2024 International ACAC Conference Sessions

Do students from education systems of varying lengths (11, 12, and 13 years) have equal access to post-secondary study? Does the country where they completed their secondary studies determine admissibility and/or advanced standing? Do institutions determine admissibility and/or award credit based on the number of years completed? Do other factors influence these decisions? This session will explore 11-, 12- and 13-year education systems to determine when students from these systems are admissible to undergraduate (post-secondary) studies, how stereotypes and bias may impact decisions, and when credit may be granted for secondary studies. This session will include research related to admission and advanced credit policies in various countries with representatives from different countries sharing their institutional perspectives. Attendees will be encouraged to share their perspectives.

Beginner
Intermediate
Experienced

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

All

Student Equity (i.e. access, affordability, resources)

The session includes student equity, representation, advocacy and advancement inspiration themes

The escalating costs of higher education are driving students to seek certainty that their educational paths will lead to fulfilling careers and a strong return on investment. Career exploration plays a crucial role in this, enabling students to uncover and consider career paths previously unthought of, connect the dots between skills learned in school and how they apply in the real world, and while also providing them with direct exposure to the professional world. This process is essential for helping students make educated choices that not only cater to their passions but also contribute to their long-term financial security.

In this session, counsellors, admissions officers, and Unifrog will share structures and resources that they utilize to help students explore, identify, and gain experience in careers of interest: Counsellors will share a comprehensive, intentional careers curriculum and an example of an after-school careers club that provides opportunities for students to gain leadership experience, acquire communication, organizational, and marketing skills while contributing to their school community. Unifrog will present resources that they provide to support careers-related standards as they relate to university/college readiness and HE applications. Admissions officers will explain how applicants' careers exploration activities are considered within their application process as well as about the degree-apprenticeships, co-ops, and work-experience options that their institutions offer students.

Beginner
Intermediate
Experienced

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

All

(Looking Toward) the Future

Careers

Clearing is a well known means of admission to university in the UK. But what clearing is and how it is being used has been changing for many cycles. UCAS will be joined by Glasgow and Keele universities and Queen Mary, University of London to talk you through how clearing works and how you can best prepare your applicants to make the most of all their options to come to the UK.

Beginner
Intermediate
Experienced

Secondary (High School) & Individual

All

Regional Updates

In this session, attendees will have the opportunity to gain valuable insights from a panel of experts, who annually advise hundreds of students from all over the world on career & university selection, on how to become the institution that schools want to work with, and vice versa . The panel will share their expertise and best practices for fostering successful collaborations that benefit both parties. Participants will learn practical tips and strategies for establishing strong partnerships that will ultimately result in better advice, support and choice for students.

Beginner
Intermediate
Experienced

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

All

Advancement (i.e. professional or career)

For the past two decades, engineering was the most competitive program that students were applying to. And then, a few years ago, a new trend began to emerge. Computer science has now eclipsed engineering. As the number of prospective computer science applicants has risen, secondary school counselors find themselves struggling to find a wider range of programs for students to apply to.
What do counselors need to know about this important major? What is the best curricular preparation for students who want to pursue a career in this field? And how can counselors support these curricular choices and help students find HEI options, regardless of whether the student is towards the top or bottom of the class?

Beginner
Intermediate
Experienced

Secondary (High School) & Individual

All

Strategy

Dive deep into the global landscape of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) through a dynamic coffee talk-style panel. Hear expert panelists from diverse regions of the world share their perspectives, build upon each other's insights, and explore the challenges and triumphs of advancing DEI in today’s increasingly complex world. Together, we aim to build an intimate, trusting space that empowers educators to respond effectively to these complexities in their communities.

Beginner
Intermediate
Experienced

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

All

Representation (i.e. diversity, inclusion, region-specific)

In this session we will discuss the importance of a creative post-secondary education, giving an overview of global creative industries and available job opportunities.

We will cover how specialized art/design institutions differ from comprehensive institutions and how to identify, support and encourage students with creative abilities in their college search.

There will be tips for counsellors on how to evaluate a competitive portfolio, advice that can be shared with high school art departments including do’s and don’ts of portfolio submission pieces, and a look at the differences between an artist statement and a personal statement.

We will also share some strategies for building relationships with Art/Creative departments within your school and with visiting Arts institutions,.

Beginner
Intermediate
Experienced

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

All

Advocacy

The future of global higher education enrollment is uncertain, but this positive trend seems likely to persist: universities will continue to prioritize the academic record over non-curricular components, such as legacy tests.

However, there remains a need for quality assurance & external validation of high school coursework to help manage & inform quality admissions decisions and to attract a diverse class. For example, even as some universities now require an ACT or SAT for U.S. domestic students, they waive testing for international students with recognized international academic qualifications, such as Cambridge or IB coursework.

Our panel of global college access leaders will explore, examine, and evaluate ways in which quality curricular-based assessments & related credentials can contribute productively to key enrollment goals in a post-testing world.

Intermediate
Experienced

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

All

Innovation

Prioritizing International Academic Records in Context ... note that we have also reached out to leaders (Bettina Donahue & Jenny Rickard of Common App to contribute data insights to this discussion session)

The term "for-profit" encompasses a range of provisions within international education. From a single-person IEC to an owner-operated company to a large, multinational, venture-capital-backed organisation. Are they all the same? Does it matter?

This session will explore the crucial difference between different models of being "commercial" in international education - the difference between being owned by investors, by private equity, by one single owner, or by a foundation.

What do counsellors, school administrators, admissions officers and others need to know about the private organisations they are contacted by? Does it matter if one company's "profits" are, in effect, their staff salaries, while another goes back to a range of institutional investment organisations? How do we navigate this complex world?

As the world of international education becomes increasingly commercialised, we will explore case studies of different models to empower the audience to ask their own questions and make choices that align with their values and the values of their institution.

Beginner
Intermediate
Experienced

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

All

(Looking Toward) the Future

Educators from this year’s International ACAC Scholar Cohort will share information about the success their students have achieved at home and overseas in spite of significant obstacles. The Scholars will provide valuable insights about support systems they have built for students. They also welcome your questions!

Beginner
Intermediate
Experienced

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

All

Regional Updates

There’s no place like Oceania. Journey homeward to the southern hemisphere and unravel the academic landscape of Australia and New Zealand. Complete with university representatives and enriching insights from internationally experienced independent counselors (including an International ACAC past-president), this session offers a soft landing via in-depth exploration of degree offerings, entry requirements, and key distinctions to the US and Canada. From kangaroos to kiwis, discover the unique flavours of a degree down under and gain expert perspectives, empowering you to guide students seamlessly through the Oceania academic adventure. Join us for an informative exploration where professional warmth and meaningful connections converge, creating a true home for growth in the southern hemisphere.

Beginner
Intermediate

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

Southeast Asia & Oceania

Representation (i.e. diversity, inclusion, region-specific)

Students may choose residential options based on affordability, convenience, social interaction (simple dorms); academic integration, community, and support (residential colleges); or autonomy, privacy, and flexibility (independent housing). To promote diversity, access, and inclusion, universities can offer diverse housing options, organise cultural programming, implement inclusive policies, recruit diverse staff, and foster collaborative partnerships. By creating inclusive living-learning communities, universities can facilitate personal development and cultural awareness among students. Join us for a discussion with colleagues from four universities in four different countries to hear their approaches and experiences in promoting diversity and inclusion through residential experiences.

Beginner
Intermediate
Experienced

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

All

Representation (i.e. diversity, inclusion, region-specific)

Have you ever wondered why certain debates regarding the validity of rankings and appropriate majors to study persist in the world of higher education?
This session proposes an explanation, namely the competing internalized models of a university education we all implicitly harbor – in short, whether one sees education as transactional or transformational.
University representatives from around the world as well as a high school counselor and a representative from an independent organization will offer their perspectives on the purpose of higher education and facilitate an interactive discussion with the audience to reflect on their own internalized models of education.
The session will weave in practical applications on how to best support your students and bridge competing perspectives, allowing for heightened self-awareness and more fruitful collaboration between diverse stakeholders.

Beginner
Intermediate
Experienced

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

All

Innovation