LATEST NEWS

Get caught up on BMI's announcements from around the world.

New report offers key insights into Nigeria, Ghana and Kenya – student market

A new market report covering student recruitment trends in Nigeria, Ghana, and Kenya has just been released, offering an in-depth analysis of the evolving landscape of student recruitment across three of Africa’s most dynamic education markets. The report provides valuable insightsinto the strength of each country as sources for international student recruitment for decades tocome. Comprehensive report highlights growth opportunities in top African education markets The report reveals that the demand for higher education in Nigeria, Ghana, and Kenya is on a significant upward trajectory, driven by a combination of growing youth populations, rising income levels, limited spaces at home and increasing awareness of the value of quality education abroad. “The student recruitment market in these countries presents immense opportunities for educational institutions all around the world that are looking to enhance their African enrolments and diversify their recruitment strategies”, said report author and owner of Jackfruit MarketingJackie Kassteen. “Our research reveals a 20+ year history of a strong and growing demand for education overseas, particularly at the tertiary level. The key to success will lie in understanding the unique cultural and socio-economic contexts of each country, as well as building strong,locally-focused recruitment strategies and marketing campaigns” Those who download the free report will benefit by: Understanding the strength of Nigeria, Ghana and Kenya as education markets. Discovering how the Sub-Saharan market is changing and where new opportunities exist. Receiving a comprehensive overview of outbound mobility to 15 countries from Nigeria,Ghana and Kenya. Using the report findings to guide future marketing, recruitment and internationalisation strategies. BMI/THE Chief Strategic Officer Rupert Merrick enthused, “In our previous market reports such as those on Indonesia, Mexico or Vietnam, we’ve focused on one country as a single source of student recruitment. Our latest report is ambitious in that it provides robust data on not one, but three markets in Africa. With so much potential in the Sub-Saharan region and a new recruitment season upon us, we felt compelled to release as much information as we could to support the industry and the overall globalisation of education.” The report can be accessed via the website and readers are encouraged to keep a lookout for future webinars hosted by BMI/THE and Jackfruit Marketing that unpack the report findings and provide a platform for discussions on optimising international student recruitment efforts in Sub-Saharan Africa. Student recruitment events in Nigeria, Ghana and Kenya Ready to tap into Africa’s thriving student markets? BMI/THE offers year-round recruitment opportunities to connect with East and West African students. From in-person fairs and counsellor workshops to targeted online campaigns, institutions have a variety of options to support their internationalisation efforts in Africa. See our Africa Region webpage or our 2024/25 Recruitment Planner for more details. About BMI/THE Since 1987, BMI has served as the key link between aspiring international students and institutions at all levels of education, thereby enabling millions of young people to achieve their academic and professional goals. Now part of the Times Higher Education group, their mix of in-person and online events helps to foster cross-continental connections between over 5.5 million education leaders and more than 13.5 million students. Through their enhanced platforms and resources, they have a unique ability to capture student’s attention as they are actively researching courses, and provide them with ongoing opportunities to meet with admission representatives. In addition, BMI’s premium networking events are carefully designed to expand global partnerships with senior level government representatives, scholarship and funding providers, university leaders, school principals and counsellors. About Jackfruit Marketing Jackfruit Marketing is a boutique consultancy, project management and training company dedicated to the international education industry. Working with clients around the world and across each level of education, from K-12 up to postgraduate, Jackfruit Marketing enables institutions and organisations to redefine their recruitment and retention strategies in order to gain a competitive advantage through brand differentiation, innovative online and offline marketing techniques, alumni engagement, and highly targeted creative content. Owner and Managing Director Jacqueline Kassteen regularly gives training sessions, interactive masterclasses and plenaries around the world for audiences as large as 1500 people. For more information, please visit jackfruitmarketing.com. Media enquiries Phone: +44 208 952 1392 Email: Rupert@bmiglobaled.com See Latest Articles

THE Counsellor is a Pioneer of the Year finalist

THE Counsellor, a comprehensive resource platform for high school counsellors, is thrilled to announce its nomination as a finalist for the Pioneer of the Year award by The Pie! This initiative began just 18 months ago when a dedicated team, including Patrick Hayes, Chief Development Officer at THE, Samir Zaveri, CEO at BMI and founding partners Huron University, UCL, UCAS, and Unifrog, embarked on creating a valuable support system for counsellors worldwide. THE Counsellor’s success story unfolds in multiple chapters: A Wealth of Information: The platform boasts informative articles authored by fellow counsellors, the editorial team and partners. Thousands of counsellors across the globe access these resources. Free Professional Development: THE Counsellor Accreditation Programme, developed in collaboration with Common Purpose and EvolveCareers, has attracted more than 4,000 enrolments. This free programme remains the preferred choice for counsellor accreditation. Global Events and Workshops: BMI GlobalEd | Times Higher Education International Schools Forum & Workshops bring counsellors and international universities together for one-on-one meetings. Held in Southeast Asia, Latin America, Brazil, China, India, Africa, the Gulf, and Europe, these events are led by a stellar team and continue to be a resounding success. The invaluable contributions of the THE International Schools Advisory Team has been key in this process: David Turner, Amanda Jewell, Carmen Page, Buket Ayaz, Christina McDade, Jeffrey Neill, Jennifer Tassell, Joe Tavares, Marsha Oshima, Augusto Neto, Phillip Wenturine, and Myriam Polo de Molina. Big thanks to the global community of high school counsellors and careers advisors who generously share their expertise and support each other’s growth. Thank you for being part of this incredible journey! Latest Articles

New market report provides essential insights for building Indonesia recruitment strategy

Following their last market report on Mexico, BMI/THE and Jackfruit Marketing have teamed up once again to produce their fourth market intelligence piece, this time on Indonesia. The report is packed with statistics and practical tips to help institutions better understand the country’s education and recruitment scene. Considering the geography of Indonesia – with over 17,000 islands – it is important to create a targeted recruitment strategy at the undergraduate and postgraduate level. As such, the report shares data on the country’s education capacity, and explores the latest trends and most pressing challenges in order to lay the foundational knowledge for recruiters looking to build links in this diverse island nation. The free, 60-page report breaks down the data into the following categories: Demographics; Economic outlook; Education in Indonesia; Education abroad and international recruitment trends; Tips and events for recruiting students in Indonesia; And additional reading recommendations. International education professionals can request the free report and register for the upcoming webinar (live and on-demand). Report author and owner of Jackfruit Marketing Jackie Kassteen commented, “For institutions that are new to the market, our free report helps you understand how to establish your brand, where to focus your energies, and what you can expect when recruiting students from the world’s fourth most populous country. And for those looking to build upon established links and recruitment methods, you can use our findings to amplify current strategies, explore new channels or improve your messaging to boost your appeal amongst Indonesian students and parents.” Live Webinar: Helping international educators to better understand the Indonesian market To unpack some of the report highlights and expand upon the research, BMI/THE and Jackfruit Marketing are also hosting a live webinar with new tips on building links in the country via TNE strategies and social media. How to Increase Your Student Enrolments from Indonesia: Recruitment and TNE Tips Thursday 7 September 2023 We are hosting two sessions in different time zones, so please feel free to join the session that is most convenient for you. Register now: APAC Session: 8:00 am BST (UK)/ 2:00 pm WIB (Jakarta) EU/Americas Session: 4:00 pm BST/ 8:00 am PDT/ 11:00 am EDT During the webinar, five speakers will cover the latest data from Indonesia, share tips on improving recruitment and TNE strategies, and engage in a lively discussion based on audience questions. Attendees will: Get the latest data illustrating the country’s growth potential and highlighting Indonesian student destinations. Hear from a local Indonesian influencer on how to connect with today’s youth on social media. Discover how to build in-country partnerships to support their institution’s TNE goals. Plan on-the-ground presence via a mix of events and cities. Participate in open Q&A discussions to share experiences in the country and learn what to do differently going forward. Chief Strategic Officer from BMI/THE Rupert Merrick confirmed, “We’ve been helping institutions recruit in Southeast Asia for decades, and we’ve seen first-hand how much potential a country like Indonesia holds. This robust report puts that proof into the hands of international education professionals all around the world, and we’re excited to be able to share that with recruiters and to talk through all their options on our upcoming webinar. The timing is perfect as we head into a new academic year and a new recruitment cycle where data-rich resources such as these will be crucial for strategic planning ahead.” Student Recruitment Events across Southeast Asia With so much growth coming out of Southeast Asia, BMI/THE have designed a full roadshow of integrated events in Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam that connect institutions with students and partners at every stage of the recruitment journey. The programme of in-person events includes: Indonesia, Thailand & Vietnam Global Education Fairs Indonesia International Schools Forum & Workshop Indonesia Higher Education Workshop Vietnam International Schools Forum & Workshop Institutions can also connect and talk directly with Southeast Asian students who are actively in the process of researching and planning their future international studies via an online event space called Talk Global Study. In addition, BMI/THE can produce powerful social media campaigns to reach and engage with students 24/7. Get access to the Indonesia Market Report About BMI/THE Since 1987, BMI has served as the key link between aspiring international students and institutions at all levels of education, thereby enabling millions of young people to achieve their academic and professional goals. Now part of the Times Higher Education group, their mix of in-person and online events helps to foster cross-continental connections between over 5.5 million education leaders and more than 15 million students. Through their enhanced platforms and resources, they have a unique ability to capture student’s attention as they are actively researching courses, and provide them with ongoing opportunities to meet with admission representatives. In addition, BMI’s premium networking events are carefully designed to expand global partnerships with senior level government representatives, scholarship and funding providers, university leaders, school principals and counsellors. About Jackfruit Marketing Jackfruit Marketing is a boutique consultancy, project management and training company dedicated to the international education industry. Working with clients around the world and across each level of education, from K-12 up to postgraduate, Jackfruit Marketing enables institutions and organisations to redefine their recruitment and retention strategies in order to gain a competitive advantage through brand differentiation, innovative online and offline marketing techniques, alumni engagement, and highly targeted creative content. Owner and Managing Director Jacqueline Kassteen regularly gives training sessions, interactive masterclasses and plenaries around the world for audiences as large as 1500 people. For more information, please visit jackfruitmarketing.com. Media enquiries Phone: +44 208 952 1392 Email: Rupert@bmiglobaled.com See Latest Articles

THE launches International Schools Advisory Board for global high school counselling community

Source: THE Times Higher Education (THE) has created an International Schools Advisory Board to help the international schools sector. Times Higher Education (THE), the trusted global data partner for higher education, has created an International Schools Advisory Board to help develop its proposition for the rapidly expanding international schools sector. The 10 members who have been appointed to THE International Schools Advisory Board based on their extensive experience in international schools career guidance and counselling are: Buket Ayaz – Nord Anglia International School Dubai, United Arab Emirates Rebecca Evans – Cheltenham College, United Kingdom Amanda Jewell – GEMS Wellington Academy, United Arab Emirates Christina McDade – Lincoln Community School, Ghana Myriam Polo de Molina – Colegio Colombo Británico, Colombia Jeff Neill – Graded – The American School of São Paulo, Brazil Phillip Wenturine – Dubai American Academy, United Arab Emirates Marsha Oshima – International School of Geneva, Switzerland Joe Tavares – Jakarta Intercultural School, Indonesia David Turner – Dwight School Dubai, United Arab Emirates Two additional people are expected to be invited to join the board ensuring diversity and representation from across the world. Patrick Hayes, THE’s Chief development officer, said: “International school counsellors play a pivotal role in helping internationally mobile students make one of their biggest life decisions – the best place and course for their higher education studies. While many consult THE’s rankings data, we want to ensure we develop an offering that is fully aligned with the needs of this community and are most thankful to the advisory board for offering their time to ensure we do just that.” THE acquired BMI, the leading global organiser of international student recruitment events, in September 2022. BMI holds scholarship forums, high school visits and workshops for international school counsellors in the UK, Middle East, Latin America and Asia. The inaugural flagship BMI / THE Global International Schools Forum & Workshop takes place in London on 15-16 May 2023. Samir Zaveri, CEO and President of BMI said: “We couldn’t be prouder that such an esteemed group of highly experienced international school counsellors have agreed to join this prestigious advisory board. We took great care in the selection of truly representative individuals from across the globe to ensure a diverse range of views, informed by BMI’s pioneering series of events and tours over the past five years. We are therefore looking forward to working with the board members and their insight to ensure we use BMI’s events, and THE’s reach and insights in a way that addresses the needs of the international school community around the world.” The board will help develop world-class personal development sessions and ensure best practice and transparency across THE and BMI’s services for international schools. Mr Hayes added: “With the combined reach of THE and BMI, we are in an unparalleled position to provide a wealth of resources, knowledge, insights and networking opportunities to this phenomenally important – but too often overlooked – community of educators.” Biographies and photos of THE International Schools Advisory Board are available here. Latest Articles

Transforming international educational events: THE acquires BMI

London — THE (Times Higher Education), the world’s leading provider of higher education data and insights, is delighted to have completed the acquisition of BMI, the leading global organiser of international student recruitment events. The acquisition brings together two globally renowned brands in higher education, with a reach of over 20 million prospective international students each year, and will significantly expand the range of options universities have to engage with prospective students – both in person and online. Since 1987, BMI’s aim has been to help the global mobility of students. Their in-person events consist of global and regional Scholarship Summits, international high school counsellor workshops and international student recruitment fairs. Virtual student recruitment fairs take place across the world on their exclusive Talk Global Study platform which also hosts events for specific countries and individual institutions. Its digital advisory platform, Viva Mundo, is one of the leading study abroad platforms in Latin America. More than 2,400 institutions from over 40 countries have participated in BMI events including national government bodies such as the British Council, Campus France, DAAD, Education in Ireland, EduCanada, EducationUSA, Austrade, the European Commission and the Ministries of Education from around the world. Having celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2021, THE continues to provide news, insights and thought leadership, and works with thousands of universities globally, collecting data from more than 3,500 institutions, and working with 800 clients across its data, consultancy and hiring services. It is also known for its events for higher education professionals, including the flagship THE World Summit Series, which engaged over 45,000 people globally in 2021. In May 2021, THE launched THE Student, a student-facing division of its business to work with a range of trusted partners from across the industry to provide comprehensive advice and guidance to its annual audience of over 15 million prospective international students. The acquisition of BMI follows a series of successful “THE Student Fairs”, run in partnership with BMI last year, enabling institutions to engage with students across Asia and Africa. The acquisition will leverage THE Student’s extensive global engagement with millions of prospective international students, raising awareness of BMI’s unparalleled series of advisory and student recruitment events. THE will collaborate with BMI on event content and unlocking its brand reach, unique data, and insights for their hundreds of thousands of annual event attendees. The BMI directors are all fully committed to remaining with the business during the next phase of its growth. The acquisition of BMI rapidly follows THE’s acquisition of Inside Higher Ed, with combined audiences exceeding 50 million unique users per year, encompassing university leadership, faculty, professional staff and students, as well as policymakers and others. With offices in the UK, U.S., Australia and Singapore, THE was acquired by Inflexion Private Equity in February 2019 following a period of rapid global growth. Samir Zaveri, CEO and President of BMI, said: “In 2021, we ran some very successful virtual events in partnership with THE in Africa, India and Asia which allowed us to see the massive student audience they reach. It also allowed us to fully understand how we can leverage this audience to further improve our current events and potentially launch new ones in key student recruitment countries and regions across the world. Therefore, joining forces felt like a natural partnership given the popularity of THE’s university rankings and the need for prospective students to meet institutions at world-class virtual and physical events across the world. By coming together, millions of students using their platform will now be able to meet universities at BMI’s leading international education fairs. Throughout our 35 years of experience in the international education industry, we’ve seen that students are eager to learn more about the wide range of courses and education institutions across the world, and enabling them to connect with those institutions at our events will give them additional opportunities and help them make more informed decisions in their academic journeys.” CEO at THE Paul Howarth commented: “Bringing together the world’s leading student recruitment events business with one of the world’s largest and most renowned study abroad platforms is an incredibly exciting development at Times Higher Education. Together we can transform the events landscape for students looking to study abroad – both in person and online – connecting them with institutions that best serve their requirements and helping them into international study across a wide range of destination countries. Samir, Sangin, Rupert, Philippe and their team have built one of the truly global brands in the international education sector and should be tremendously proud of what they have achieved to date. We have spoken to hundreds of universities worldwide and have found that BMI couldn’t be more highly regarded. We have a well-established working relationship between the THE Student and BMI teams, and the coming together of our brands and likeminded teams is a very natural fit. All of us at THE look forward to collaborating with the BMI directors and their team on the next stage of their exciting growth journey.” About BMI BMI has 35 years’ experience of connecting institutions and students, encouraging them to explore a world beyond their shores and thereby enabling institutions to grow and diversify enrolments. BMI is renowned for organising the best international education events in the world and offers a variety of solutions to provide international education professionals with a multi-touch recruitment strategy covering both online and offline activities worldwide. BMI has organised approximately 1,000 education events across five continents, which more than two million students have attended. About Times Higher Ed THE is the trusted global data partner for higher education. Drawing on five decades of expertise in the sector, millions of individual data points and with more unique institutions participating in our flagship university rankings than any other, we offer deeper and richer insight into university performance than anyone else. From powerful data-driven insights and strategic consultancy support to agenda-setting events and hiring solutions, our products and services enable everyone in higher education

New report helps recruiters increase international student enrolments from Mexico

As competition for international students continues to intensify and institutions endeavour to diversify their enrolments further, a new report shines the spotlight on Mexico – a country with 126+ million people, with 50% of households in urban areas identifying as middle class. The report, produced by international education services companies BMI and Jackfruit Marketing, is packed with statistics and practical tips to help institutions better understand the country’s education and recruitment scene. The free, 60-page report contains various sections such as: Student enrolments in Mexico Enrolments in key destinations Market trends Tips on improving your results in-country Combining data with on-the-ground experience in Mexico The full report provides a review of Mexico’s enrolments across key states in the country, and presents a lengthy track record of statistics for 12 destination markets. Mexico’s story is further played out via a wide range of figures and insights covering the economic landscape, social media, latest trends and growth opportunities. This latest piece of research continues to help higher education leaders to: Understand the strength of Mexico as an international education market and source of student recruitment. Discover how the market is changing and where enrolment opportunities exist. Learn tips and best practices in order to build links with key players in Mexico. Report author and owner of Jackfruit Marketing Jackie Kassteen commented, “Our desk and field research gives educators the data and insights they need to understand Mexico’s education evolution, trends and challenges. We look forward to helping institutions use our findings to guide their marketing, recruitment and internationalisation strategies, especially for those who need to build brand presence and capture or win back market share as Mexico’s outbound demand patterns continue to evolve.” While the US has always had a strong pull for Mexicans, the diversity of top destinations and increasing interest in non-English speaking countries illustrates Mexicans’ appetite for adventure and desire to go after a particular programme, no matter where it is in the world. The report traces over 20 years of enrolment data and mobility trends, plus shares the reasons for changes in preferences. BMI’s Sales Director Rupert Merrick explained, “This is the third report BMI has co-produced with education marketing experts Jackfruit Marketing. Based on the appeal of previous reports on Vietnam and China’s Tier 2 Cities, we knew that international educators would be keen learn more about one of Latin America’s most powerful markets. We’ve been supporting outbound mobility in the region for more than 35 years, and we’re excited to help more institutions tap into Mexico’s potential.” Get access to the Mexico Market Report Student Recruitment Events Across Mexico BMI has a long history of connecting universities, pathway providers and language schools with qualified students and working professionals who are planning their study abroad experience. Through a series of events taking place in Mexico and moving down into Latin American countries such as Colombia, Chile and Peru, you can meet students, families, high school counsellors, principals and scholarship providers twice a year. In addition, their TalkGlobalStudy virtual fairs provide easy access to prospective students and multiple avenues of online engagement. View both in-person and virtual events in Latin America > About BMI Established in 1987, BMI offers a variety of solutions to provide international education professionals with a multi-touch recruitment strategy covering both online and offline activities across Asia, Brazil, Latin America and the Middle East. BMI holds over 80 events in more than a dozen countries every year. BMI has organised nearly 1,000 education events across five continents, which more than two million students have attended. Through Viva-Mundo, BMI’s online marketing solutions also enable institutions to connect with over 1.2 million students a year. The company is a proud partner of UNICEF and works with national government bodies including The British Council, Education in Ireland, EduCanada, Education USA, the European Commission and the Ministries of Education of almost every European country as well as dozens more around the world. About Jackfruit Marketing Jackfruit Marketing is a boutique consultancy, project management and training company, offering marketing expertise in the international education industry. They specialise in branding, recruitment and retention strategies through the use of online and offline marketing techniques, social media, alumni engagement, agency partners, product development, as well as competitive analysis and research. Owner and Managing Director Jacqueline Kassteen regularly gives training sessions, interactive masterclasses and plenaries around the world for audiences as large as 1500 people. For more information, please visit jackfruitmarketing.com. Media enquiries Phone: +44 208 952 1392 Email: Rupert@bmiglobaled.com See Latest Articles

World-First: Onsite PCR Testing Centre at International Education Events in the UAE

BMI’s TalkGlobalStudy fairs make in-person events safe and even more Accessible due to quick response With the world slowly returning to in-person events, two questions linger on everyone’s mind: “Will people attend? Will it be safe?” As recent events in the UAE have just proved, the answer to both questions is a resounding “Yes!” This past week, over 50 exhibiting institutions flew in from 15 countries to attend BMI’s events in the UAE and over 4,000 students and parents eagerly joined their fairs. In a world-first, BMI set up an onsite PCR Covid testing centre at the entrance to their UAE Talk Global Study International Education Fair to deliver high speed results for attendees. The need for speed In a post-Covid world, there’s bound to be a few surprises when it comes to physical events. Due to a late change in health regulations, all participants (visitors and exhibitors) to events in Abu Dhabi required a negative PCR test result within 48 hours of the start of the event. Students in the UAE get tested at school every few days but those results come through in two to four days, so they wouldn’t have met the entry requirements. In the UAE, standard PCR tests are readily available and cost 50 Emirati Dirhams (about £10). Those results take six to ten hours. “We simply needed something faster,” stated Samir Zaveri, CEO and Founder of leading international education event company BMI. Zaveri explained the challenges they faced around getting quick test results: “This new regulation could have severely impacted the attendance to the fair. We’ve been running events for over 30 years and we’ve always been committed to providing accessible opportunities for students all over the world. This last-minute regulation change presented a barrier to access, so we sprang into action and worked with a local clinic to set up a testing centre practically overnight. We were able to test at the entrance onsite and ensure that everyone who wanted to visit the participating global universities was able to do so, cost-free.” BMI paid for students’ tests which allowed them to attend in a safe, accessible environment. Many international universities who travelled to the event also took advantage of the test facility. “We were happy to invest in the health and safety of students, and to enable all of them to get access to the fastest tests in the region. Even at Dubai’s innovative Expo 2020, drive-through PCR testing centre results take four hours. Our visitor’s results were back in just 90 minutes.” An unmistakable hunger to reconnect with one another face to face All participating institutions rated the event excellent both in terms of quality and quantity of visitors, and also lauded BMI’s Covid Safe Policy which exceeded standard local health regulations by also requiring all visitors to be temperature checked and to wear a mask in the event. “Hugely successful is an understatement! BMI is a true pioneer in how recruitment events should be planned and implemented! Kudos to the entire team for ensuring we had a safe and prosperous series of events both in Dubai and Abu Dhabi,” enthused Jeff Jones, Director of International Initiatives at Savannah College of Art and Design in the U.S.A. BMI’s student recruitment fairs attracted even larger numbers than before the pandemic, about 7% more attendees in fact. “We knew that the industry was ready to return to in-person recruiting events and we knew from the number of students who had pre-registered for the event that we would have a great turnout, but I don’t think we fully anticipated the demand from students and their parents – almost 50% of students came with their parents,” said Zaveri. He continued: “Here at BMI we’ve been talking about pent-up demand and the possibility of two years’ worth of applications in a single year, but it’s only when you’re standing in the middle of a very busy fair and you can see this in action that the magnitude of the opportunity becomes clear. Parents in particular were extremely keen to establish the quickest possible routes for their children to study abroad.” Andrea McLeod-Karim, International Regional Manager at Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand agreed: “It was an incredibly well organised event. Good safety protocols in place and super busy with student queries throughout each day. It’s wonderful to be back on the road and meeting students and counsellors once again.” In-person student recruitment here to stay The week-long event series started with the BMI International Schools Forum & Workshop – a unique gathering of almost 60 counsellors from the UAE and across the region. Held in Dubai, this event enabled visiting international universities and colleges to hold one-to-one meetings with high school counsellors from the most prestigious international and bilingual schools in the region. “High school counsellors are extremely important in the Gulf and our event allows tertiary institutions to have meaningful, private meetings with counsellors and then network with peers at our reception, lunch and coffee breaks,” explained Zaveri. “It would take weeks of international travel to meet this many key influencers within such a short time.” Julie Dass, Head of International & UK Student Recruitment at King’s College London, summed it up best: “These were great events – an excellent return to the UAE and we’re looking forward to more!” They won’t have to wait long. Next month in November, BMI continues to reignite in-person events with international student recruitment fairs in Mexico and Colombia. “We decided to begin slowly in the fall of this year with just a few events where it is safe to do so but in 2022, we have a full schedule of over 80 student recruitment events for institutions,” confirmed Zaveri. A full event calendar for Asia, India, Europe, Africa, North and South America can be accessed on their site at https://bmiglobaled.com. About BMI Established in 1987, BMI offers a variety of solutions to provide international education professionals with a multi-touch recruitment strategy covering both online and

Top insights shared at the inaugural BMI Global Scholarship Symposium

In early November, industry professionals from one corner of the globe to another met virtually at the first online edition of the BMI Global Scholarship Summit & Symposium to connect in dozens of meetings and facilitate partnerships which support fully-funded or government-sponsored students. Attendees were also able to participate in dialogues to learn best practices and exchange new ideas about how to tackle the challenges of 2020 and prepare for the year ahead. Below is a brief overview of some of the insights shared at the inaugural online Symposium written by Jackie Kassteen, Symposium Director and owner of event partner Jackfruit Marketing. Recorded sessions can be viewed on the event microsite, along with an extensive video library of content to learn more about the institutions and organisations that attended the week-long event. The 2021 event online edition is scheduled for May 10-13. Due to the unique nature of the BMI Global Scholarship Summit & Symposium, spaces are limited so institutions and scholarship organisations are encouraged to register their interest as soon as possible via contacting BMI. Priority areas and degree demand Education providers in Australia and New Zealand have seen more interest in graduate and postgraduate degrees, particularly in allied health fields. Along with an omnipresent interest in computer and data science, AI, engineering, medicine and life sciences, scholarship providers are also reporting rising interest in fine arts, tourism and hospitality (especially from the Gulf). Meanwhile, in South Africa, funding providers are placing more focus on interdisciplinary studies, climate change, sustainability, and new energy sources. Colombia-based ICETEX is putting increased emphasis on social sciences, humanities, and health sciences as well as undergraduate and short-term courses. Like most programmes, mobility has been cancelled since March 2020; look for their announcement in March 2021 to learn about funded mobility options for Summer 2021 and beyond. OAS’s interest-free loan programme is focused almost exclusively on online programmes for 2020 and 2021, particularly those that relate to four areas of interest (strengthening democracy, human rights, multidimensional security and integral development). The organisation also prioritises programmes in life sciences, STEM, sustainability, food production and security, emergency preparedness, environmental studies, big data, and lifelong learning initiatives. The interest in work-integrated learning and gaining work experience abroad continues to remain strong, with a special presentation led by Canada highlighting the benefits of experiential learning opportunities at universities and colleges across the country. Opening plenary speaker Jonah Kokodyniak, Senior Vice President at IIE, cited their example of collaboration with the private sector to offer more support for leadership development, critical thinking skills, and work experience. The Cargill Global Scholars Program enables students to receive mentorship from Cargill employees to help them identify short and long term academic and professional goals, working one-on-one with industry mentors to reach these goals through training, networking and ongoing communications. 2020/2021 trends The good news is that Covid-19 has not dampened the appeal of international exchanges; interest is still strong among students to go abroad in 2021 and applications for scholarships are at record highs. The economic recession could be a stronger mobility driver now, perhaps as a reflection of brewing affordability issues or because a flat job market incentivises students to pursue grad and postgrad degrees. As competition for scholarships heats up, it puts added pressure on funding providers to find new financial models or reconsider the criteria used when selecting student recipients. Funding providers are also expected to re-evaluate institutional partnerships, placing increasing emphasis on the student experience and health and safety protocols, as opposed to an overreliance on rankings. For example, ICETEX observed that student satisfaction is now about getting guidance and personalised support, explaining that as an organisation, they have never had to monitor their funded students as closely as they’ve had to in 2020. Our South African government panellist concurred, citing a strong need for mental health services and psychological counselling, which they had to provide remotely for their students since they found that student support varied greatly from one institution to the next. Increased interest in transnational education (TNE) With mobility restrictions in place, institutions are turning even more attention towards TNE options such as credit transfers, dual-degree programmes, and virtual exchanges. In a direct response to this demand, BMI is excited to announce the launch of a new virtual Partnership Workshop Series for Spring 2021. Designed to increase your connections and strengthen your relationships with university partners, agents and school counsellors in Southeast Asia, the Middle East, Brazil and Latin America, BMI provides you with a concise format to meet three different types of partners in one event, with each workshop focused on a different geographic region. To support and strengthen internationalisation partnerships and academic training opportunities, ICEXTEX was also pleased to announce their new hemispheric-wide initiative with the U.S. Department of State. The 100,000 Strong in the Americas Innovation Fund competition will provide up to ten grants of US$26,175 each to support bilateral higher education partnerships that will create and implement innovative academic exchange opportunities for students in both countries starting in Fall 2021. Thematic areas in this new funding competition include convergent technologies, oceanography, creative and cultural industries, sustainable energy, social sciences, health sciences, space science, biotechnology, distance education, economic empowerment, sustainable agriculture, water/sanitation/hygiene (WASH) and STEM. Scholarship funding In more good funding news, our Kenyan speaker reported that there’s been a marked uptick in philanthropic support from within the country to help its students go abroad. Meanwhile, we heard that commitment to achieve the Saudi Vision 2030 remains high and as such, the government raised the monthly stipend that scholars receive and announced that they’ve refined the number of institutional partners down to just 70 based more on rankings and the quality of student outcomes. The global pandemic has inspired donations to help international students as well, with organisations and universities alike reaching out to alumni for contributions towards hardship funds to help make ends meet during the crisis. Meanwhile, other regions of the world are experiencing a reduction in scholarship funds,

BMI partners with THE to deliver a global series of student fairs

BMI, global events and educational services company, is delighted to announce a new partnership with Times Higher Education (THE), the trusted global data partner for higher education, for its new student business unit. The partnership will initially see BMI and THE Student deliver a series of virtual student fairs in March 2021 for the Indian, African and Asian markets. Branded as “THE Student Virtual Fairs, in partnership with Talk Global Study”, the intention is to run regular events across the globe, both virtually and in-person. These events will bring together world-leading higher education institutions and thousands of prospective international students. Free for students to attend, content will include a series of seminars discussing topics including university rankings, how to choose the best course and other subjects of interest to those looking to study abroad. Event Dates: India – Saturday 13 March from 15:00 to 18:00 (IST) Africa – Saturday 20 March from 11:00 to 14:00 (GMT) Asia – Saturday 27 March from 09:00 to 12:00 (GMT) The partnership complements the ongoing work by THE to help the millions of students currently consulting its website every year by providing end-to-end support for those looking to study abroad and navigate the often-challenging journey into higher education. THE plans to offer a number of events alongside a dedicated online platform showcasing advice, insights and resources to aid prospective international students in making one of the biggest decisions of their lives – who to trust with their education. Samir Zaveri, President and CEO at BMI, said: “Joining forces felt like a natural partnership given the popularity of THE’s university rankings and the need for prospective students to meet institutions at world-class virtual and physical events across the world. By coming together, millions of students using their platform will now be able to meet universities at BMI’s leading international education fairs. Throughout our 30+ years of experience in the international education industry, we’ve seen that students are eager to learn more about highly ranked universities, and enabling them to connect with those institutions at our events will give them additional opportunities and help them make more informed decisions in their academic journeys.” Patrick Hayes, Chief Development Officer at THE, commented: “The addition of BMI to our network of partners is hugely exciting. Together we can provide first-class events for those looking to study abroad, connecting them with institutions that best serve their requirements and helping them into international study across a number of destination countries. With BMI’s unparalleled expertise in events and marketing, THE Student is ensuring it can hit the ground running with its new student proposition, and will provide indispensable support to international students-to-be from day one of their study abroad journey.” Institutions are encouraged to express their interest in joining these events by contacting BMI as soon as possible since exhibitor spaces are expected to fill up quickly. About BMI Since 1987, BMI has been helping the international education industry to connect and support student mobility. More than 2,400 institutions from over 40 countries have participated in BMI events including national government bodies such as the British Council, Campus France, DAAD, Education in Ireland, EduCanada, Education USA, Austrade, the European Commission and the Ministries of Education from around the world. BMI is renowned for organising the best international education events in the world and offers a variety of solutions to provide international education professionals with a multi-touch recruitment strategy covering both online and offline activities worldwide. BMI has organised nearly 1,000 education events across five continents, which more than two million students have attended. About Times Higher Ed THE is the trusted global data partner for higher education. Drawing on five decades of expertise in the sector, millions of individual data points, more institutions participating in our flagship university rankings than any other and 28 million website users in 2019, we offer deeper and richer insight into university performance than anyone else. From powerful data-driven insights and strategic consultancy support to agenda-setting events and hiring solutions, our products and services enable everyone in higher education to make smarter, more informed decisions. THE’s website receives visits from millions of students every year. By bringing on board trusted partners, THE is able to better serve those looking to navigate the journey into higher education study, providing support and advice for everything from finding the right university to applications and accommodation. Media enquiries: Phone: + 44 208 952 1392 Email: Rupert@bmiglobaled.com Latest Articles

ExpoPosgrados to drive Latin American student recruitment in 2020

After 20 years of running the exceptionally successful ExpoEstudiante fairs in Latin America, which helped prospective students find courses and programs the world over, BMI have decided to transition the fair series to one of ExpoEstudiante’s most successful components, that of postgraduate degree programs. Following the market trends of the region, BMI’s focus in Latin America will now be ExpoPosgrados, a fair series which in more depth covers postgraduate education and aids potential postgraduate students in finding the right course for them, whether it be an MBA, PhD or Masters degree. For more information on ExpoPosgrados and to see our tours dates for March and November 2020 click here.