Navigating Headwinds: Smart Strategies for International Enrollment Recovery

Navigating Headwinds: Smart Strategies for International Enrollment Recovery

Adapting. Innovating. Reconnecting.

• Format: Live Virtual Panel + Interactive Discussion (45 minutes)

• Audience: U.S. higher education leaders, international enrollment professionals, admissions experts

Where We Are

• Visa delays and higher costs have pressured yield.

• Competitor countries are investing in digital-first ecosystems.

• U.S. strength remains high; opportunity is to complement on-the-ground travel with always-on, accessible engagement to broaden reach.

Agenda

Smart Recruitment Shifts

• Reframing Visibility: Travel PLUS Tech

• Use AI-powered virtual fairs and permanent international landing pages to extend reach between trips

• Keep attending key fairs; add always-on, low-cost digital touchpoints for cities you can’t visit

• Being findable online builds trust and access

  
  

Transparency as a Recruitment Strategy

• Share visa realities, costs, and support clearly, upfront

• Authentic, plain-language content improves conversion and reduces back-and-forth

• Simple frameworks for transparent web pages and communications

  
  

Using Data to Target

• Identify micro-markets (Tier-2/Tier-3 cities) using your historical data + free tools

• Prioritize markets where travel is limited by complementing with digital outreach

  
  

Collaboration Over Competition

• Regional showcases and alliances to reach more cities together

• Collective messaging (“Community Colleges, Big Opportunities”) amplifies presence without heavy travel

• Shared events complement individual trips

  
  

Rebuilding Perception: “We’re Here and Accessible”

• Coordinate messaging across institutions: open, safe, supportive

• Use digital storytelling to reach families in cities you can’t visit this cycle

• Partner locally (schools, counselors, community orgs) to extend access

  
  

New Opportunities and trends

Q&A + Close (10 min)