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The IC Global Café: Turning the Tide: Insights and Strategies to Overcome International Student Recruitment Challenges

Turning the Tide: Insights and Strategies to Overcome International Student Recruitment Challenges

At this IC Global Café, we’ll explore recent developments in international student recruitment as well as future predictions over the next 6 to 12 months. Featuring data provided by IDP Connect on key markets, including the UK, Australia, United States and Canada, the session will also include practical tips and actionable strategies to “turn the tide” on current recruitment challenges.

Institutional colleagues from UK and Australian universities will also share insights on government policy, trends and challenges at their institutions as well as strategies and best practices to enhance international student recruitment success.

This Café is supported by IDP Connect.

Join us for this IC Café, open to institutional Heads and Directors and colleagues.

Date: Tuesday 15 October 2024

Time: 11am (UK time)

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Our guest speakers

Rachel MacSween, Director of Partnerships and Stakeholder Engagement, IDP Connect

Rachel is the Director of Partnerships and Stakeholder Engagement at IDP in the UK. Her role is to work with university partners on their student recruitment ambitions, as well as leading on government and sector stakeholder management, B2B Marketing and Global Communications. Prior to her joining IDP in early 2022,  Rachel held roles as Director of International at the University of York in the UK, Head of Recruitment at University of Strathclyde in Glasgow and roles with Navitas for seven years in both Edinburgh and Melbourne.

Rachel is passionate about ensuring successful outcomes for IDP’s partners, sharing IDP’s unique data sets to help improve the policy environment in the UK and working with a wider group of colleagues in the sector to constantly improve the applicant experience.

Georgie Redbarnes, Client Success Manager, IDP Connect

Georgie is Client Success Manager at IDP. In her present role, Georgie provides client-focussed strategic advice and support to help HE partners optimise their international recruitment via IDP’s global agent offices. In addition, Georgie regularly provides updates using IDP’s extensive data insights to aid IDP’s work with key government bodies.

Georgie has significant experience of international marketing, communications, recruitment, admissions, and partnership development from her previous roles in the HE and independent school sectors. A graduate in International Development and French, she is driven by a passion for the transformative experience of living and studying overseas.

Bobby Mehta, Pro Vice-Chancellor (Global Engagement), University of Portsmouth

Bobby has worked in higher education since 1999, starting at the University of Luton, before moving to the University of South Wales, where he held various roles including Head of Student Recruitment and Head of Enquiries & Admissions. In 2017, Bobby joined the University of Portsmouth as International Director and in 2023, he was appointed Pro Vice-Chancellor (Global Engagement), overseeing the university’s global operations.

Bobby serves on numerous boards and associations in the UK, including a 15-year Executive Committee member of the British Universities’ International Liaison Association (BUILA) and 4 years as Chair, which ended recently. He is currently an active member of advisory groups including the UUKi Pro Vice-Chancellor International Network. He also volunteers as a Governor at a Hampshire secondary school.

Catriona McCarthy, Director for Global Engagement, Ulster University and BUILA Chair

Catriona is BUILA Chair and Director for Global Engagement at Ulster University. She has spent more than 20 years in the internationalisation of Higher Education, having previously worked for a number of Scottish Universities.

Catriona serves as a member of both the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) International Advisory Group and of the the UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) Strategic Advisory Committee. She is a Non-Exec Director at Ireland’s largest overseas aid charity, sits on the Advisory Board of two successful Ed Tech companies and is a member of the Visit Belfast Ambassador Circle Steering Group.

Dr Douglas Proctor, Pro Vice-Chancellor, Global Engagement, Swinburne University of Technology

As Pro Vice-Chancellor (Global Engagement) at Swinburne University of Technology in Melbourne, Douglas provides institution-wide leadership on global engagement and oversees Swinburne’s global strategy in teaching, research and outreach. A Senior Fellow of the International Education Association of Australia (IEAA), Douglas is also a Global Board Director for the Climate Action Network for International Education (CANIE).