ICEF Eurasia 2026

Array ( [0] => Array ( [id] => a1XbG000004O0xRUAS [title] => Refreshment break [summary] => [type] => Refreshment break [topic] => [roomName] => Foyer [audience] => Array ( [0] => All ) [dateOfPresentation] => 2026-03-26 [startTime] => 16:00 [durationMinutes] => 30 [linkToSlides] => [capacity] => [isProfessionalDevelopment] => 0 [isCPDAccredited] => 0 [registrationUrl] => [registrationUrlName] => [presenters] => Array ( ) [typeTheme] => Array ( [primaryColour] => [primaryAccentColour] => [secondaryColour] => [secondaryAccentColour] => [iconBeforeUrl] => [iconBeforeClass] => [iconAfterUrl] => [iconAfterClass] => ) [topicTheme] => [isProfessionalDevelopmentTheme] => Array ( [primaryColour] => [primaryAccentColour] => [secondaryColour] => [secondaryAccentColour] => [iconBeforeUrl] => [iconBeforeClass] => [iconAfterUrl] => [iconAfterClass] => ) [isCPDAccreditedTheme] => Array ( [primaryColour] => [primaryAccentColour] => [secondaryColour] => [secondaryAccentColour] => [iconBeforeUrl] => [iconBeforeClass] => [iconAfterUrl] => [iconAfterClass] => ) [sponsors] => Array ( ) ) [1] => Array ( [id] => a1XbG000004O0nlUAC [title] => Strategic networking: Building stronger partnerships • Agents & Providers [summary] =>

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 Eurasia 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

Driven by strong governmental support for internationalisation, which includes a 30% increase in the number of study abroad scholarships offered by the country’s Education Ministry, Azerbaijan has emerged as a rapidly growing international student source country.

In this presentation, we will look at the overall growth of outbound international students, as well as key study destinations. Additionally, we offer insight into the preferences of Azeri students, providing practical recruitment strategies that will benefit institutions with an established presence in the country and newcomers alike.

With 86 million inhabitants, nearly half of whom are under the age of 30, Türkiye ranks eighteenth in terms of population. Moreover, despite a challenging start to the year, the country boasts a strong economy, which grew by nearly 4% in Q3 of 2025. Driven by a mix of favourable economic conditions and the limited places available in the domestic tertiary education system, demand is high for study abroad opportunities, making Türkiye a potent target for international student recruitment professionals.

In this presentation, we will provide an overview of student preferences as well as a summary of popular and growing study destinations. Additionally, the session offers a wealth of practical tips for recruiters looking to enter or expand within this diverse country. The audience will also have an opportunity to participate, with a short Q&A rounding out the talk.

[type] => Presentation [topic] => Market Intelligence [roomName] => Seminar Room [audience] => Array ( [0] => All ) [dateOfPresentation] => 2026-03-26 [startTime] => 15:00 [durationMinutes] => 25 [linkToSlides] => [capacity] => [isProfessionalDevelopment] => 0 [isCPDAccredited] => 0 [registrationUrl] => [registrationUrlName] => [presenters] => Array ( ) [typeTheme] => Array ( [primaryColour] => [primaryAccentColour] => [secondaryColour] => [secondaryAccentColour] => [iconBeforeUrl] => https://www-cdn.icef.com/wp-content/themes/icef_lmnop_v3/assets/images/whiteboard-chart.svg [iconBeforeClass] => whiteboard-chart [iconAfterUrl] => [iconAfterClass] => ) [topicTheme] => Array ( [primaryColour] => #00a6cf [primaryAccentColour] => [secondaryColour] => [secondaryAccentColour] => [iconBeforeUrl] => https://www-cdn.icef.com/wp-content/themes/icef_lmnop_v3/assets/images/pie-bar-chart.svg [iconBeforeClass] => pie-bar-chart [iconAfterUrl] => [iconAfterClass] => ) [isProfessionalDevelopmentTheme] => Array ( [primaryColour] => [primaryAccentColour] => [secondaryColour] => [secondaryAccentColour] => [iconBeforeUrl] => [iconBeforeClass] => [iconAfterUrl] => [iconAfterClass] => ) [isCPDAccreditedTheme] => Array ( [primaryColour] => [primaryAccentColour] => [secondaryColour] => [secondaryAccentColour] => [iconBeforeUrl] => [iconBeforeClass] => [iconAfterUrl] => [iconAfterClass] => ) [sponsors] => Array ( ) ) [4] => Array ( [id] => a1XbG000004O0vpUAC [title] => Flexible study, long-term benefits: The growing appeal of short-term study programmes [summary] =>

With demand growing for study abroad opportunities, short-study programmes offer an attractive alternative to full-time courses for prospective students on tighter budgets or with commitments that do not allow them to be away from home for long periods of time. Flexible, affordable, and available across a range of study destinations, short-term study programmes have become increasingly popular in recent years.

In this interview, panellists provide an overview of the short-term study programme landscape. The session covers the growing appeal of this programme type among Central European and Asian students, highlights the main benefits of short-term study, and identifies the popular study destinations.

As the number of international students continues to grow, study destinations around the world are increasingly focused on questions of quality and sustainability. In many destinations, and certainly across Australia, Canada, the UK, and the US (“the big four”), stringent regulations have come into force, which aim to ensure that international students receive transparent, high-quality support from recruitment professionals.

In this session, we will introduce the lessons that have been learned from across the major study destinations. We not only look into the latest rules and regulations but also key compliance measures, as well as the benefits that global standards bring to students. The session will then wrap up with a live Q&A session, allowing our guest speakers to elaborate on important points.

The international education landscape is evolving. Key international student decision making factors now include cost of study and living, ease of visa access, and return on investment, as well as more traditional concerns such as institutional ranking. At the same time, the range of study destinations has expanded well beyond the historic “big four” of Australia, Canada, the UK, and the US, with the sector increasingly moving away from a “market era” dominated by volume towards a “managed era”, where quality and sustainability are key.

In this new landscape, countries such as China, Hong Kong, South Korea, Vietnam, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, France, and Germany, are all promoting themselves as attractive alternatives, offering a range of advantages to prospective students such as proximity, a lower cost of study and living, or accessible visa options. In this session, we will discuss the range of options now open to students from across Central Europe and Asia.

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:

AI and the future of international education: To what extent is it a threat or an aid to existing recruitment processes? - TBA
Students on a 100% scholarship: What do they need to gain and retain this award? - TBA
The growing responsibilities of K-12 & boarding school providers: What does safeguarding look like? - Sander van Aartrijk
Recruiting from Kazakhstan: What are the key student expectations of an international edcuation? - TBA
Which countries are most welcoming for Eurasian students? - Oana Lelcu

- There will be two sittings of all tables, each lasting 25 minutes. The first begins at 18:00; the second at 18:30.

- There will be two sittings of all tables, each lasting 25 minutes. The first begins at 18:00; the second at 18:30.

- There will be two sittings of all tables, each lasting 25 minutes. The first begins at 18:00; the second at 18:30.

- There will be two sittings of all tables, each lasting 25 minutes. The first begins at 18:00; the second at 18:30.

[type] => Round tables - Child Item [topic] => [roomName] => Seminar Room [audience] => Array ( [0] => All ) [dateOfPresentation] => 2026-03-26 [startTime] => 18:30 [durationMinutes] => 25 [linkToSlides] => [capacity] => [isProfessionalDevelopment] => 0 [isCPDAccredited] => 0 [registrationUrl] => [registrationUrlName] => [presenters] => Array ( [0] => Array ( [id] => a8DbG000000KzwzUAC [name] => Oana Lelcu [salutation] => Ms [firstName] => Oana [lastName] => Lelcu [fullName] => Lelcu, Oana [jobTitle] => Global Marketing & Sales Director [account_id] => 0012000000NCSOhAAP [profileImageURL] => https://cdn.img.icef.com/files/photos/0032000000p16mP.jpg [recordType] => Educator [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. [linkedin] => [contactEmail] => oana.lelcu@srh.de [contactId] => 0032000000p16mPAAQ [role] => Moderator [company] => SRH Universities Germany ) ) [typeTheme] => Array ( [primaryColour] => [primaryAccentColour] => [secondaryColour] => [secondaryAccentColour] => [iconBeforeUrl] => [iconBeforeClass] => [iconAfterUrl] => [iconAfterClass] => ) [topicTheme] => [isProfessionalDevelopmentTheme] => Array ( [primaryColour] => [primaryAccentColour] => [secondaryColour] => [secondaryAccentColour] => [iconBeforeUrl] => [iconBeforeClass] => [iconAfterUrl] => [iconAfterClass] => ) [isCPDAccreditedTheme] => Array ( [primaryColour] => [primaryAccentColour] => [secondaryColour] => [secondaryAccentColour] => [iconBeforeUrl] => [iconBeforeClass] => [iconAfterUrl] => [iconAfterClass] => ) [sponsors] => Array ( ) ) )

Thu • Mar 2614:00 - 14:25Seminar Room

Strategic networking: Building stronger partnerships • Agents & Providers

Professional Development

Discussion

Presenter

Sergey Krasnyanskiy

Sergey studied in Germany, Ukraine and Russia and achieved two Master of Science degrees in Economics and Marketing. He started his career at ICEF in 2000 and has been working in a variety of positions with agents as well as with educators and service providers from all over the world while focusing on the CIS markets. Currently, he oversees strategic partnerships across Eastern and Western Europe, Central Asia, and the Caucasus.

Strategic Partnerships Manager, ICEF

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

Thu • Mar 2614:30 - 14:55Seminar Room

Market update: Azerbaijan

Market Intelligence

Presentation

Presenter

Minakhanim Aliyeva

I am a British Council Certified Counsellor currently working at AKARE AZ LLC, where I have been supporting students with their overseas education plans since 2021. Throughout my professional experience, I have successfully guided a wide range of students through every stage of the application process, from academic profiling and university selection to offer management and visa guidance. I take a student-centred approach and focus on finding the most suitable academic pathways based on each student’s goals, background and future career plans. Over the past several years, I have helped many students gain admission to universities across our main destinations, including the USA, Canada, the UK, Europe, Asia, Australia and Turkey.

Study Abroad Advisor, AKARE AZ LLC

Thu • Mar 2615:00 - 15:25Seminar Room

Market update: Turkiye

Market Intelligence

Presentation

Thu • Mar 2615:30 - 15:55Seminar Room

Flexible study, long-term benefits: The growing appeal of short-term study programmes

Thought Leadership

Interview

Moderator

Reine Banu Karamanoğlu

Reine Banu Karamanoglu is ICEF’s Turkey and Europe Agent Relation’s Manager. She worked in European institutions in several fields including education, public relations, law, communication for over ten years, she also had experience in abroad education previously. She has a degree in Bachelor of Arts in Linguistics. She also holds Master of Arts degree in European Studies from Sussex University. She studied in France having gained degrees in Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts. She had training and certificates in Public Relations and Journalism. She is fluent in Turkish, English and French. She has a beginner level in Italian and German and currently learning Portuguese.

Agent Relations Türkiye & Europe, ICEF

Panelist

Joe Paley

Joe Paley is the Head of International and Partnership Development at University of South Wales (USW), where he leads a team of professionals who are responsible for delivering the university's 2030 strategy in the areas of international recruitment and partnerships. Joe is passionate about enhancing the quality and diversity of international education, and fostering meaningful and sustainable partnerships with stakeholders across the globe. He is also an Executive Committee Member at BUILA, where he represents Welsh universities.

Head of International and Partnership Development, University of South Wales

16:00 - 16:30

Refreshment break

Thu • Mar 2616:30 - 17:10Seminar Room

Raising professional standards in international student recruitment: Lessons from the “big four”

Market Intelligence

Panel discussion

Moderator

Martijn van de Veen

Martijn van de Veen is the Chief Business Development Officer at ICEF, a leading global organisation that facilitates connections within the international education industry. In his role, Martijn oversees strategic growth initiatives, with a current focus on emerging study destinations, particularly in East and Southeast Asia. He also explores the synergies between online learning and international education and is responsible for strategic growth within relevant industry verticals, especially digital/AI, accommodation, and finance. On top of being the host of the leading ICEF Podcast series for international education professionals, Martijn frequently moderates ICEF webinars as well as panel discussions at ICEF events around the world, covering topics from policy changes and digital innovations to student flows and emerging destinations. In addition, in 2023 Martijn was recognised as one of the 50 leading voices in European international education by The Pie News. Martijn's extensive career in international education includes his time as the Global Director of the International Student Identity Card (ISIC) and as the Founder and MD of ‘Student Card Service Japan’. With a degree in Japanese, French, and International Business Communications, and having lived and worked in multiple international locations including Tokyo, Paris, Ho Chi Minh City, Vancouver, Bangkok and Amsterdam, Martijn brings a wealth of international education sector insights and a broad global perspective.

CBDO, ICEF

Panelist

Bharat A Sakhuja

Bharat works in international education and currently leads international student recruitment at the University of Portsmouth, with responsibility across global admissions, marketing, partnerships, and government-sponsored programmes across the Portsmouth and London campuses He works closely with academic and professional services colleagues to support sustainable international growth and a strong student experience. With over ten years’ experience across higher education and government-facing roles, Bharat has worked extensively across Asia, the Middle East, Africa, South America and Europe. Earlier in his career, he worked with the Embassy of India in the UK, supporting India–UK education, trade and diplomatic engagement.

Head of International Student Recruitment, University of Portsmouth

Panelist

Brian Scriver

Brian Scriver is a senior leader in international student recruitment, marketing, and communications at a Canadian public polytechnic institute. He brings over a decade of experience driving global market entry, brand positioning, and enrolment growth across diverse regions. Brian’s work sits at the intersection of education, technology, and process optimization.

Manager International Recruitment, Southern Alberta Institute of Technology

Thu • Mar 2617:15 - 17:55Seminar Room

The evolving study destination landscape: Exploring the options available to Central European and Asian students

Market Intelligence

Panel discussion

Moderator

Seher Neöz

Seher joined ICEF in 2007 as a university student and is now the Central and Eastern Europe Director at ICEF. She has over 15 years of experience in advising educational institutions across Europe on growing and diversifying international student recruitment. She works closely with educators and industry service providers to help them strategise best practices with agent engagement, as well as, on how to market their brand to the right audiences through marketing support, consulting, sponsorship, exposure on digital & offline media and ICEF Events. Seher gained a Bachelor of Arts with Honours in Translation Studies at the London Metropolitan University and also graduated in Translation Studies and Political Sciences from the University of Bonn. She is fluent in German, English, Turkish and Kurdish and speaks French on intermediate level.

VP of EMEAA, ICEF

Panelist

Timothy Hubbard

Timothy Hubbard has over 15 years of experience in international education and student recruitment. He is currently the Director of International Student Recruitment at the University of Nottingham Ningbo China, leading strategic initiatives to support students interested in studying at Nottingham’s campus in Ningbo. Previously, Timothy worked with Kaplan International Pathways for more than nine years, including four years as Operations Manager at Kaplan’s China headquarters in Beijing. He also spent six years at the University of East Anglia as Head of East Asia Recruitment and Partnerships focusing on building recruitment partnerships across the region. Timothy has spent over half of his career in international education working in China.

Director of International Student Recruitment, University of Nottingham Ningbo China

Panelist

Mohamed Abdelhady

Moe Kamal, Jr. is Executive Director of Strategic Communications, Marketing and Student Recruitment at Ajman University. With 15+ years of higher-education experience across the Middle East and the Americas, including senior roles at Global University Systems (GUS), his work has been featured by Google Think, LinkedIn, and Adobe Engage. He led the Be Career Ready Campaign, named Campaign of the Year (Education – UAE) by GovMedia, and was recognized as the Most Influential Leader in Marketing and Student Recruitment (UAE).

Executive Director of Strategic Communications, Marketing & Student Recruitment, Ajman University

Panelist

Chen Maowei

I am a tenure-track faculty member in the Global Business major within the Department of Global Convergence at Kangwon National University. In addition to my teaching and research responsibilities, I serve as Vice Director of the Global Talent Network Center, where I actively promote the development of international cooperative education programs. My work focuses on fostering cross-border academic partnerships, designing globally oriented curricula, and supporting international students’ academic and professional growth. Through these roles, I strive to strengthen global engagement, enhance institutional competitiveness, and contribute to building an inclusive and innovative educational environment.

Professor, Kangwon National University

Thu • Mar 2618:00 - 18:55Seminar Room

Roundtable series

Roundtables

Moderator

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 Marketing & Sales Director, SRH Universities Germany

Moderator

Sander van Aartrijk

Sander van Aartrijk is a Dutch sports management professional currently serving as the Dean of Sports at the Ecole Nouvelle de la Suisse Romande (ENSR) in Lausanne, Switzerland. Since August 2002, he has managed the sports department and international promotion for ENSR. His key responsibilities include: Sports Department Management: Overseeing daily operations and annual "extra-curricular" activities, such as summer and winter sports camps. Inter-School Competitions: Coordinating competitions across 20 different disciplines within the Suisse Romande region. International Promotion: Representing and promoting the school in Asia and the Middle East at educational forums like ICEF.

Dean of sports & summer/winter camps , member of the international promotion group, Ecole Nouvelle de la Suisse Romande, Switzerland

- 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:

AI and the future of international education: To what extent is it a threat or an aid to existing recruitment processes? - TBA
Students on a 100% scholarship: What do they need to gain and retain this award? - TBA
The growing responsibilities of K-12 & boarding school providers: What does safeguarding look like? - Sander van Aartrijk
Recruiting from Kazakhstan: What are the key student expectations of an international edcuation? - TBA
Which countries are most welcoming for Eurasian students? - Oana Lelcu

14:00 - 14:25Seminar Room

Strategic networking: Building stronger partnerships • Agents & Providers

Seminar Room

Professional Development

Sergey KrasnyanskiyPresenterStrategic Partnerships Manager, ICEF

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

14:30 - 14:55Seminar Room

Market update: Azerbaijan

Seminar Room

Market Intelligence

Minakhanim AliyevaPresenterStudy Abroad Advisor, AKARE AZ LLC

15:00 - 15:25Seminar Room

Market update: Turkiye

Seminar Room

Market Intelligence

15:30 - 15:55Seminar Room

Flexible study, long-term benefits: The growing appeal of short-term study programmes

Seminar Room

Thought Leadership

Reine Banu KaramanoğluModeratorAgent Relations Türkiye & Europe, ICEF

Joe PaleyPanelistHead of International and Partnership Development, University of South Wales

16:30 - 17:10Seminar Room

Raising professional standards in international student recruitment: Lessons from the “big four”

Seminar Room

Market Intelligence

Martijn van de VeenModeratorCBDO, ICEF

Bharat A SakhujaPanelistHead of International Student Recruitment, University of Portsmouth

Brian ScriverPanelistManager International Recruitment, Southern Alberta Institute of Technology

17:15 - 17:55Seminar Room

The evolving study destination landscape: Exploring the options available to Central European and Asian students

Seminar Room

Market Intelligence

Seher NeözModeratorVP of EMEAA, ICEF

Timothy HubbardPanelistDirector of International Student Recruitment, University of Nottingham Ningbo China

Mohamed AbdelhadyPanelistExecutive Director of Strategic Communications, Marketing & Student Recruitment, Ajman University

Chen MaoweiPanelistProfessor, Kangwon National University

18:00 - 18:55Seminar Room

Roundtable series

Seminar Room

Oana LelcuModeratorGlobal Marketing & Sales Director, SRH Universities Germany

Sander van AartrijkModeratorDean of sports & summer/winter camps , member of the international promotion group, Ecole Nouvelle de la Suisse Romande, Switzerland

- 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:

AI and the future of international education: To what extent is it a threat or an aid to existing recruitment processes? - TBA
Students on a 100% scholarship: What do they need to gain and retain this award? - TBA
The growing responsibilities of K-12 & boarding school providers: What does safeguarding look like? - Sander van Aartrijk
Recruiting from Kazakhstan: What are the key student expectations of an international edcuation? - TBA
Which countries are most welcoming for Eurasian students? - Oana Lelcu

Seminar Programme ICEF Eurasia