300
Global economic impact (billion)
5.5
Annual growth rate (%)
5.6
International students (million)
Who is ICEF
ICEF is the global market leader in business-to-business networking events and services for the international education sector. For over 25 years, we have been connecting education institutions and carefully chosen student recruitment agents with destination marketing organisations to create new partnerships and resources for international student recruitment.
Our unrivalled global programme of online and in-person networking events offers destination marketing organisations an efficient and cost-effective platform to introduce their brand and access new clients in growing markets.
Access customers at their most receptive with ICEF
International students represent a unique opportunity for Destination Marketing Organisations: They are active economic contributors to their place of study and base their decision on where to go, not just on their vocation/career plans, intended qualification and choice of education institution, but also on the appeal of a city, region or country.
As international students stay longer and spend more than the average tourist while also encouraging visits from friends and family, securing the attention of this group has a number of significant advantages. With their contribution to your location’s soft power, adding to its regeneration and development, attracting students can kickstart change. Last but not least, these students can become your lifelong ambassadors after graduating.
Each year, millions of students from around the world choose to pursue their studies in higher education abroad. Popular study destinations such as the US, United Kingdom, Canada, France, Germany and Australia are well known for attracting large numbers of inbound students, while up-and-coming destinations like the UAE, Singapore, Malaysia and Argentina have also been experiencing growing numbers of international students from their respective regions.
Historically, most international students come from Latin America, Asia, Europe, Africa and the Middle East.
How our network can help you
The majority of international students around the world find their final education institution and programme of study through international student recruitment agencies based in their home countries. These study abroad agencies are specialist recruiters who know the application and immigration process for their key markets, giving expert advice and guidance to would-be students. Education agencies are therefore critical in introducing new study destinations, identifying the right programmes abroad, and assisting students with advice.
Student recruitment agencies, as well as the education institutions abroad, are ideally positioned to partner with your organisation. They can build awareness of your city or region as a study destination – and you can meet them at ICEF networking events. With access to information in many of these outbound student countries sometimes being difficult, a recommendation from an agent to a student is often a key factor in their decision as to where to study.
Webinars for Destination Marketing Organisations
Study Destination Marketing:Promote your city or region as a study destination
The promotion of cities as study destinations
Market intelligence for Destination Marketing Organisations
ICEF Monitor is the leading source of market intelligence for the international study abroad sector. Browse the latest articles relevant to destination marketing below:
International arrivals up 225% through May 2022
International travel volumes are surging this year. The latest data from the UNWTO World Tourism Barometer reports just under 250 million international arrivals for the first five months of 2022. This represents a nearly 225% increase over the 77 million arrivals reported for January–May 2021. A better benchmark, however, might be that that year-to-date volumeContinue reading…
Agents indicate significant international student interest in working while studying
At ICEF Monitor, we regularly report on research about agents’ perceptions of demand for study abroad and the factors influencing prospective international students’ choice of destination, institution, and programme. In addition, we speak regularly with agents across the world. This gives us an ongoing and up-to-the-minute understanding of the top motivations and concerns of students consideringContinue reading…
Are more US employers shifting away from degree requirements?
“Jobs do not require four-year college degrees. Employers do,” says a recent report from The Burning Glass Institute, a US-based research centre focused on “the future of work and of workers.” Burning Glass has produced two reports on the subject this year, and they both point to an important reset in the labour market withContinue reading…
London takes top spot (again) in ranking of student cities
QS’s “Best Student Cities” ranking for 2023 has been released, and it is informed by the perceptions of more than 98,000 current and former students. This year, 110 cities were evaluated – all of which had to have a population of at least 250,000 to qualify. Several factors contribute to the overall ranking of aContinue reading…
Survey finds international students more focused on the future, and careers in particular
What a lot has changed in the span of two years – or even one. Looking back on our reporting in 2020 and 2021, prevalent themes included students’ struggles with mental health, consumers’ growing expectation that brands be more caring in their communications, and governments’ responses to COVID-19 playing a role in the popularity of studyContinue reading…
Latest ranking tables reveal continuing global shifts in economic and academic influence
The ascent of Chinese universities up world university rankings has slowed in pace since the last time we checked in on the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings. Meanwhile, THE rankings editor Ellie Bothwell singles two other countries as ones to watch in terms of their institutions’ performance in the 2022 rankings. A coupleContinue reading…
Global survey shows that many language schools and agents will need to raise prices due to inflation
Language schools and agents have been severely affected by the impacts of the pandemic over the past couple of years – losing students, staff, and revenue to the point where many have had to shut their doors. Now, they are also dealing with the effects of inflation. A new report from ALTO (The Association ofContinue reading…
Latin American institutions increasingly prepared to compete for international students
In the landscape of international education, there are sometimes stories and trends that show just how much this industry can do to better the world – to make it more cooperative, to improve the lives of students (not to mention their kids and parents), to move people from places of violence and corruption to placesContinue reading…
Visa processing delays a hurdle for major study abroad destinations this year
There is a growing disconnect between pent-up demand for study abroad and significant visa processing delays in the countries students want to study in. As a result, agents and students must adapt planning this year and file visa applications much further in advance than in a typical year for study programmes in many top studyContinue reading…
Mapping labour market skills gaps in leading study destinations
Ever more, leading destinations for international students are tying their immigration strategies to skills gaps in their economies, as well as their allowances for students working while studying or post-graduation (see Australia and Canada for recent examples). Given that many students are interested in programmes with strong post-graduation career outcomes, we’ve devoted this article toContinue reading…
Upcoming events
To find out how ICEF can help you access this rapidly growing market, please contact us or browse our upcoming events:
Testimonials
Engaging ICEF has greatly assisted Study NSW to develop a strong foundation for our international student alumni strategy.
Toshi Kawaguchi, Study NSW, Australia
Service Provider
I enjoy regional ICEF events. The agents are well vetted, and they come with well-researched questions. It shows good preparation. This was my second time attending ICEF Southeast Asia, and I highly recommend it.
Julia Salema , Study Insured by Ingle International, Canada
Service Provider
This event was absolutely incredible. We met many promising contacts, the
event was executed seamlessly - and it was fun! Can’t wait to see the business
opportunities that develop as a result of this.
Lauren Adams, Voxy, USA
Service Provider
