Market intelligence for international student recruitment from ICEF
27th Mar 2025

ICEF Podcast: How are schools and agents adapting to rising visa rejection rates?

Listen in as ICEF’s Craig Riggs and Martijn van de Veen recap some recent industry developments, including a shift to a more strategic approach to student recruitment and a renewed call for diversity in foreign enrolments.

This month's episode puts the focus on rising visa rejection rates in a number of major study destinations, a pattern that is having a major impact not just on the students but equally on the schools and agencies handling their recruitment.

Joining our hosts to explore this important issue are Michal Sestak, Managing Director of AustraliaOnline and Shawn Silverstone, Director of International Marketing and Recruitment with the Coquitlam School District.

We conclude with a closer look at East Africa as the latest stop for our “Keys to the Market” segment.

You can listen right now in the player below, and we encourage you to subscribe via your favourite podcast app in order to receive future episodes automatically.

For additional background, please see:

Most Recent

  • How are Australian universities approaching international recruitment in 2026? Read More
  • From the Big Four to the Big Fourteen Read More
  • US suspends immigration processing for nationals from 39 travel ban countries – but F, J, and M visa processing will continue Read More

Most Popular

  • Which countries will contribute the most to global student mobility in 2030? Read More
  • Research shows link between study abroad and poverty alleviation  Read More
  • Beyond the Big Four: How demand for study abroad is shifting to destinations in Asia and Europe Read More

Because you found this article interesting

How are Australian universities approaching international recruitment in 2026? Studymove founder Keri Ramirez recently presented a webinar anticipating trends in the Australian international education sector in 2026...
Read more
US suspends immigration processing for nationals from 39 travel ban countries – but F, J, and M visa processing will continue Breaking news for 14 January: This article covers the US government travel bans and suspension and review of...
Read more
US extends travel ban, Nigeria now included on “restricted” list The Trump administration has announced an expanded list of countries whose nationals – including students applying for F,...
Read more
ICEF Podcast: Engine of growth: The true value and impact of the international education sector Listen in as ICEF’s Craig Riggs and Martijn van de Veen recap some of the latest developments in...
Read more
Canada: A case study of immigration policy impacts on postsecondary institutions and the wider economy In January 2026, Canadian higher education institutions will enter the third consecutive year of caps on new international...
Read more
UK: Rule changes could be coming for Master of Research programmes If there is a lesson that international education stakeholders in the Big Four have learned in the past...
Read more
Global trends in international enrolments and policies as we head into 2026 At the end of 2025, educators across major study abroad destinations are facing markedly different circumstances than in...
Read more
Canada announces international student cap numbers for 2026 and updated programme guidance Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) announced this week that it expects to issue up to 408,000 study...
Read more
What are you looking for?
Quick Links