Market intelligence for international student recruitment from ICEF
30th Apr 2025

ICEF Podcast: Is the domestic enrolment cliff a global phenomenon?

Listen in as ICEF’s Craig Riggs and Martijn van de Veen recap some recent industry developments, including a sharp increase in proof of funds requirements in Ireland and how international education is factoring in this week's national election in Australia.

Our focus this time is on declining, domestic college-aged populations that are projected for a number of countries, including the United States, Japan, South Korea, Germany, Italy, and Spain. Each is exploring solutions to the so-called "enrolment cliff" in order to shore up post-secondary enrolment, ensure the financial stability of higher education institutions, enhance the diversity and global competitiveness of their campuses, and continue to attract new talent. As you might guess, international education factors in many of those plans.

Joining our hosts to explore this important issue are Angel Ahmed, Founder and CEO of GNET-Global Network and Kirsten Feddersen, Vice President of Partnerships, USA for IDP.

We conclude with a closer look at Thailand 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

  • China in 2026: Slowing outbound student mobility, accelerating inbound momentum Read More
  • Surprise hike in international student visa application fees “a direct hit to Australia’s competitiveness” Read More
  • ICEF Podcast: “Good, steady, and disciplined”: New Zealand’s plan for sustainable international enrolment growth 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

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...
Read more
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...
Read more
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...
Read more
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...
Read more
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...
Read more
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...
Read more
Japan: Japanese proficiency essential for foreign graduates staying on to work An increasing number of fast-growing study abroad destinations – outside of the so-called Big Four of Australia, Canada,...
Read more
Why are so many international students choosing to study in Türkiye? Türkiye used to be a niche study abroad destination, but not anymore. A rapidly growing number of international...
Read more
What are you looking for?
Quick Links