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EPISODE · Apr 27, 2026 · 1H 6M

Sustainable international student recruitment from a UK-China perspective

from ICEF Podcast · host Martijn van de Veen (host) - CBDO (ICEF), Craig Riggs - Editor in Chief (ICEF), Christina Ke - Managing Director (Uoffer Global), Dave Amor - Founder & Director (Higher Insights Ltd.), Jian Li - Deputy Director (Education) (British Council), Cheryl Xu - Director of China Office (University of Portsmouth), Kiran Patel - Senior Director Commercial & Deputy Head of China (CBBC)

News & developments: - A common challenge: Strengthening student confidence in the ROI of study abroad - Study finds strong agent interest in partnering with Japanese universities Main topic: Sustainable international student recruitment from a UK-China perspective This episode is sponsored by: ICEF USA with Kiran Patel Senior Director Commercial & Deputy Head of China CBBC Jian Li Deputy Director (Education) British Council Cheryl Xu Director of China Office University of Portsmouth Dave Amor Founder & Director Higher Insights Ltd. Christina Ke Managing Director Uoffer Global Tony Lee Chief Visionary Officer ICEF Craig Riggs  Editor in Chief  ICEF Monitor Martijn van de Veen (host) CBDO ICEF

Episode metadata supplied by the publisher feed · Published Apr 27, 2026

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The UK has solidified its position as preferred study destination for Chinese students, recently overtaking the US thanks to its world-class reputation and the efficiency of its postgraduate models. However, Chinese families are becoming increasingly results-oriented, prioritising employability and return on investment over rankings alone, while the UK government’s International Education Strategy has shifted the focus toward "sustainable" growth. This creates a new landscape where value, student experience, and strict compliance are paramount. In this mature market, simply being present is no longer sufficient. UK institutions must actively refine their strategies by curating agency networks through global standards such as ICEF Agency Status (IAS) and deepening partnerships that align with the UK’s Agent Quality Framework (AQF). Facing the dual challenge of maintaining intake numbers while managing compliance risks, universities must identify "best fit" partners to succeed. This episode will guide institutions on navigating these complexities, offering practical insights on vetting and quality assurance to secure sustainable recruitment in the post-pandemic era.

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