In this episode of EdTech and Pancakes, host Razmik Sargsyan speaks with Javier Fontoba, Strategic Partner Manager for Europe at Flywire, a global provider in the fintech space processing cross-border transactions across more than 100 countries. Before moving to fintech, Javier ran international admissions himself at ESIC Business and Marketing School in Valencia, which gives him a rare view from both sides of the student payment journey.

The conversation covers what international students and their families actually experience when paying tuition fees abroad, what the data from 1,600 students across top European business schools reveals about payment friction and enrollment conversion, and how institutions can turn a moment of high anxiety into a competitive advantage. Javier also shares his contrarian take on international student recruitment, and why chasing volume without looking at fit is costing universities more than they realise.

𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀

00:00 Introduction

01:04 Javier's journey from admissions to fintech

03:01 The pain of paying tuition fees abroad

06:05 How Flywire works and what it solves

09:00 The DreamApply and Flywire integration

11:48 What 1,600 students told Flywire about payment security

14:33 Why only 59% of students go to the university when they have doubts

17:11 How to communicate with students and parents separately

20:41 Removing friction by simplifying information

21:42 Administrative bottlenecks: acceptance letters and visa timelines

23:05 How automation turns a negative into a conversion lever

27:28 DreamApply citizenship-based portal personalisation

29:22 AI and the future of admissions in 5 to 10 years

33:37 DreamApply AI Highlighter and governed use of AI

35:27 Communicating the ROI of higher education

40:02 Contrarian take: quality over quantity in international recruitment

43:33 The experience of the rejected applicant

44:27 Refunds and the student who did not make it

𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗹𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲

Request a free Smart Admissions Plan: https://www.dreamapply.com/personalized-admissions-plan?utm_source=spotify&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=flywire

Book a free demo of DreamApply: https://www.dreamapply.com/request-a-demo?utm_source=spotify&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=flywire

Explore case studies: https://www.dreamapply.com/case-studies?utm_source=spotify&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=flywire

Learn more about FlyWire: https://www.flywire.com/

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.

#EdTech #HigherEducation #StudentRecruitment #Admissions #InternationalStudents #EnrollmentManagement #Flywire #DreamApply #TuitionPayments #HigherEdFinance #StudentExperience #AdmissionsManagement #intled

Every admissions team is working hard. But somewhere between the first inquiry and enrollment, students disappear. This conversation is about why that happens, and what the institutions getting it right are doing differently.

EdTech and Pancakes is a podcast by DreamApply about admissions, student recruitment, and the trends reshaping higher education. In this episode, Razmik Sargsyan sits down with Akos Kiraly, Prokurist at SRH Higher Education, one of the leading providers of private higher education in Germany and the Netherlands, serving over 23,000 students across five universities and more than 100 study programs.

Akos has spent 15 years on both sides of international student recruitment. He came to Germany as an international student himself and now leads international growth strategy for one of Germany's largest private university groups. SRH has been a DreamApply partner for several years, and in this conversation Akos speaks from direct experience about what works, what doesn't, and what most institutions are still getting wrong.

TOPICS COVERED

00:00 A glimpse of the episode02:11 Welcome and introduction04:37 The SRH merger: what changed overnight for admissions07:08 How DreamApply supported the merger through co-creation11:18 Every intake is almost a new generation14:43 How global instability is reshaping student psychology15:44 From the Big 4 to the Big 14: Germany's moment19:14 What today's applicants actually want as proof of ROI25:30 Domestic vs international students: different recruitment principles27:21 When marketing brings the lead and admissions closes it28:44 Education has the value of a car — and should be treated like it31:09 The 3 KPIs admissions and marketing teams must align on33:09 Focus groups: the most underused tool in higher education34:12 How SRH uses DreamApply and what co-creation really means36:32 How to get the most out of your admissions system39:40 What takes most time in admissions and how technology helps42:06 AI in admissions: putting handcuffs on the right decisions42:36 Why consistency across 12 to 15 months matters more than most think44:06 The applicant launching 5 to 7 applications simultaneously45:06 Word of mouth starts at the application stage47:45 What most admissions leaders won't admit about their role in sales52:02 Automation vs personalization: how to combine both57:00 What Akos wishes he had known 10 years ago59:16 Exporting German higher education: a new way to think about growth01:00:22 Closing reflections

RESOURCES

Request your free Smart Admissions Plan:https://www.dreamapply.com/personalized-admissions-plan?utm_source=spotify&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=akos_kiraly

Book a demo:https://www.dreamapply.com/request-a-demo?utm_source=spotify&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=akos_kiraly

Explore case studies:https://www.dreamapply.com/case-studies?utm_source=spotify&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=akos_kiraly

Read the blog:https://www.dreamapply.com/blog?utm_source=spotify&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=akos_kiraly

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.

In this episode of EdTech & Pancakes, host Razmik Sargsyan speaks with Isidora Andjus, Senior Talent Acquisition Advisor at École Polytechnique, one of France's most prestigious engineering schools and one of DreamApply's latest partners. Isidora shares what student recruitment looks like at an institution where selectivity is the strategy, and candidates are C-level executives with nearly two decades of professional experience.

The conversation covers the challenges of recruiting a niche, high-value audience, the importance of a fluid and personalized admissions process, and why Isidora's closing advice applies to any admissions professional regardless of country: automate what you can, and put your human energy where only you can make a difference.

If you work in admissions or student recruitment and are looking to streamline your process, DreamApply offers a free Personalized Admissions Plan to help you identify the most impactful improvements for your specific context. DreamApply works with partners across 40+ countries, including France.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction

00:53 Isidora's journey and role at École Polytechnique

05:40 Day-to-day work and primary challenges

10:18 Mistakes to avoid in international student recruitment

16:36 Qualities of an effective international student recruiter

18:27 How and why École Polytechnique chose DreamApply

23:17 The most surprising benefit of DreamApply

25:27 What makes student recruitment in France unique

28:39 Advice for institutions looking to streamline admissions

31:15 One insight to walk away with

Request a free demo: https://www.dreamapply.com/request-a-demo?utm_source=Spotify&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=podcast

Get a free Personalized Admissions Plan: https://www.dreamapply.com/personalized-admissions-plan?utm_source=Spotify&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=podcast

More podcast episodes: https://www.dreamapply.com/podcast?utm_source=Spotify&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=podcast

---

Dans cet épisode d'EdTech & Pancakes, Razmik Sargsyan s'entretient avec Isidora Andjus, Senior Talent Acquisition Advisor à l'École Polytechnique, l'une des grandes écoles les plus prestigieuses de France et l'un des derniers partenaires de DreamApply. Isidora partage ce que représente le recrutement étudiant dans un établissement où la sélectivité est au coeur de la stratégie, avec des promotions limitées à 36 participants et des candidats dirigeants avec près de vingt ans d'expérience.

La conversation aborde les défis du recrutement d'un public de niche à haute valeur, l'importance d'un processus fluide et personnalisé, et pourquoi le conseil final d'Isidora s'applique à tout professionnel de l'admission: automatisez ce qui peut l'être, et concentrez votre énergie là où vous seul pouvez faire la différence.

DreamApply propose un Plan d'Admission Personnalisé gratuit pour vous aider à identifier les améliorations les plus impactantes pour votre contexte. DreamApply collabore avec des partenaires dans plus de 40 pays, dont la France.

Plan d'Admission Personnalisé gratuit: https://www.dreamapply.com/personalized-admissions-plan?utm_source=Spotify&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=podcast

Demandez une démo gratuite: https://www.dreamapply.com/request-a-demo?utm_source=Spotify&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=podcast

In this episode of EdTech & Pancakes, host Razmik Sargsyan speaks with Lauri Elevant, Chief Technical Officer and Co-founder of DreamApply.

As DreamApply marks its 15th anniversary, they discuss the platform’s evolution and how it currently supports educational institutions with different needs: increasing qualified applicants, managing high-volume admissions and dealing with other marketing and student recruitment pain points.Drawing on DreamApply's experience with 300+ educational institutions in over 40 countries, Lauri shares practical principles and advice on the technology of admissions that the higher ed community can apply in 2026.

The CTO also explains DreamApply’s careful approach to AI and how it manifests in DreamApply's new feature, the AI Highlighter.

𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀

𝙋𝙖𝙧𝙩 1: 𝙈𝙤𝙙𝙚𝙧𝙣 𝙖𝙙𝙢𝙞𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨 𝙖𝙧𝙘𝙝𝙞𝙩𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙚

00:00 Lauri Elevant and 15 years of building admissions tech

01:03 The origin and evolution of DreamApply

03:30 DreamApply's applicant-focused approach

05:43 Sense of mission in the DreamApply team

06:49 "We can't fail them": deadlines and last-day submissions

09:04 Equality and access to education as motivation for team DreamApply

10:17 DreamApply's software and what problems it solves in 2026

10:51 2 kinds of educational institutions and their priorities

11:47 What all universities and DreamApply clients have in common

13:24 DreamApply's priority with new clients: help save time first, then streamline more

𝙋𝙖𝙧𝙩 2: 𝙄𝙣𝙘𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙨𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙦𝙪𝙖𝙡𝙞𝙛𝙞𝙚𝙙 𝙖𝙥𝙥𝙡𝙞𝙘𝙖𝙣𝙩𝙨

16:41 3 layers to increasing qualified applicants

17:01 Layer 1: reduce the chance of losing high-value applicants

17:43 Layer 2: address the attention span of applicants

18:35 Remove friction for applicants and smoothen their ride

19:37 Layer 3: marketing tools and meaningful analytics

20:37 Cost and source per successful candidate, not clicks or vanity metrics

21:38 Integrating DreamApply with offline campaigns

𝙋𝙖𝙧𝙩 3: 𝙃𝙞𝙜𝙝-𝙫𝙤𝙡𝙪𝙢𝙚 𝙨𝙘𝙖𝙡𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙖𝙪𝙩𝙤𝙢𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣

22:38 Saving time in high-volume and high-pressure contexts

23:17 Staying fair to applicants while automating workflows

24:14 The logic of objective ranking and scoring algorithms

25:44 The video interview solution

26:25 Keeping admissions teams in power and solving the quota problem

28:16 Hybrid approach: bulk vs. live admissions

29:17 Post-evaluation communication with different applicants

𝙋𝙖𝙧𝙩 4: 𝘾𝙧𝙤𝙬𝙙𝙨𝙤𝙪𝙧𝙘𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙞𝙣𝙣𝙤𝙫𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙞𝙢𝙥𝙡𝙚𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣

30:48 Personalized solutions for different educational institutions

32:57 How DreamApply features are made with and for universities

35:38 Navigating the technological limitations of old systems

38:17 The role of setup managers in ensuring adoption success

𝙋𝙖𝙧𝙩 5: 𝘼𝙄 𝙧𝙞𝙨𝙠𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙥𝙤𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙗𝙞𝙡𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙚𝙨, 𝘿𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙢𝘼𝙥𝙥𝙡𝙮'𝙨 𝘼𝙄 𝙝𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙡𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙚𝙧

40:32 What's most misunderstood about admissions by the higher ed community ?

41:40 Lauri's concerns about premature use of AI in admissions: signal vs. noise

43:42 The risk of fraud and impertinence of motivation letters

46:22 Positive possibilities of AI in admissions with proper guardrails

48:00 DreamApply's new tool: the AI Highlighter

48:30 How the name "highlighter" carries DreamApply's AI philosophy

50:17 Putting "handcuffs" on AI for objectiveness and legal reasons

50:56 Multiple ways to increase accuracy

57:51 How to use AI as a force multiplier for smart teams

1:01:13 What the AI Highlighter makes it possible for DreamApply users?

𝘾𝙤𝙣𝙘𝙡𝙪𝙨𝙞𝙤𝙣

1:07:38 What is Lauri most excited about in terms of DreamApply's journey in 2026

1:12:55 CTO's advice: choose stability over revolution

𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗹𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗮 𝗳𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝗱𝗲𝗺𝗼

👉 https://www.dreamapply.com/?utm_source=Spotify&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=podcast

#EdTech #Admissions #HigherEducation #StudentRecruitment #AI #DreamApply #AdmissionsManagement

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.

⸻

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.

⸻

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

⸻

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

#higered #admssions #switzerland #education #management #productivity #software #studentrecruitment #enrollment #studentenrollment #DreamApply #edtech #internationaleducation #podcast #tips

What does it take to succeed in international admissions while staying grounded?

In this episode of EdTech & Pancakes, recorded at Corvinus University of Budapest, we speak with Viktória Kulman-Bundy, International Student Recruitment Executive, and Adriana Villalobos, International Admissions Executive.

Together, we explore their personal journeys, how their roles complement each other, and what it really takes to attract the right students — while staying collaborative and purpose-driven in an evolving higher education landscape.

They also reflect on the behind-the-scenes complexity of student recruitment and admissions, the importance of team dynamics, and how tools like DreamApply help simplify communication and streamline processes for both students and staff.

If you work in student recruitment, international admissions, or higher education marketing, this episode is for you.

Segments

00:00 Intro

00:30 Introduction to the podcast guests

02:06 From an international student to an international recruiter

03:38 What’s misunderstood about working in admissions

10:30 Why tools like DreamApply are essential for modern admissions teams

12:12 Why Hungary and Corvinus attract international students

15:03 How to boost efficiency and save time in admissions management

16:30 Prioritizing well-being as a productivity hack

18:27 Final tips for admissions and higher ed professionals

📌 Learn more about DreamApply, book a free demo, explore case studies, blogs, podcast episodes and more at https://www.dreamapply.com/

💡 Want small changes that lead to big admissions results?

Request a Smart Admissions Plan, a resource packed with actionable tips and insights tailored for busy admissions teams.

https://www.dreamapply.com/smart-admissions-plan/

⸻

#EdTech #HigherEducation #StudentRecruitment #AdmissionsStrategy #DreamApply #InternationalAdmissions #UniversityMarketing #AdmissionsLeadership #DigitalAdmissions #EdTechAndPancakes

Are you looking for a better way to manage your the admissions process at your educational institution?

In this episode of EdTech and Pancakes, we sit down with Rita Csuri-Magosi and Emília Szörényi from the University of Szeged to uncover their practical strategies for:

✔️ Building trust in high-pressure admissions environments

✔️ Using tools like DreamApply to humanize and digitize workflows

✔️ Balancing automation with a personal touch

✔️ Avoiding common mistakes like low requirements, complex forms or unclear processes

DreamApply is an admissions management platform tested by over 300 educational institutions in 40 countries. It enables educational institutions to automate application workflows, personalize applicant communication and convert more qualified applicants while delivering a transparent and user-friendly experience.

𝐖𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐛𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐬 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐚𝐝𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐲? Get a free, personalized admissions strategy tailored to your institution's goals and challenges. No fluff. No pressure. Just smart, actionable insights.

👉 Start here: https://www.dreamapply.com/personalized-admissions-plan/

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

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

𝐓𝐨𝐩𝐢𝐜𝐬

00:00 Intro

00:18 Meet the guests: Rita and Emília from Szeged

02:50 Szeged's unique approach to admissions

04:14 Using tools to humanize the process

04:57 Navigating the pressure of decision-making

07:10 DreamApply as a holistic admissions tool

08:44 DreamApply's CRM functions

09:50 Optimizing the overall process of admissions

10:42 Raising application fees as a filter

11:42 Justifying fees & how DreamApply helps

12:45 Simplifying & future-proofing procedures

14:04 Mistake to avoid: asking too many questions

15:08 Mistake to avoid: setting low fees and requirements

17:24 Balancing automation with personalization

18:58 Chatbots and AI

19:47 Using DreamApply to sustain a personal touch

21:10 Tip: make things intuitive

22:34 Tip: digitize your process with DreamApply

#AdmissionsSoftware #studentrecruitment #edtech #educationmarketing #DreamApply #StudentEnrollment #UniversityAdmissions #DigitalAdmissions #StudyInHungary #EdTechAndPancakes #UniversityOfSzeged #Hungary

In this episode of EdTech & Pancakes, we sit down with Cuong (Chris) Hoang, CEO of Saigon Business School (SBS), to explore Vietnam’s rise as a global study destination and the role of technology in modernizing admissions and international student recruitment.

𝐒𝐞𝐠𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬

00:00 Taste of the episode

01:36 Introducing Cuong (Chris) Hoang, CEO of Saigon Business School

06:28 Less need for agents & the more need for stronger admissions systems

09:27 What makes Vietnam an attractive study destination

13:14 How Saigon Business School boosts internationalization

16:42 Top challenges of attracting international applicants to Southeast Asia

20:07 3 biggest mistakes universities in the region make in international student recruitment

24:27 The role of right tools and software

27:07 Why SBS decided to use DreamApply

29:58 What excites Cuong most about the future of SBS with DreamApply

31:21 What’s preventing Southeast Asian universities from digitising their systems faster

33:43 How DreamApply helps its clients maximise benefits

34:29 The role of automation in admissions

36:25 DreamApply's automations, GDPR & personalization

37:07 How to reduce incomplete applications

41:06 How DreamApply encourages applicants to take the next step

42:13 How to attract the right applicants

44:55 Concluding remarks

Learn more about Saigon Business School at https://sbsedu.vn/

𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐧𝐞𝐱𝐭 𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐩 𝐢𝐧 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐦𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐚𝐝𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬?

Learn about DreamApply's admissions management software, explore resources such as our podcast, case studies & blog and request a free demo.

Join 300 educational institutions in 40 countries that enroll more students with less effort using DreamApply's award winning software.

👉 https://buff.ly/067Qfjx

Request a free strategy booster for your educational institution👉 https://buff.ly/c2khELS

𝐀𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐃𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐦𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐲

Founded in 2011 in Estonia, DreamApply is an innovation-driven EdTech organization that improves access to education around the globe. DreamApply’s application management software helps more than 300 educational institutions across 40 countries improve admissions, marketing, financial and other internal processes.

DreamApply’s easy-to-use and customizable software increases student enrollment by 30% and reduces application processing time by 40%. With features designed with and for educational institutions, and integrations with commonly used systems, DreamApply empowers teams to get more done with less effort.

#vietnam #studentrecruitment #software #southeastasia #edtech #highereducation #marketing #tips #podcast #education #admissionsmanagement #universitymarketing

How do you increase student applications by 1000% in just 5 years? In this episode of EdTech & Pancakes, we sit down with Daria Milone, Head of Admissions at the University of Pavia, to break down the strategy, execution and tools that made it possible.

From strategy to execution, Daria reveals her Italian recipe for effective and compassionate student recruitment with particular focus on international student recruitment.

𝐓𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐬

00:00 Taste of the episode

01:39 Introduction of the guest

02:32 How Daria got into student recruitment and the history of Pavia's admissions team

08:38 The pressure behind admissions decisions: careers & futures at stake

11:55 The most and least enjoyable parts of admissions management

15:32 Why anticipating needs is a key to improving international student enrollment

17:37 How universities should evaluate and make decisions on tools

18:28 Daria's impression of DreamApply's software

20:33 How Pavia used DreamApply to scale applications by 1000%

26:23 DreamApply as a tool for Italian universities & educational institutions (PagoPA integration and other unique aspects)

30:03 Tips for maximizing DreamApply's impact within and beyond admissions

32:34 The uniqueness of INTERNATIONAL student recruitment & what's misunderstood about it

33:47 Top mistakes to avoid in international student recruitment

35:42 What Gen Z & Gen Alpha expect from universities & how to adapt (e.g. more video + conciseness)

39:24 Trends that will influence admissions in 2025 & pros and cons of AI

42:55 DreamApply's video interview feature for mitigating AI-generated cover letters

43:47 Why international students should consider University of Pavia

46:12 "May the student in you live forever"

46:49 “Put yourself in the students’ shoes and make them feel home far away from home"

𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐥𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞

🌍 DreamApply Website: https://www.dreamapply.com/

📚 Case Study: How Pavia Achieved 1,000% Growth → https://www.dreamapply.com/case-studies

🎙️ More Podcast Episodes: https://www.dreamapply.com/podcast

📈 Get a Personalized Admissions Strategy: https://www.dreamapply.com/personalized-admissions-plan

#HigherEd #AdmissionsSuccess #InternationalRecruitment #EdTech #DreamApply #HolisticAdmissions

In this episode of EdTech and Pancakes, we dive deep into the art and science of international student recruitment with our special guest, Alberto Lazzari, Global Engagement Officer at the University of Padua, one of Europe’s oldest academic institutions.

00:00 Taste of the episode

01:20 Alberto’s journey to working with student recruitment

03:35 How a background in sales influences Alberto’s approach

06:14 What’s misunderstood about international student recruitment

09:44 Challenges in modern student recruitment

11:16 Keeping an eye on student trends and influences

13:23 How Padua University uses DreamApply for insights

14:25 Using flags and trackers in DreamApply

15:48 Importance of personalization in student recruitment

17:13 How Alberto runs experiments for customizing the applicant journey

19:50 Requesting tailored solutions from DreamApply

21:07 Automating the process while maintaining authenticity

25:18 Mistakes to avoid when segmenting applicants

27:53 Benefits and pitfalls of using AI in recruitment

32:35 DreamApply tools that mitigate AI risks

33:53 Using DreamApply’s integration with Zapier

35:39 Integration of admissions and marketing teams

41:35 In-person recruitment events

43:19 The University of Padua overview

47:48 Italy as a study destination

50:35 Final tips for recruitment officers