Market intelligence for international student recruitment from ICEF
8th Jul 2016

Five for Friday

An occasional round-up of some of the more eye-catching and varied items that we’ve been reading lately: the Iranian market opens up, recruiting for blended learning, avoiding common pitfalls in website design, and more.

The end of sanctions for Iran

Will Iran’s new diplomatic footing lead more Iranian students to study in the West? Some observers certainly think so, and argue that continuing tensions within the region will encourage students to look further afield.

Blended learning and international recruitment

There are plenty of indicators pointing to a greater role for blended learning in the next decade. This insightful post looks at how some early movers are creating new hybrid online-offline learning options for international students.

UK universities offering course credits for MOOCs

Two UK institutions are moving for the first time to "unbundle" higher education by allowing course credit for MOOC studies. Could this be a way of recruiting from new market segments?

What is wrong with university websites?

A nice round-up of common issues and challenges associated with the tangled web of university websites. If you want to review or improve your current site, this is a good place to start.

Korean universities facing an enrolment downturn

Change is afoot in Korean higher education

as prevailing demographic trends push enrolment down. University leaders are looking for solutions and that is in turn opening the door to new approaches in teaching and learning.

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Because you found this article interesting

China in 2026: Slowing outbound student mobility, accelerating inbound momentum The number of international students studying in China is quickly catching up with the number of Chinese students...
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Surprise hike in international student visa application fees “a direct hit to Australia’s competitiveness” Australia’s international education sector is reeling at new study, work, and working-holiday visa application fees for international students...
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ICEF Podcast: “Good, steady, and disciplined”: New Zealand’s plan for sustainable international enrolment growth Listen in as ICEF’s Craig Riggs and Martijn van de Veen recap some of the latest developments in...
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OECD: International students may be underinformed about job prospects in top destinations For many students from emerging markets in Asia, Africa, and Latin America, there is a dream pathway attached...
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UK: Visa application withdrawals surpass refusals in Q1 2026 UK higher education is bracing up to some challenging trends through the first half of the year. Visa...
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Ascending in world university rankings and highly affordable, Azerbaijan is strengthening its offer to international students Azerbaijan – located on the western shore of the Caspian Sea, bordering Russia to the north, Georgia to...
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Netherlands reports first-ever decrease in foreign enrolment for 2025/26 Peak body Nuffic reports that Dutch higher education institutions enrolled 129,764 international students in 2025/26. That total is...
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What is happening to student mobility flows between the Global South and Global North?  In 2026, students in many of the fastest growing markets for schools and universities in the Big Four...
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