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Return to Bulletin Home - February 2007 |
Americas Workshop Report
The 2006 ICEF Americas Workshop You can get to Miami from anywhere, and that is why it's the site of the ICEF Americas Workshop. The workshop has an unmistakable Latin flavour, but it brings educators and agents from around the world to this international gateway in South Florida. There are more direct flights from Florida airports to Latin American and Caribbean destinations than from all other US cities combined. US and international carriers also have numerous direct flights to Europe and one-stop service to many destinations in the Asia-Pacific.
The ICEF workshop in Miami is the largest and most international event of its kind in the Americas. The 2006 workshop drew 278 participants representing 210 organisations from 39 countries, including markets in North, South, and Central America, the Caribbean, Europe, Asia, Africa, and Oceania. Attendance grew by 12% in 2006, with 22% of all participants—and 28% of agents—attending their first-ever ICEF workshop. "I enjoyed the opportunity to present our programme to agents from many countries," said Javier Valenzuela of Oaklawn Academy (US). Studentum's Johanna Clasesson (Sweden) agreed, "We find that the ICEF workshops in general are very fruitful and timesaving when it comes to establishing new relationships and meeting with existing clients. There are a good variety of schools on the workshops from different countries, areas of study, and with a high level of quality."
The Ritz-Carlton Key Biscayne Before beginning the nearly 3,000 one-to-one appointments conducted during the workshop sessions on Monday and Tuesday, participants were invited to join a series of high-level market intelligence seminars on the Sunday afternoon and evening. Sessions included an overview of student mobility in the Americas from Daniel Obst of the Institute of International Education, a presentation on innovative online recruitment strategies by Cheryl Darrup-Boychuck of USjournal.com, and an introduction to the UK's point-based migration system by Nichola Croft, UK Visas' deputy director of visa services for Latin America. Please see the related articles in this issue for seminar highlights and further discussion of market trends in the Americas, e-recruitment, and language usage on the Internet.
The workshop was held at the Ritz-Carlton Key Biscayne, an exclusive resort property within easy reach of Miami's downtown districts but separate enough that educators and agents could sample the beaches and sunshine of South Florida and engage in informal discussions outside of workshop sessions. The site drew rave reviews from workshop attendees (please see below for a sample).
See the ICEF website for a photo gallery from the 2006 workshop as well as dates and information for the 2007 Americas Workshop.
Participant Comments: 2006 Americas Workshop Venue Rodrigo Hernandez, Representaciones Educativas International, Guatemala
"The social events offered the opportunity to speak in greatest depth with the agents and educational providers. Thank you for your hard work."
Mary Thomas, Lyndon Institute, US
"Excellent location, accommodation and super food. A very stimulating environment."
Dorothy Rudy, Spanish Works Inc., US
"Congratulations on the organisation and logistics. Beautiful hotel."
Erick Forero, Foba Ltda., Colombia
"We live at the same hotel with educators and where the workshop halls are, so we save much time in transportation and can be able to set up the meeting with educators out off the workshop time. And also this time we have had a very good time to join and get to know other agents at the party and dance. It's fantastic."
Nguyen Thu Ha, Cleverlearn VN, Vietnam
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