Keystone Higher Ed Chats

Why is Abu Dhabi emerging as one of the world's fastest-growing destinations for international students? Dr. Hassan Ammari, Head of Student Recruitment at Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi, joins us to unpack why international students are increasingly choosing the UAE over traditional study destinations.

With over 20 years of experience in international education, Dr. Ammari explains how Abu Dhabi's long-term vision, safety, visa accessibility, and transnational education models are attracting international students worldwide.

We sit down with Fredrik Högemark, CEO and Co-Founder of Keystone Education Group, to discuss what defined international higher education in 2025, the biggest challenges universities are currently facing, and how student priorities have evolved over his 20+ years in the industry. Fredrik shares insights on AI’s growing role in student recruitment, examines shifting government policies across major destination countries, and reveals what’s on the cards for international higher education in 2026.

Hicham Abdallah, International Promotion Officer at ICN Business School in Paris, joins us to explore how English-taught programs in France are opening new doors for international students. With deep experience supporting students from Africa and the Middle East, Hicham reveals key trends in global student mobility, explains what makes France a compelling destination for English-language education, and discusses how ICN uses this in its recruitment strategy.

Mark Pettitt, CEO and Founder of Edified, explores the practical reality of AI in international student recruitment. Where is AI actually making a difference in higher ed beyond the hype?

Mark also shares insights from the annual Enquiry Experience Tracker Global Report 2025 -developed by Edified in partnership with Uniquest- to reveal how universities worldwide are responding to prospective students' inquiries.

Are you sure you know what international students WANT — and even more importantly, what they DO NOT WANT — from your marketing?

In this episode of Keystone Higher Ed Chats, Joanna Kumpula, Head of International Education at Tampere University, breaks down some of the key findings from our State of Student Recruitment 2025 report - based on insights from our survey of 42,000 international students.

With over 20 years of experience in international higher education, Joanna shares what's really driving student decisions: the growing demand for authentic, in-person communication; how cost transparency can make or break an application; and why a program-first approach is creating new opportunities for universities to compete — regardless of brand recognition.

In this episode of Keystone Higher Ed Chats, we speak with Dr. Jaeho Yeom, President of Taejae University in South Korea, who is transforming 21st-century higher education. Discover how his innovative educational model integrates active learning, artificial intelligence, and global experiences.

Dr. Yeom shares how AI is transforming every aspect of education and why simply acquiring explicit knowledge is no longer enough for universities, which must focus on fostering critical thinking and creativity.

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.