Admissions can’t take months anymore. Students expect clarity fast.

In this episode of EdTech and Pancakes, Dr. Bert Wolfs, Academic Dean of SBS Swiss Business School, explains why traditional admissions timelines no longer match student expectations and how universities can adapt to stay competitive in a global market.We discuss the future of international higher education, the rise of “educational shopping,” shifting student behavior, AI readiness in universities, the role of data in enrollment decisions, and what an entrepreneurial mindset looks like inside admissions teams.

This episode also touches on resilience, mental well-being, skill gaps, intrapreneurship, and other topics.SBS

Swiss Business School is part of DreamApply’s global community of institutions optimizing their admissions workflows with DreamApply's software. Dr. Wolfs shares how SBS uses DreamApply not only to manage applications, but to understand where students struggle, improve communication, and make data-driven enrollment decisions.

This conversation is relevant for admissions directors, international offices, enrollment managers, higher education strategists, EdTech professionals and enthusiasts who want practical insights into faster, clearer and more student-centered admissions.

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About DreamApply

Founded in 2011 in Estonia, DreamApply seeks to simplify the admissions process for educational institutions and millions of applicants globally.More than 300 educational institutions in more than 40 countries have benefited from DreamApply’s application management software to improve admissions and related processes.

DreamApply’s easy-to-use and customizable software is known to increase international student enrollment by 50% and reduce application processing time by 40% on average.

With features designed with and for educational institutions, and integrations with commonly used systems, DreamApply empowers teams to get more done with less effort.

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Want a more efficient and student-friendly admissions strategy?

👉 Get a free Smart Admissions Plan: https://www.dreamapply.com/personalized-admissions-plan/

🌍 Learn more about DreamApply: https://www.dreamapply.com

📆 Book a free demo: https://www.dreamapply.com/request-a-demo

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Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Dr. Bert Wolfs, Academic Dean of SBS

01:42 How did you move from corporate life into academia?

04:21 What defines SBS Swiss Business School and what makes it distinct?

06:27 How international higher education will evolve in the next decade

12:15 What universities should understand about AI and accuracy

14:39 Biggest mistakes in admissions management

17:01 Attraction vs conversion: where educational institutions lose applicants

21:13 What today’s applicants are really looking for

26:47 How AI and automation will influence graduate career paths

29:30 Intrapreneurship vs entrepreneurship for future talent

32:20 What an entrepreneurial mindset means for admissions and enrollment teams

33:55 The strategic importance of DreamApply for Swiss Business School

35:32 How to use DreamApply beyond application processing

38:01 Which parts of admissions will change most in the next 5 years

39:07 The role of technology in ensuring resilience for educational institutions

42:13 Principles for strategic automation

44:07 If you could impose one rule on higher education

45:00 Final advice: Dr. Wolfs recommends DreamApply

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