Keystone Higher Ed Chats: Recent Episodes
Keystone Education Group
Join Erik Harrell as he delves into the fascinating world of higher education, speaking with thought leaders, academics, and change-makers from around the world. Listen as they discuss experiences and challenges faced throughout their careers, sharing insights and advice to inspire and inform. Not to be missed, this podcast is a must for those interested in the ever-changing landscape that is international higher ed.
The international education landscape is shifting fast. Traditional destinations are tightening policies. Emerging markets are seizing opportunities. And AI is changing everything about how we recruit students.
Martijn van de Veen, Chief Business Development Officer at ICEF, joins us to unpack which emerging destinations are winning, how institutions can position themselves strategically using Artificial Intelligence, and where international education is heading over the next five years.
An inspiring conversation with Dr. Rick Mask, Senior Associate Dean of Global Initiatives at Southern New Hampshire University, where he shares his remarkable journey from a small Tennessee town to leading international education initiatives serving over 200,000 students worldwide.
In this episode, Dr. Mask explores the transformative power of social capital in higher education and how genuine human connections and shared values create the foundation for both personal and institutional success.
Péter Árvai has spent the last decade leading international student recruitment at the University of Pécs in Hungary. He joins us to share his insights on what draws international students to non-traditional study destinations, how emerging markets compete against established education hubs, and the unique challenges and opportunities they face in the global competition for international talent
What does it take to connect universities across continents and create meaningful educational collaborations that go beyond simple student exchanges?
In this episode, we are joined by Fernando Rojas, who oversees the development of strategic partnerships with educational institutions worldwide at Avans University of Applied Sciences in the Netherlands.
Fernando joins us to discuss the importance of international connections in higher education and how those partnerships drive innovative and collaborative initiatives that enhance the global presence and impact of universities.
Amo Kubeyinje, Director of Graduate Admissions and International Recruitment at Canisius University, returns to explore the transformative shift happening in African higher education. In this episode, we deep-dive into the rise of regional student hubs in Africa. Which countries are becoming new academic powerhouses? What's driving African students to reconsider their study abroad choices to stay within the continent? Join us to discover!
Roger Douglas, Dean of the Office of International Programs & Development at Saint Martin's University, joins us to share how he has been able to increase international enrollments year-on-year. Saint Martin's University is achieving this through its partnership with UniQuest, world-leading engagement, admissions and conversion experts. Learn all the details about this successful partnership during this episode.
Are universities becoming too focused on hype and creating unrealistic expectations for their prospective students? Jaime Hunt, founder of Solve Higher Ed Marketing joins us to discuss her transition from university marketing to consulting, share insights from her new book ‘Heart Over Hype: Transforming Higher Ed Marketing with Empathy’, and explore how empathy can help higher ed institutions create stronger connections with their students.
What does the future hold for international student mobility? In this episode, Dr. Balaji Krishnan, Vice-Provost of International Affairs at The University of Memphis, shares his insights on the key trends that will shape international student mobility over the next decade. Discover the emerging destination countries that are rising in popularity and the role AI will play in shaping the future of international higher ed.
Dan Barcroft, Director of Marketing, Admissions, Recruitment and Communications at The University of Sheffield, shares his perspective on the evolving dynamics of student recruitment across domestic and international markets. With two decades of experience leading teams in the UK, Dan explores how institutions are adapting their marketing strategies to meet rising student expectations in an increasingly competitive global landscape.
John Clarke, Dean of the School of Business and Leadership at DePauw University, offers his perspective on the transformative challenges and opportunities U.S. higher education faces today. From technological disruption to changing student demographics and evolving workforce demands, this conversation explores how institutions are forced to reimagine their approaches.
Dr. Mark Bennett, Director of Audience and Insights at FindAUniversity, joins our podcast once again to share the latest insights into international student trends shaping UK higher education in 2025. We discuss shifting student preferences, key markets for international student recruitment, and what can universities in the United Kingdom do to stay competitive in an evolving global landscape.
We dive into the future of international student recruitment in Africa with Amo Kubeyinje, Director of Graduate Admissions at Canisius University. Amo unpacks the emerging trends, challenges, and opportunities shaping higher education recruitment across the African continent in 2025 and beyond. Drawing from his own journey of emigrating from Nigeria to the US, Amo shares expert insights into the evolving landscape of international student mobility in Africa.
Bridgette Lehrer, Assistant Director of Marketing and Outreach for UC Berkeley’s International Study Program unveils her innovative strategies for global student engagement. Dive into how Berkeley’s International Study Program connects with diverse international audiences through their alumni community and a unique approach to storytelling.
Dr. Ellen Neufeldt, President of California State University San Marcos, has dedicated her 30-year career to advancing student success and social mobility through higher education.
President Neufeldt joins us to discuss CSUSM’s groundbreaking work in social mobility and the upcoming 2025 Social Mobility Symposium, which San Marcos will be hosting on February 20-21 2025 in San Diego County.
An illuminating conversation with Dayana Kibilds, co-author of Mailed It!: A Guide to Crafting Emails that Build Relationships and Get Results. Join us as Dayana breaks down the secrets of effective email communication and shares practical strategies for crafting messages that truly resonate with student audiences. Get ready for an email marketing masterclass!
Sean Coote is the Vice President of International at Niagara College in Toronto, Canada. With over 30 years at the College, Sean has been instrumental in shaping its global engagement and recruitment strategy.
In this episode, we will discuss Canada’s implementation of caps on international students to discover how the caps are impacting institutions like Niagara College and what it means for the future of Canadian higher education and its global reputation.
Karin Fischer, Chief International Correspondent for The Chronicle of Higher Education, has over two decades of experience in global education.
In this episode, Karin shares the insights into the 2024 Open Doors Report on International Education Exchange in the United States, recently released by the Institute of International Education.
We explore this year’s report standout findings, including the record-breaking number of international students in the U.S. and the factors driving this growth at American universities.
Alson Tan, Senior Manager of International Marketing at the National University of Singapore, joins us to explore the profile of international students choosing Singapore as their education destination.
What are the most popular programs for students in the region? Are preferences shifting? Discover more about Singapore’s higher education system and its impressive growth over the past few decades to become a key player in the global academic landscape.
As the United States adjusts to Donald Trump’s re-election, colleges and universities across the country are preparing for potential shifts in policies and priorities that could reshape higher education.
In this episode, we are joined by Stephanie Worden, Assistant Dean of Enrollment, Marketing & Communications at the Josef Korbel School of International Studies - Unversity of Denver, to explore what may lie ahead.
What will Trump’s presidency mean for international students, faculty, administrations, and stakeholders across the higher ed landscape?
The Enquiry Experience Tracker Global Report, developed by Edified in partnership with UniQuest, is a research initiative designed to help higher ed institutions assess how effective they are in responding to prospective student enquiries. Jenni Parsons, Chief Market and Partnership Officer at UniQuest, joins us today to reveal key findings from this year’s research, highlighting what universities are doing well and where there’s room for improvement.
Nishant Jadhav, Senior Regional Manager at University of Sydney, dives into the potential cap on international students in Australia and how recruitment offices are preparing for these changes. Also, Nishant shares insights into the state of student recruitment across the Asia-Pacific region and the key factors driving students to choose Australia and its neighboring countries for their studies.
Jose de Pool, International Coordinator at the Faculty of Biosciences and Aquaculture at Nord University in Norway, joins us to discuss the impact of the recent introduction of tuition fees for non-EU students on his recruitment efforts. Also, Jose sheds light on the particular challenges and strategies to recruit international students to STEM programs in a unique location like the Arctic Circle.
Ben Boivin, Director of Undergraduate Admissions at Manhattan College, shares with us his experience recruiting liberal arts students in the Bronx, New York. Boivin discusses the latest trends in U.S. graduate enrollment, innovative strategies to address the ‘enrollment cliff', and how Manhattan College leverage its unique location to attract diverse student groups.
As Director of International Recruitment and Admissions, Kristi Marchesani is doing an outstanding work developing international student communities at the University of Northern Iowa. The International Student Promoters initiative at UNI has fostered a real culture of support and involvement where students promote the university, grow new skills and help one another. Join us as Kristi shares her best practices and insights building these communities.
The Age-Friendly University Global Network was launched in 2012 to recognize universities that make unique contributions to the global aging population. Aaron Guest, Chair of the Secretariat of AFU joins us to discuss how universities can create a more friendly environment for aging students and generate opportunities to promote intergenerational exchange.
Antonio Vanni, Executive Director of the Florence Academy of Art, shares with us the insights of his research on the unique experience of international students in the arts. Amid the global discourse on the need for job-ready professionals, Vanni highlights how art pedagogy and high-quality instruction helps the Florence Academy of Art create empowered future artists and creators.
International education expert and author Rajika Bhandari joins us to reveal the main motivations and challenges Indian students face when studying abroad. Quality of education and post-study opportunities emerge as key factors for them. As more countries set barriers for international students, Indian students are exploring new destinations beyond the classic ones like the United States and United Kingdom.
Bas Baalmans, Managing Director at Groningen Digital Business Center, discusses international student recruitment in the Netherlands and digital transformation in higher education. International education was a hot topic during Netherland’s general election last November, as the drafted ‘Balance in Internationalization' bill wants to limit the number of international students in the country. How is this impacting the recruitment efforts of Dutch institutions?
The North Carolina General Assembly partnered with Deloitte to analyze the value of the Degree programs of the University of North Carolina System. Data showed that out of 1,299 programs across the System, 94% of them had a positive ROI for graduates.
Dr. Andrew Kelly, Senior Vice President for Strategy and Policy at the UNC System, gives us details about the study and how they have managed to make their programs overwhelmingly worth it for all their students.
Microcredentials are a hot topic right now, but a lot of people still don’t know how exactly how to describe them. Jim Fong, Chief Research Officer at UPCEA, the online and professional education association, joins the podcast to enlighten us on what microcredentials are.
Are these types of programs becoming a valid alternative to traditional qualifications? How is the rise of microcredentials connected to the need for job market ready professionals? For Jim Fong, microcredentials could become a saving grace for higher ed institutions looking to increase their student population.
Harri Suominen joins us in this episode to share his experience as co-Founder of global education providers Asia Exchange and Edunation. Two companies that have recently become part of Keystone Education Group.
Harri explains how his personal experience as an exchange student drove him and Tuomas Kauppinen to found Asia Exchange and Edunation to create a pathway for other Finnish students to study abroad.
In this thought-provoking Keystone Higher Ed Chats episode, Scott Miller interviews Oliver Freedman, APAC Managing Director at RepTrak, a leading reputation measurement and management consultancy. Oliver provides valuable insights into balancing the chase for university rankings with cultivating and maintaining a positive university reputation in today's globalized, technology-driven landscape.
Host, Scott Miller and visual storytelling expert, John Azoni, engage in a deep dive on storytelling strategies tailored for universities on Keystone Higher Ed Chats. Their discussion encompasses authentic representation, AI integration, and the ongoing nature of effective storytelling in recruitment efforts. Tune in to uncover the secrets behind compelling university narratives and their impact on student recruitment.
Ian Little, an international student recruitment expert, is on Keystone Higher Ed Chats today sharing vital trends and insights for navigating global student recruitment complexities. He and Scott Miller discuss international recruitment challenges and opportunities, the importance of self-awareness, market adaptation and niche differentiation strategies, among other topics.
Todd Cherches joins Keystone Higher Ed Chats to reveal what it takes to be a good leader. Todd is a consultant, executive coach, TEDx speaker, author, and thought leader in the field of leadership and visual thinking. With over a decade in higher ed, he is also an award-winning professor at New York University and Columbia University.
Visit www.keg.com and www.toddcherches.com for more resources on this topic.
Higher Ed Chats is joined by Rachel Fletcher, CEO and co-founder of UniQuest, as she shares her inspiring journey as a female entrepreneur. In this riveting episode, the conversation explores the dynamics of being a female founder, intentional company culture, and the delicate balance between optimism and perfection. Rachel provides insights for aspiring leaders, highlighting the importance of expressing interest in leadership roles and taking calculated risks.
For more resources on this topic, visit www.keg.com or www.uni-quest.co.uk.
Joining us on the chat today is Dr. Mark Bennett, Insights Director at FindAUniversity, a UK-based graduate education expert. Mark will discuss the findings in the data from Higher Ed Insights, a quarterly insights and student data tracking survey. We will hear about graduate student destination interests shift, the international landscape for graduate studies, as well as specific UK-findings.
If you’d like more resources on this topic, head over to www.keg.com/higher-education-insights
Kyle Campbell, Education Marketer, joins our chat today to share his expertise as a marketer and consultant specializing in higher education. We discuss recruiting trends, technology, and the 3 things every higher ed marketer should be doing in 2024.
If you’d like more resources on this topic, head over to www.keg.com or www.educationmarketer.co.uk.
Rachel Sandison is the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, External Engagement, at the University of Glasgow in the UK. Rachel is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Marketing with over 20 years experience in higher education marketing, student recruitment, international partnership development, public engagement and alumni relations, and has won numerous awards for team management too.
I’m really looking forward to our conversation today where we’ll discuss how Rachel's vision has led the University of Glasgow to more than double the number of international students in the last few years, how the university's infrastructure has had to change to accommodate such growth, and the opportunities and the challenges posed around international student retention and post-study opportunities in the UK.
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The purpose of the Keystone Higher Ed Chats podcast is to interview innovators and leaders making change in Higher Education.
After a short break, this month’s guest is Jan Gulliksen, Vice President for Digitalization at KTH Sweden. Jan has held, and holds, many leadership roles, from Chairman of the Swedish Committee for Digitalization in the Ministry of the Enterprise, Digital Champion of Sweden serving the European Commission, Swedish representative in the IFIP General Assembly, Professor in Human Computer Interaction at KTH and he is of course, the Vice President for Digitalization at KTH. Jan conducts practice-oriented action research on usability, accessibility, and user-centred systems design, particularly focusing on improving the digital work environments for everyone and championing the value of lifelong learning beyond the typical university years of 19 - 25. With a passion for maths and a background in theatre & performance, Jan started his academic career at Uppsala University as a Masters student, PhD student, then professor, before he made the move to one of Europe’s leading technical & engineering universities; KTH Royal Institute of Technology 13 years ago.
Join Erik and Jan as they talk about path to digital education at KTH, Sweden, and why institutions should start considering digitalization as an investment and not a cost.
Interviewer: Erik Harrell, CEO, Keystone Education Group: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erikharrell/
Interviewee: Jan Gulliksen, Vice President for Digitalization at KTH Sweden: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jangulliksen/
Podcast website: https://www.keystoneacademic.com/higher-ed-chats-podcast
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Join us for a conversation with Andrea Nollent, Former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Law. Topics include inspiration and ideas that make your school unique, big trends in law schools and curriculum, and the future of online education.
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Erik Harrell speaks with Dr. Sven Schütt, CEO of IU International University of Applied Sciences, who has the ambitious goal of creating the largest university in the world.
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Keystone's CEO, Erik Harrell, speaks with Dr. Lori S. White to discuss liberal arts education in 2021 and beyond. Dr. White is the first woman and African American to become President of DePauw University, one of the top liberal arts institutions in Indiana. Dr. White has more than 30 years of experience in student-focused leadership and academic roles. While the pandemic shook up things in education, many opportunities have opened up that may benefit students. Dr. White shares her first-hand experience as a leader breaking down barriers and encouraging diversity within higher education leadership.
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This month, Erik talks to Dr. Karen Panetta, Dean of Graduate Education at Tufts University, about how she started a global movement to help inspire young women to pursue education in the fields of science, engineering, and technology (STEM). Dr. Panetta also shares her personal experiences, telling how a young girl from Boston grew up to become a tenured Dean of Graduate Education at Tufts University and recipient of the Presidential Award for Science and Engineering Education Mentoring. An inspirational story for all, especially young girls and women considering opportunities in STEM.
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Erik speaks with Stephen Hodges, President of Hult International Business School about what it takes to build and lead a "new kind" of business school for the future.
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Keystone CEO, Erik Harrell speaks with Harrisburg University of Science and Technology President Eric Darr about how HU grew from 500 to 10,000+ students in under a decade.
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Listen to Keystone Academic Solutions CEO Erik Harrell discusses the impact of the US presidential election on international student recruitment with Paul Keller from Rochester Institute of Technology.
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