Seminar Programme ICEF Eurasia

This session will provide educators with a step-by-step guide on how to make the most out of their participation at ICEF events in general and ICEF Eurasia in particular.

• The session will cover the following topics:
• How to maximise your time during the event
• Post-event follow-up and agent contracts
• How to maximise your working relationship with providers and agents

With a population of 86 million people, nearly half of which is under the age of 30, Türkiye is a key destination for international student recruitment professionals. Driven by domestic capacity issues, especially within the higher education sector, demand for international education opportunities is high, with more than 52,000 outbound students currently identified by UNESCO, and the number expected to grow in the coming years. 

In this session, we provide a detailed market overview, including updates on the educational advances Türkiye has made, the relatively low English proficiency scores driving demand for ELT, pathway and foundation programmes, the ongoing impact of the devastating 2023 earthquakes and strategic tips helping attendees make the most of the strong market opportunity Türkiye represents.

When considering study options, one common issue for international students is the distinction between public and private universities. At their core, the two are differentiated by their sources of funding. Public universities are funded, or part-funded, by the state and operate on a non-profit basis. In contrast, private universities are funded from a range of sources including tuition fees, donations from private figures or industry, and endowments. Some, although not all, are run on a for-profit basis. 

In this session, we look at the differences beyond the funding. We consider the cost implications of attending private and public universities, as well as the respective pros and cons in terms of programme range, class size, facilities, accommodation, and student support. With both public and private universities offering unique advantages, the purpose of this session is to help familiarise the audience with the differences so they can better support their students in making an informed decision.

The F1 visa interview can be a daunting experience, but students who come prepared have a much higher likelihood of having their visa approved. Representatives from EnglishUSA and its membership will provide insight into preparing for the visa interview and participants will have the opportunity to role play the visa interview process. 

The seminar will cover essential topics such as common interview questions, appropriate dress code, required documentation, and strategies for demonstrating strong ties to one's home country.

While the US, the UK, Australia, and Canada - the “big four” - remain popular study destinations with hundreds of thousands of international students each year, their popularity has been dented by a range of factors, including the relatively high cost of living, as well as policy decisions aimed at restricting migration. At the same time, student preferences have evolved to take such factors as proximity, cost of living, ease of gaining a visa, and access to programmes in a range of languages, driving considerable demand across a number of emerging destinations. 

In this session, we look at the factors driving the shift in interest away from the “big four”. We look at what students expect in a newly competitive market, and how governments across a range of prospective destinations are responding to their needs in order to effectively drive up enrolments.

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:

• Ensuring visa application success in a changing policy environment - the UK
• Cultural sensitivity in recruitment: Understanding the needs and expectations of Eurasian students
• Building stronger partnerships: Meeting the challenges of quality student recruitment
• The impact of digital transformation and social media to expand study abroad opportunities in Eurasia
• Financial support and scholarships: Key factors for recruitment from Balkans