Start your ICEF experience with the collective intelligence of the room. In this fast-paced, 25-minute "Mastermind" session, we move beyond the handshake to tackle the real-world challenges of 2026. Participants will be seated at mixed tables of educators and agents to engage in a series of "lightning round questions" focused on student success, and the future of the industry. You will leave this session not just with new contacts, but with a toolkit of proven strategies and fresh perspectives to fuel your meetings for the rest of the event.
While the demand for an international education continues to grow, the destination can no longer be taken for granted. With prospective students and their families increasingly basing their choice of study destination on a range of practical factors from cost of study / living to proximity, a number of new study destinations have emerged.
In this session, we dig into the evolving international education landscape, touching on a number of key topics including:
The push and pull factors influencing student decision-making
The countries emerging as leading study destinations for Asian students
As the international education sector continues to grow more competitive, it is essential that recruiters do not grow complacent. With AI already providing students with the basics, adopting a one-size-fits-all approach across a region as diverse as Asia is a strategic misstep that could easily prove the difference between sustainable recruitment and a steady decline in numbers.
In this panel discussion, we look at strategies that work, exploring the different approaches that have shown to be effective in three major international student sending countries: Phillipines, Thailand, and Vietnam.
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[bio] => Oana Lelcu is Global Sales Marketing Director at SRH Universities, where she designs and leads the international strategy for the Group. She currently focuses on leveraging AI and digital technologies to transform student recruitment and admissions processes, helping SRH scale their global reach while improving applicant experience through data-driven insights and automated solutions.
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[title] => Adapting to a post-big-four world: Recruiting in an era of instability
[summary] =>
For the last quarter of a century, Australia, Canada, the UK, and the US have stood as the world’s leading study destinations - the “big four”. With students drawn by the top ranking institutions, high-quality education, and globally recognised qualifications, they attracted large numbers of enrolments, with the US alone recruiting over a million students a year.
However, the rapid growth of the international education industry has resulted in a backlash, with widely-reported policy shifts causing prospective students to see the big four in a less favourable light. While there is no doubt that they remain popular destinations, for recruiters it is increasingly important to focus on high-quality, sustainable enrolments, while reassuring their clients that these countries remain firmly open for business. In this panel discussion, we provide a number of strategic tips to support recruitment professionals in an era of instability.
As distinct from a panel session or keynote, the roundtables provide a space for a less-structured discussion but with guidance from an informed specialist. To provide that guidance, each table is led by a host whose role is to moderate and animate the discussion around the topic at hand.
- There will be two sittings of all tables, each lasting 25 minutes. The first begins at 18:00; the second at 18:30.
Roundtables' topics:
The importance of continued professional development in establishing credibility in international student recruitment - TBA
The emergence of AI as a leading search tool: How students are finding their ideal institution - TBA
The educator - agent relationship: What works and where can we do better? - TBA
Getting into education earlier: exploring the global K-12 sector - TBA
As distinct from a panel session or keynote, the roundtables provide a space for a less-structured discussion but with guidance from an informed specialist. To provide that guidance, each table is led by a host whose role is to moderate and animate the discussion around the topic at hand.
- There will be two sittings of all tables, each lasting 25 minutes. The first begins at 18:00; the second at 18:30.
As distinct from a panel session or keynote, the roundtables provide a space for a less-structured discussion but with guidance from an informed specialist. To provide that guidance, each table is led by a host whose role is to moderate and animate the discussion around the topic at hand.
- There will be two sittings of all tables, each lasting 25 minutes. The first begins at 18:00; the second at 18:30.
As distinct from a panel session or keynote, the roundtables provide a space for a less-structured discussion but with guidance from an informed specialist. To provide that guidance, each table is led by a host whose role is to moderate and animate the discussion around the topic at hand.
- There will be two sittings of all tables, each lasting 25 minutes. The first begins at 18:00; the second at 18:30.
As distinct from a panel session or keynote, the roundtables provide a space for a less-structured discussion but with guidance from an informed specialist. To provide that guidance, each table is led by a host whose role is to moderate and animate the discussion around the topic at hand.
- There will be two sittings of all tables, each lasting 25 minutes. The first begins at 18:00; the second at 18:30.
As distinct from a panel session or keynote, the roundtables provide a space for a less-structured discussion but with guidance from an informed specialist. To provide that guidance, each table is led by a host whose role is to moderate and animate the discussion around the topic at hand.
- There will be two sittings of all tables, each lasting 25 minutes. The first begins at 18:00; the second at 18:30.
As distinct from a panel session or keynote, the roundtables provide a space for a less-structured discussion but with guidance from an informed specialist. To provide that guidance, each table is led by a host whose role is to moderate and animate the discussion around the topic at hand.
- There will be two sittings of all tables, each lasting 25 minutes. The first begins at 18:00; the second at 18:30.
As distinct from a panel session or keynote, the roundtables provide a space for a less-structured discussion but with guidance from an informed specialist. To provide that guidance, each table is led by a host whose role is to moderate and animate the discussion around the topic at hand.
- There will be two sittings of all tables, each lasting 25 minutes. The first begins at 18:00; the second at 18:30.
As distinct from a panel session or keynote, the roundtables provide a space for a less-structured discussion but with guidance from an informed specialist. To provide that guidance, each table is led by a host whose role is to moderate and animate the discussion around the topic at hand.
- There will be two sittings of all tables, each lasting 25 minutes. The first begins at 18:00; the second at 18:30.
As distinct from a panel session or keynote, the roundtables provide a space for a less-structured discussion but with guidance from an informed specialist. To provide that guidance, each table is led by a host whose role is to moderate and animate the discussion around the topic at hand.
- There will be two sittings of all tables, each lasting 25 minutes. The first begins at 18:00; the second at 18:30.
As distinct from a panel session or keynote, the roundtables provide a space for a less-structured discussion but with guidance from an informed specialist. To provide that guidance, each table is led by a host whose role is to moderate and animate the discussion around the topic at hand.
- There will be two sittings of all tables, each lasting 25 minutes. The first begins at 18:00; the second at 18:30.
View the full event seminar programme for ICEF Asia 2026, where we welcome guest speakers and panellists to discuss the latest trends in international education. The seminars will take place on Wednesday June 10th between 14:00 and 19:00.
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to
Wed • Jun 1014:00 - 14:25Seminar room
Sharing industry best practices & insights: Peer-to-Peer exchange
Discussion
Start your ICEF experience with the collective intelligence of the room. In this fast-paced, 25-minute "Mastermind" session, we move beyond the handshake to tackle the real-world challenges of 2026. Participants will be seated at mixed tables of educators and agents to engage in a series of "lightning round questions" focused on student success, and the future of the industry. You will leave this session not just with new contacts, but with a toolkit of proven strategies and fresh perspectives to fuel your meetings for the rest of the event.
Wed • Jun 1014:30 - 14:55Seminar room
Expanding opportunities and changing preferences: Where will Asian students head in 2026 and beyond?
Interview
While the demand for an international education continues to grow, the destination can no longer be taken for granted. With prospective students and their families increasingly basing their choice of study destination on a range of practical factors from cost of study / living to proximity, a number of new study destinations have emerged.
In this session, we dig into the evolving international education landscape, touching on a number of key topics including:
The push and pull factors influencing student decision-making
The countries emerging as leading study destinations for Asian students
Wed • Jun 1015:00 - 15:25Seminar room
TBA
Presentation
Wed • Jun 1015:30 - 15:55Seminar room
TBA
Presentation
Presenter
Van Banh
Van Banh
Van has been leading the New Zealand Government’s education internationalisation efforts in Vietnam since 2018. She works closely with New Zealand institutions to strengthen marketing strategies and government relations across sectors from K 12 to tertiary.
Prior to ENZ, Van was Business Development Manager at Enterprise Singapore, driving initiatives that boosted Singapore companies’ growth and investments into Vietnam. She also headed Marketing Communications at LogiGear, a Silicon Valley software testing company with a strong presence in Vietnam.
Her diverse background in business development and communications underpins her role in advancing New Zealand’s education presence and partnerships in Vietnam.
Country Manager - Viet Nam, Education New Zealand
16:00 - 16:30
Refreshment break
Wed • Jun 1016:30 - 17:10Seminar room
One size fits no one: Adopting a nuanced approach to recruitment in a diverse region
Panel discussion
Moderator
Oana Lelcu
Oana Lelcu
Oana Lelcu is Global Sales Marketing Director at SRH Universities, where she designs and leads the international strategy for the Group. She currently focuses on leveraging AI and digital technologies to transform student recruitment and admissions processes, helping SRH scale their global reach while improving applicant experience through data-driven insights and automated solutions.
Global Director Marketing & Sales, SRH Universities Germany
As the international education sector continues to grow more competitive, it is essential that recruiters do not grow complacent. With AI already providing students with the basics, adopting a one-size-fits-all approach across a region as diverse as Asia is a strategic misstep that could easily prove the difference between sustainable recruitment and a steady decline in numbers.
In this panel discussion, we look at strategies that work, exploring the different approaches that have shown to be effective in three major international student sending countries: Phillipines, Thailand, and Vietnam.
Wed • Jun 1017:15 - 17:55Seminar room
Adapting to a post-big-four world: Recruiting in an era of instability
Panel discussion
For the last quarter of a century, Australia, Canada, the UK, and the US have stood as the world’s leading study destinations - the “big four”. With students drawn by the top ranking institutions, high-quality education, and globally recognised qualifications, they attracted large numbers of enrolments, with the US alone recruiting over a million students a year.
However, the rapid growth of the international education industry has resulted in a backlash, with widely-reported policy shifts causing prospective students to see the big four in a less favourable light. While there is no doubt that they remain popular destinations, for recruiters it is increasingly important to focus on high-quality, sustainable enrolments, while reassuring their clients that these countries remain firmly open for business. In this panel discussion, we provide a number of strategic tips to support recruitment professionals in an era of instability.
Wed • Jun 1018:00 - 18:55Seminar room
Roundtable series
Roundtables
As distinct from a panel session or keynote, the roundtables provide a space for a less-structured discussion but with guidance from an informed specialist. To provide that guidance, each table is led by a host whose role is to moderate and animate the discussion around the topic at hand.
- There will be two sittings of all tables, each lasting 25 minutes. The first begins at 18:00; the second at 18:30.
Roundtables' topics:
The importance of continued professional development in establishing credibility in international student recruitment - TBA
The emergence of AI as a leading search tool: How students are finding their ideal institution - TBA
The educator - agent relationship: What works and where can we do better? - TBA
Getting into education earlier: exploring the global K-12 sector - TBA
Sharing industry best practices & insights: Peer-to-Peer exchange
Seminar room
Start your ICEF experience with the collective intelligence of the room. In this fast-paced, 25-minute "Mastermind" session, we move beyond the handshake to tackle the real-world challenges of 2026. Participants will be seated at mixed tables of educators and agents to engage in a series of "lightning round questions" focused on student success, and the future of the industry. You will leave this session not just with new contacts, but with a toolkit of proven strategies and fresh perspectives to fuel your meetings for the rest of the event.
14:30 - 14:55Seminar room
Expanding opportunities and changing preferences: Where will Asian students head in 2026 and beyond?
Seminar room
While the demand for an international education continues to grow, the destination can no longer be taken for granted. With prospective students and their families increasingly basing their choice of study destination on a range of practical factors from cost of study / living to proximity, a number of new study destinations have emerged.
In this session, we dig into the evolving international education landscape, touching on a number of key topics including:
The push and pull factors influencing student decision-making
The countries emerging as leading study destinations for Asian students
15:00 - 15:25Seminar room
TBA
Seminar room
15:30 - 15:55Seminar room
TBA
Seminar room
Van BanhPresenterCountry Manager - Viet Nam, Education New Zealand
16:30 - 17:10Seminar room
One size fits no one: Adopting a nuanced approach to recruitment in a diverse region
Seminar room
Oana LelcuModeratorGlobal Director Marketing & Sales, SRH Universities Germany
As the international education sector continues to grow more competitive, it is essential that recruiters do not grow complacent. With AI already providing students with the basics, adopting a one-size-fits-all approach across a region as diverse as Asia is a strategic misstep that could easily prove the difference between sustainable recruitment and a steady decline in numbers.
In this panel discussion, we look at strategies that work, exploring the different approaches that have shown to be effective in three major international student sending countries: Phillipines, Thailand, and Vietnam.
17:15 - 17:55Seminar room
Adapting to a post-big-four world: Recruiting in an era of instability
Seminar room
For the last quarter of a century, Australia, Canada, the UK, and the US have stood as the world’s leading study destinations - the “big four”. With students drawn by the top ranking institutions, high-quality education, and globally recognised qualifications, they attracted large numbers of enrolments, with the US alone recruiting over a million students a year.
However, the rapid growth of the international education industry has resulted in a backlash, with widely-reported policy shifts causing prospective students to see the big four in a less favourable light. While there is no doubt that they remain popular destinations, for recruiters it is increasingly important to focus on high-quality, sustainable enrolments, while reassuring their clients that these countries remain firmly open for business. In this panel discussion, we provide a number of strategic tips to support recruitment professionals in an era of instability.
18:00 - 18:55Seminar room
Roundtable series
Seminar room
As distinct from a panel session or keynote, the roundtables provide a space for a less-structured discussion but with guidance from an informed specialist. To provide that guidance, each table is led by a host whose role is to moderate and animate the discussion around the topic at hand.
- There will be two sittings of all tables, each lasting 25 minutes. The first begins at 18:00; the second at 18:30.
Roundtables' topics:
The importance of continued professional development in establishing credibility in international student recruitment - TBA
The emergence of AI as a leading search tool: How students are finding their ideal institution - TBA
The educator - agent relationship: What works and where can we do better? - TBA
Getting into education earlier: exploring the global K-12 sector - TBA
TBA
Wednesday, June 10Thursday, June 11Friday, June 12
