and more. We will also explore how the flexibility of digital learning opens opportunities for athletes, performers, and aspiring entrepreneurs to keep on top of both their studies and their passions.
Each year, scholarship providers, whether governments, ministries, foundations, institutions or private companies, provide funding for hundreds of thousands of students. Scholarships exist for all areas of education: pathway/vocational programmes, life-long learning opportunities, internships, professional training programmes, language studies, and of course university programmes. Funding can be partial or in full, often including accommodation, insurance and travel coverage.For many schools, institutions or other providers of educational and experiential learning programmes, scholarship partnerships represent an important part of their student recruitment strategies. In this bonus podcast episode, we will take a closer look at such scholarship partnerships, for example:-Where to find, and how to engage with, potential scholarship partners-What types of scholarships exist and what is typically covered-Scholarship constructs: fully covered, full programme versus partially covered in combination with student credit -Examples of scholarship eligibility criteria and requirements for prospective students-How to build a long-lasting scholarship partnership-The role and responsibilities of scholarship providers towards the students who receive a scholarship, versus the role and responsibilities of agencies and institutions that are involved -Characteristics of the different types of scholarship funding organisations (government, public, private, or institutional scholarships, or a combination)
News and developments
- European rental housing costs up 17% this year as crunch continues
Main topic
- Agent Aggregators: four industry perspectives
Keys to the market
- Saudi Arabia
Main topic in this episode:
Digital Transformation in International Education
Recorded Live at ICEF Berlin Digital Day
Digital transformation is happening across all industries and sectors, including international education. It is often described as ”the process of using digital technologies to create new — or modify existing — processes, culture, and customer experiences to meet changing business and market requirements”.
So what does this mean for international education, and specifically for student recruitment? Which digital services, tools and platforms are available for our sector? Which processes can be streamlined, and how do they help improve the customer journey - the student journey - through the recruitment funnel?
In this episode we discuss this digital transformation in international student recruitment, the advantages that come with it, the solutions and technologies that are used and how it affects all stakeholders involved, with a panel of industry experts:
Alsdorf, Claudia
Head of Microsoft Education Germany
Microsoft
Price, Chris
Senior VP -Partnerships
Adventus.io
Miguel Membrado
Chief Digital Officer
ETS Global B.V.
Martijn van de Veen (Host)
VP, Business Development
ICEF
Episode NotesNews & Developments:
- Study tracks top messaging apps and student priorities in key Asian markets
- Survey says Australia a top choice among prospective international students
Main topic:
Are the traditional ‘student corridors’ under pressure? How global events are affecting international student flows
With
Chris Kirk, Director at UCAS International
Mirka Martel, Head of Research, Evaluation and Learning at Institute of International Education
Alice Wilby, Pro Vice-Chancellor, University College Birmingham
Sponsor:
University College of Birmingham
Keys to the Market:
Egypt
Episode NotesNews & Developments:
- Affordability a rising factor in international students’ choice of destination
- Western Australia introduces new incentive scheme for agents
Main topic:
Visa options in the US for international students and their families
With
Bruna Canto, Managing Director Latin America, FirstPathway Partners
And
Tadeu Ferreira, Partner, LeafLaw
Sponsor:
FirstPathway Partners
Keys to the Market:
Kuwait
Episode NotesNews & Developments:
- US visa processing delays worsening at midpoint of 2022
- UK resumes priority visa processing
Main topic:
Career opportunities for International Students
With
- Nannette Ripmeester, is the Director of Expertise in Labour Mobility (ELM) and director Europe & North America for i-graduate. She’s involved in the employability initiative CareerProfessor.works, supporting students’ intercultural and employability skills through a gamification app. ‘Making mobility work’ is her motto - Nannette thrives when making the connection between education and the world of work, global employability being pivotal in her work. She is passionate about customising solutions for global mobility for study and work purposes and is keen to enhance the connection between graduates and their future job opportunities. Her love for global mobility and bridging the gap between education and the world of work was ignited when she worked for 7 years at the European Commission where she was responsible for setting up the EURES database for mobile workers in EU Member States. Nannette holds an MA degree from the University of Amsterdam. She is a member of the supervisory board for Codarts University in the Netherlands and is actively involved in the NAFSA Trainer Corps. She has been the ‘Industry Innovator in Residence’ for Study Queensland 2018-19 with a focus on employability. With over 25 years of experience working for corporate and HigherEd organisations, Nannette is a leading expert on mobility for study and work.
- Adam Cooper, President at Alliance Abroad Group
Sponsor:
SRH Haarlem Campus
Keys to the Market:
Nepal
Episode NotesNews & Developments:
- Too many social channels to manage? Maybe your students can help
- Are more US employers shifting away from degree requirements?
Main topic:
International students in health education - advising and planning for medical studies abroad
With
- Philippe Van Hecke, Director of International Business Development at the SABA University School of Medicine, part of GUS Global University Systems
Sponsor:
Universidad Europea
Keys to the Market:
Ghana
Episode NotesNews & Developments:
Main topic:
1. Study destinations Australia and New Zealand back in the game
- Brett Blacker, CEO, English Australia
- Geneviève Rousseau Cung, Partnerships Manager, Education New Zealand
Sponsors:
Torrens University, Australia
Keys to the Market:
Bangladesh
Episode NotesNews & Developments:
- Nigeria: Most students want to study abroad but many also need financial aid
- India simplifies procedures for foreign institution partnerships
Main topic:
1. Study destination Canada
- Magdalena Link, VP Sales at ILAC
- Ana Paula de Souza, Senior Manager of Corporate Sales at Air Canada
- Thevi Pather, Associate VP International at Saskatchewan Polytechnic
- Craig Stephenson, President and CEO of Centennial College,
2. Study destination Canada: focus on Quebec
- Diego Sanchez, Director of International Affairs at Languages Canada
- Martin Houde, Director of Collège Avalon
- George Khoury, Principle advisor for Opulence Education Group.
Sponsors:
Centennial College
Collège Avalon
Keys to the Market:
Iran
Episode NotesNews & Developments:
- The growing influence of school groups in the international K-12 sector
- International enrolment recovery underway in Australia, Canada, the UK, and the US
Main topic:
International Education: is studying in English the only viable option?
With
- Cristina Grasset, Director at Spain Education Programs
- Olivier Chiche-Portiche, Director General a.i. at Campus France
Sponsor:
Universidad Europea
Keys to the Market:
Colombia
In this special episode, brought to you in cooperation with TABS (The Association of Boarding Schools), host Martijn van de Veen, VP Business Development at ICEF discusses:
1) Trends and developments related to international student recruitment for boarding schools with Craig Riggs, editor of ICEF Monitor
2) The unique role of boarding schools in the international student recruitment industry and the role that agencies play, together with Caroline Nixon, International Director of the Boarding Schools' Association, Richard Stokes, CEO of the Australian Boarding Schools Association and Pete Upham, Executive Director of The Association of Boarding Schools (TABS)
News & Developments:
International education’s continuing response to the war in Ukraine
Main topic:
Students' decision making factors are changing - why and how
Sponsor:
Uniqway.com
Keys to the Market:
Indonesia
In this episode we look at Artificial Intelligence in the international student recruitment industry.
Industry trends and developments:
- Forecast projects major growth in international enrolments through 2030
- Language travel sector tempers expectations for timing of pandemic recovery
Main topic:
- Artificial Intelligence: we all have heard of it and probably are already using it. How to best describe Artificial Intelligence in layman’s terms?
- AI uses patterns based on existing human behaviour. How can we make sure it’s fair and non-biased?
- Where is it being used in student recruitment?
- Where does it work? Where does it not work?
- What are the misconceptions about AI?
- Will AI make the student recruitment process more automated, more personal - or both?
Episode sponsor:
- iSchoolConnect, the leading AI platform for international student recruitment and engagement.
Keys to the market:
- Martijn, Craig discuss the specifics of Nigeria as a major source market for international students
News, trends and developments
With Craig Riggs, editor of ICEF Monitor
- Agent survey highlights important demand factors for study abroad in 2022
- US announces important changes for student visa policy
- New Zealand launches new website for international students
Main topic
“International education - a greener future ahead?”
Martijn van de Veen interviews Jonathan Dykes and CJ Tremblay about their views, insights, learnings and expectations for a greener future in the international education community. We discuss the main factors that contribute to the carbon footprint of international education and which initiatives are being rolled out to reduce this. In addition we explore ways to incentivise agencies, institutions, students and other players in the sector to contribute to a lower carbon footprint, as well as what new opportunities there are for the student recruitment industry that come with a greener future.
Keys to the market: Vietnam
In this final section Martijn and Craig discuss key market trends in the sector and this episode focus on Vietnam as a growing student recruitment market.
In this episode, we take a look back at how 2021 marks the start of a new era for international education
- Government support
- Online/Digital claims its position in the student recruitment industry
- Career options are more important than a university's ranking
- Diversification and risk mitigation
- Growing importance of education agents
- Mental health
News, trends and developments
With Craig Riggs, editor of ICEF Monitor
-
Australia reopens its borders international students
-
US: International enrolments are rebounding
Main topic
“International students and online programmes in the new normal”
With Stephanie Adamson, the University of Arizona
The pandemic has made all of us near-experts in online learning, but what is the future of online programmes now that borders have reopened to international students? According to the University of Arizona, the future is online and the institution continues to offer a portfolio of online and blended programmes in what is truly a new normal. In this episode, Stephanie Adamson, Assistant Dean at the University of Arizona talks about their ‘post pandemic’ online solutions and how these help the institution reach and enrol a larger and more diverse group of International students worldwide.
Question from the industry
With Diogo Rodrigues, Yes Intercambio
“What is the difference between Transnational Education and cross-border online learning?”
- “The ICEF Berlin ‘Agent Aggregator’ panel discussion: impressions and opinions”
- Meti Basiri, CMO at Applyboard
- Bloeme Bergmann, Talent Scout at Global School for Entrepreneurship
- Oscar Porras, President at ASEPROCE
- “Pre-Covid vs post Covid: How has international student recruitment really changed”
- Andries Bonneur, Owner of StageGlobal
- Oana Lelcu, Director Sales & Marketing at SRH University of Applied Sciences
- “ICEF Berlin 2021: a look behind the scenes of the very first hybrid ICEF event ever”
- Nick Stevenson, Director EMEA at ICEF
- Tiffany Egler, Director Agency Relations at ICEF
- Hersha Pandya, Director Higher Education Partnerships at ICEF
In this episode, ICEF’s industry specialists Martijn van de Veen (ICEF’s VP of Business Development) and Craig Riggs (Editor, ICEF Monitor) discuss whether there is room for improvement in the educator - agency relationship.
With this being the main topic this month, Oliver Fortescue, Partner at Edified, Student Acquisition and International Education Expert and Bobby Mehta, Chair of BUILA and Director at the University of Portsmouth, join the conversation and talk about some findings from their recent report calling for a new quality framework in the UK with an ambition to introduce a single code of ethical practice and standards for all UK education agents working with UK providers.
This episode is sponsored by FileInvite. Vice President Jackie Young, completes the episode with some key facts explaining why FileInvite is fast becoming the industry standard for automated document and client information collection and how much time clients are saving by switching to this software.
For details of FileInvite's unique offering please visit https://bit.ly/3jzbavj
In this 30 minute episode we sit down with Global Higher Education specialists in order to get their views and insights on:
- why agents play a key role in rebuilding international enrolments post-pandemic
- what is the best practice to ensure schools and agencies are coordinating their digital activity
- a multi-stakeholder perspective on the challenges and best practices for student recruitment agents in international higher education
In this 30 minute episode we sit down with industry specialists from the top 2 study destinations (the USA and the UK) in order to get their feedback, views and insights on:
- Enrolments in the upcoming academic year: an outlook
- How education industry stakeholders are working together
- US and UK government support for the international education sector
In this episode, ICEF’s industry specialists Martijn van de Veen (ICEF’s VP of Business Development) and Craig Riggs (Editor, ICEF Monitor) discuss the outlook for the global language learning sector.
With the global language travel sector as our main topic this month, Patrick Brothers, Co-CEO of HolonIQ joins the conversation and talks about new analysis projecting strong growth in global language learning with digital as a key driver in both online and offline tutoring.
In this episode, ICEF’s industry specialists Martijn van de Veen (ICEF’s VP of Business Development) and Craig Riggs (Editor, ICEF Monitor) discuss the recent developments and news in the international student sector: is the careful optimism justified?
With student accommodation as our main topic this month, Nick Emms (Accommodation for Students) joins the conversation and talks about some surprising findings from their recent student housing survey “How students choose their accommodation”.
This episode is sponsored by BaseCamp Student. Director Elizabeth Cox completes the episode with some highlights about the unique properties that this modern and award-winning Purpose Built Student Accommodation provider runs in Germany, Denmark and Poland - one property even has students running on the roof: just an example of Basecamp Student’s unique approach and concept.
For details on BaseCamp's unique student accommodation, please visit: http://bit.ly/basecamp-student.
Border reopenings, vaccination strategies, welcoming government policies; all are starting to emerge in recent weeks. In this episode, the first in ICEF Exchange’s 2nd series, ICEF’s industry specialists Craig Riggs (Editor of ICEF Monitor) and Martijn van de Veen (ICEF’s VP of Business Development) discuss the recent news and developments that allow for some cautious optimism for the global student mobility sector.
Valuable insights are provided by our main guest Caitlin Phillips Rivera, Director, Partner Operations at Shorelight, explaining how they are enabling their international students to access a COVID-19 vaccine.
This episode is sponsored by Etihad Airways. Tim Lorimer, Etihad’s Director of Global Distribution Sales, explains how Etihad specifically focuses on the student demographic and provides details about their current student offer.
For details on Etihad's special student fairs, please visit: https://www.etihad.com/en/book/special-offers/promotion/student-special-fares
Towards the end of 2020, HSBC launched a campaign for international students to help them navigate the challenges of virtual learning during the pandemic. This campaign, called Year of Opportunity, featured interviews with international students affected by the pandemic who shared their tips and reflections.
HSBC knows that for many international students (particularly those who may be stuck overseas), the holidays may be a particularly difficult time. So, in December, ahead of the festive holidays, HSBC extended this campaign further, sharing advice from their university partners and experts on topics such as managing their mental health, and applying for internships and university courses in 2021. https://internationalservices.hsbc.com/yearofopportunity.
For this episode, we are excited to have three partners of HSBC's Year of Opportunity campaign to discuss the support and tips for international students during this difficult time.
In this episode, we explore questions including:
- Can financial service providers help students reduce their study costs and help them with their budgeting constraints?
- Should financial service providers go beyond just financing and assist students in other areas such as access to relevant products and services?
- What types of new fintech solutions and services will be available for international students?
This episode features Amit Singh, Founder & CEO at UniCreds, Tony Chen, Head of International Education Proposition at HSBC, and Adam Cross, Director of Marketing at Future Finance.
This episode of ICEF Exchange is in partnership with HSBC – The global financial leader in supporting parents and students in the international education journey. To find out more, check out HSBC's website: https://internationalservices.hsbc.com/yearofopportunity/?cid=HBEU:JL:S0:IB:00:2010:007.
This episode of ICEF Exchange takes a closer look at the role of agents and how it has shifted during the pandemic. More than ever this year, agents are not only providing educational advice but are also increasingly called on to mentor students, provide emotional support, calm anxieties of parents and students and help them manage the psychology of disappointment and hope.
This episode hears from Stephanie Zimmermann, Senior Agent Relations Manager, ICEF, David Mandil, Managing Partner, NM Educação Internacional/NM International Education, and Britta Vincent, Founder & Owner, International-sur-Loire.
This episode of ICEF Exchange is in partnership with HSBC – The global financial leader in supporting parents and students in the international education journey. To find out more, check out HSBC's website: https://internationalservices.hsbc.com/yearofopportunity/?cid=HBEU:JL:S0:IB:00:2010:007.
Micro-credentials, or ‘non-degree credentials’, are becoming more widespread and are increasingly embraced by employers, educators, and individuals alike. This episode of ICEF Exchange zeros in on the impact of micro-credentials on the international education industry.
This episode is in partnership with HSBC – The global financial leader in supporting parents and students in the international education journey. To find out more, check out HSBC's website: https://internationalservices.hsbc.com/yearofopportunity/?cid=HBEU:JL:S0:IB:00:2010:007.
This episode takes a step back from current pressures facing the English Language Teaching (ELT) sector and examines longer-term trends out until 2030. By taking a longer-term view, our panelists for this episode will help guide both agents and eductators as they seek to develop a strong ELT offering into the future.
As the Covid-19 pandemic continues to restrict global travel, and with international arrival into the USA all but prohibited in recent months, this episode of ICEF Exchange examines how international student recruitment to US educational institutions has been impacted during the Covid-19 pandemic, and explores measures international education professionals are taking to respond to the crisis.
This episode of the ICEF Exchange is in partnership with HSBC – The global financial leader in supporting parents and students in the international education journey. To find out more, check out HSBC's website: https://bit.ly/2TrDAdn.
As institutions and schools continue to welcome students back to class – whether in-person or virtually – there are some early indications that mental health is already proving an even more challenging concern than before the pandemic. Promoting and supporting student mental health is going to be one of the big challenges of the coming year for both educators and agents alike.
In this episode of ICEF Exchange, expert representatives from the international education industry provide insights on the specialist mental health support that is now being made available to international students.
In this episode, representatives of the international education industry from Latin America provide insights on the following questions:
- What are the key strengths educational institutions in the region have to offer students?
- What is the main challenge for educational institutions to attract international students from LATAM and other regions?
- Is a coordinated governmental strategy to prioritise international education necessary to boost student recruitment in the region?
In this episode, we take a closer look at how one leading study destination – Canada – is laying down concrete plans to safely transfer international students to schools and institutions throughout the country.
Canada is an interesting example in that, while its borders are still largely closed to international travel, it has granted a limited travel exemption for international students.
How are these plans taking shape? Tune in for insights from two experienced industry guests.
We break from our usual format in this episode to welcome a panel discussion of leading international education professionals. Join us as we investigate the highlights in Australia's response to COVID-19 and examine how support from local communities, institutions, agents, and regional governments has impacted student welfare.
This episode explores a critical aspect of student mobility: visa processing. We are now seeing a gradual reopening of services for a number of countries and this episode explores the situation in three important European destinations. Key questions we cover include:
- What is the current state of play for visa services in the UK, Ireland and Malta?
- What is the latest news about border openings in the UK, Ireland and Malta?
- Are students allowed to travel once again and are there quarantine requirements or any other restrictions still in place for incoming students?
- What are the biggest student visa issues facing each market?
- What is the outlook for students beginning to travel again for remaining intakes in 2020 and into 2021?
This episode explores the outlook for online learning in higher education. Key questions we explore include:
- What are the emerging best practices and lessons learned from the abrupt pivot to online learning this year?
- How are institutions moving on from that initial switch to lay down more durable plans, tools, and strategies for online provision over the balance of this year and into 2021?
This episode explores how educators and agents are preparing for the next student intake. Key questions we explore include:
- What are educators and agents doing differently this year because of the pandemic?
- What are the major concerns for students who are planning to begin or continue their studies this year?
- How are educators and agents approaching marketing and recruitment in the months ahead?
Key questions we explore in Episode 4 include:
- Can we successfully recruit students for online programmes?
- What have we learned about how to deliver online language programmes so far?
- What were the biggest surprises for education providers in offering or expanding online provision?
- Where will the international education industry go in 2021 or beyond in terms of online delivery?
Key questions we explore in Episode 3 include:
- Are students focused on study programmes beginning later this year or are they now looking ahead to options for 2021?
- What tools are educators and agents using to reach students right now, and what is proving effective?
- What does COVID-19 mean for the future of student recruitment in 2021 and beyond?
This episode explores how educators can engage with agents during the COVID-19 pandemic. Key questions we explore include:
- What do agents need from educators at this time?
- How can you best work together when normal patterns of travel, recruitment, and admissions are so badly disrupted?
- What do agents value most in challenging times?
This episode explores recruitment for online programmes through the eyes of education professionals. Key questions we explore include:
- How do education agents look at online provision now, and how ready are they to handle online programmes?
- How can educators structure marketing, admissions, and delivery for online programmes in a way that works for agents?