ICEF Podcast

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