2023 International ACAC Conference Education Sessions

Come engage with us in small group discussion format to crack complex admissions issues based on real life case studies of HALI students from Africa. We will work in mixed admissions-counselors groups to break down and discuss cases and report back. Get ready to roll up your sleeves and contribute your ideas for how together we can increase access and inclusion for low-income international students!

Beginner
Intermediate
Experienced

Secondary (High School) & Individual
Post-Secondary (College & University)

Africa Rising, Aspiring Africa, Betting on Africa… beyond the headlines, how does one navigate a continent of 1.2 billion people of which 60% are below the age of 25 years? Whether you are a seasoned admissions officer, student recruiter, or are brand new in the industry, this interactive session will aim to provide you strategies to make the most of any student recruitment trip to the continent. Join Canadian university representatives as they share their best practices, travel tips, challenges, and opportunities to build your institutions' brand in Africa. In addition, we also will share our successes and disappointments, plus our favorite dishes/snacks/drinks (and where to get them!) from our travels on the continent.

Beginner
Intermediate
Experienced

Secondary (High School) & Individual
Post-Secondary (College & University)

International student mobility patterns are shifting from the Global North to the Global South.

In a post-SAT world — as a more diverse cohort of students apply to more types of universities from more types of school environments, submitting a variety of local academic records — it is essential for globally-minded higher ed institutions to meet these aspiring students where they are. Recognizing and respecting local credentials is becoming an intercultural competency for world-class universities.

This case study will examine research from a collective of bellwether universities that are engaged in a collaborative effort to develop equivalency/ credit & placement policies recognizing India's CBSE (Central Board of Secondary Education) academic credentials.

A panel of experts will share & discuss their respective approaches, methodologies, findings, and results. We will seek to apply these outcomes to other local/ regional credentials to support a more nuanced review by higher ed admissions teams, putting the academic records of international students in context.

Intermediate
Experienced

Post-Secondary (College & University)
Organization (For-Profit, Non-Profit, CBO)

At a time of historic global displacement, higher education institutions are seeking ways to enroll refugee displaced students in a sustainable model, not as continuous emergency response. This session will explore at least three different approaches and opportunities for colleges and universities to enroll refugee and displaced students including how to leverage funds to create scholarships, coordinating with other institutions as part of the Global Student Haven Initiative, and the newly launched college and university sponsorship program for refugee students. Come learn how you can adopt these models and effective practice on your campus.

Beginner
Intermediate
Experienced

Post-Secondary (College & University)

“Intellectual curiosity” has become a popular buzzword in the college admissions world. What does it actually mean, why is it valued, and how can it be conveyed in an application? Are there some activities or pursuits that better demonstrate this trait than others, and how can we include exploration of intellectual curiosity in a college counseling curriculum? Join us for a conversation about supporting students in leveraging their intellectual fit in the admissions process.

Beginner
Intermediate
Experienced

Secondary (High School) & Individual
Organization (For-Profit, Non-Profit, CBO)

Counseling for fit and purpose is a goal all counselors aspire to achieve. Yet many times, students and families may narrow their university list to ones that are commonly recognized, irrespective of fit. This session will focus on institutions in four different countries - Canada, Italy, Qatar and Switzerland - that serve as a great case study of the “hidden gem” university option that could be the perfect fit. Counselors, join our session to learn how to illustrate and identify the markers of fit that matter most to stakeholders. University colleagues, join the conversation as we share practical ideas on how to “get your foot in the door” with future students and counselors who might have never heard of your institution before.

Beginner
Intermediate
Experienced

Secondary (High School) & Individual
Post-Secondary (College & University)

In this session, we will take a deep dive into how applications are actually read and processed at different institutions. This session will focus mostly on the mechanics and structure of the admissions reading process, and we will hear from experienced international admissions officers on how the process has changed and continues to evolve. Will A.I. play a part (or does it already)? Panelists represent both public and private institutions.

Beginner
Intermediate

Secondary (High School) & Individual

Career-focused international applicants tend to overlook liberal arts colleges - even those with superior outcomes in employment and professional school admission to similarly selective national universities. LACs reject fewer qualified applicants than larger reputational peers while often offering more equitable need-based aid policies. Representatives from both sides of the desk break down practical pitches to increase interest in LACs.

Beginner
Intermediate
Experienced

Secondary (High School) & Individual
Post-Secondary (College & University)
Organization (For-Profit, Non-Profit, CBO)

Sometimes efforts to support international students actually have the opposite effect, with the unintended consequence of othering them. How can we recognize and support the needs of international students while not othering them, and how can we tell the difference? Why does this need to be a campus-wide effort and what is the key role of international admissions and recruitment? We will address this topic from admissions, counseling, and recruiting perspectives.

Intermediate

Secondary (High School) & Individual
Post-Secondary (College & University)
Organization (For-Profit, Non-Profit, CBO)

IECs are here to stay. Some are good. Some are not so good. Some create access. Others build on elite status. What makes a good IEC? What benchmarks could International ACAC set from an organizational standpoint to let members better understand how many reputable IECs are out there, where, and what exactly they do? This panel seeks suggestions that could lead to an internal accreditation status for IECs seeking an additional layer of legitimacy within our global community in a new, ethical, rigorous, and inclusive way.

Beginner
Intermediate
Experienced

Secondary (High School) & Individual
Post-Secondary (College & University)
Organization (For-Profit, Non-Profit, CBO)

The Netherlands has become, and remains an exceptionally popular destination for students interested in high-quality English-taught programs in a unique setting. International students are highly valued for their contributions to the classroom, and developing their talent is integral to the mission of higher education institutions. This session will give an update on international recruitment in the Netherlands with an in-depth overview that includes insight into the public system of education, the current challenges that institutions and students face due to its popularity, critical elements of fit/matching, government updates and a look to the future where international students continue to be welcome in the Netherlands.

Beginner
Intermediate
Experienced

Secondary (High School) & Individual
Organization (For-Profit, Non-Profit, CBO)