Seminar Programme ICEF Secondary Education KL 2026

This introductory session is a perfect fit both for first timers wishing to learn more about forming partnerships; and for regular event attendees, who can share their valuable experience in the field. It provides practical tips and strategies for making the most out of any ICEF event, and ICEF Secondary Education KL in particular. 

The international education sector is built on close relationships, and is at its best when professionals are able to share best practice and learn from one another. This session represents a unique opportunity for attendees to pool their knowledge in a supportive environment, ensuring a more productive event experience for all. 

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 
• Tips for breaking the ice in meetings

Join us for an in-depth exploration of the latest ICEF Agent Voice survey results, offering insights specifically tailored to trends and challenges in secondary education student recruitment.

Key topics to look forward to:

• Recruitment expectations
• Student Visa approval rates
• Agency Remuneration & Partnership

The ICEF Agent Voice survey is conducted annually with ICEF-screened agents from over 100 countries. The survey stands out for its consistency, extensive reach, and detailed insights, comparing the perspectives of agents worldwide. It provides fresh insights into how agents are adapting to and addressing global challenges.

There has long been a tendency for students, their parents, and even agents to take the financial sustainability of schools for granted. However, with institutions at all levels facing increased financial pressure, the risk of closure has grown exponentially. While such closures are traumatic for all involved, they are particularly damaging for international students who, alongside the study disruption, also face the possibility of losing both their study visa and their overall investment.  

In this panel discussion, we look at examples of recent school closures, identifying the causes and examining the indicators that would have warned prospective students and encouraged them to apply elsewhere. Through these examples, we offer clear, practical strategies for conducting financial due diligence upon institutions, providing agents with an essential toolkit that can be used in supporting their students.

Born between 2010 and 2024, and defined by exposure to digital technology throughout their upbringing, Gen Alpha are sometimes referred to as “digital natives” who both consume online material heavily and are fluent in its creation. A diverse generation who communicate freely across borders, Gen Alpha requires very different support to the generations that preceded it. 

In this panel discussion, we focus on Gen Alpha in the world of international education. We explore ways in which professionals responsible for both the recruitment and training of Gen Alpha students can effectively identify their needs and develop appropriate responses.

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:

1. Differentiating your message: How can we tailor our social media channels to reach both students and their parents?
2. To what extent are high schools and boarding schools preparing their students for an AI world?
3. Evolving student preferences: Which are the key emerging study destinations across Asia?
4. TBA
5. TBA