Seminar Programme ICEF China 2025

Perfect for regular attendees to both refresh their knowledge and share their experiences with first timers, this special session provides practical tips and strategies for making the most out of any ICEF event, and ICEF China in particular. 

With community at the heart of the international education industry, this session presents a unique opportunity for ICEF regulars and newcomers alike to pool their knowledge in a supportive environment, fostering a more productive event experience. 

Topic areas include: 

• Making the most of your time during the event
• Developing effective post-event follow-up strategies and agent contracts
• Building a mutually beneficial relationship with providers and agents 

While appealing to the same age group, offering some of the same cultural opportunities, and potentially held on the same campus, international K-12 and summer schools are vastly different in terms of study duration, student needs, and learning outcomes. As a result, it is essential that agents and institutions avoid a one-size-fits-all application approach, focusing on ensuring the best possible experience for students according to their chosen pathway. 

In this panel discussion, we look at the different approaches suitable for K-12 and summer school learning opportunities. With reference to established best practice, we consider the extent to which K-12 and summer schools require pre-arrival support, internal placement tests to effectively stream classes, induction sessions to ensure student familiarity with the locale, and more. 

While there remains a strong desire for international education opportunities among Chinese students, the impact of a sluggish Chinese economy combined with increasingly stringent visa policies in key study destinations is having a significant impact on outbound student numbers.

In this panel discussion, we look at how agents can convert student interest into enrolment, with a focus on the importance of transparent and comprehensive communications as being key to a successful conversion. 

Faced by a range of challenges, from domestic economic issues to the policy decisions that have increasingly impacted visa access across Australia, Canada, the UK, and the US, Chinese student preferences are evolving. While the big four remain immensely popular, the appeal of closer, cheaper alternatives is encouraging Chinese students to consider a diverse range of study destinations. 

In this session, we take a data-driven look at the destinations that are increasing their popularity with Chinese students. We look at the most common destination preferences that have emerged, as well as their primary advantages over the big four, including ease of access to visas, more readily available accommodation, and rapidly advancing quality of education. 

In an increasingly competitive international student landscape, it is essential to stand out from the crowd. One way that institutions have sought to do this is through their academic reputation and position in the rankings. However, with a range of different rankings available, it is not always easy to communicate an institution’s successes to potential students. 

In this presentation, we look at the role of agents as an institution’s spokesperson, helping to promote the value and quality of the education they provide. With a focus on the importance of effective training, we consider how agents and institutions can work together in order to raise conversions and build sustainable channels of recruitment for the future. 

The largest single source market for international students, China is immensely important for recruitment professionals. However, in order to effectively and sustainably recruit from the country, it is necessary to understand the motivating factors driving students to select their study destination - both in terms of country and institution. 

While an institution’s academic reputation (often expressed via rankings) remains a determining factor, recent reports indicate that Chinese students also consider a number of other factors including the proximity of their chosen study destination and the presence of a Chinese community, as well as a number of practical considerations such as climate, cost of living, and access to work opportunities. 

In this panel discussion, we dig into the growing range of factors that attract Chinese students and consider how these can best be leveraged in effective marketing materials.