Competing in a Changing Global Marketplace

Join EAB for a two-part virtual event designed for higher education leaders across the UK and Europe who are navigating an increasingly complex international recruitment landscape. Drawing on new global market research, partner interviews, and emerging student mobility trends, this event will explore how institutions can adapt their recruitment strategies as traditional sources of growth become less predictable and competition intensifies.

Sessions

Select all sessions and click Register to sign up.

Attendance is best suited for senior leaders responsible for international growth, recruitment performance, and market diversification.

• Part One: Developing a Diversified Country Portfolio
  Thursday, September 3, 2026 | 2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. British Summer Time
  
  As demand from traditional source markets evolves and no single country emerges to replace the scale once provided by China, institutions must rethink how they identify and evaluate new opportunities. In this session, we’ll explore practical frameworks for assessing market potential, managing recruitment risk, and building a more resilient and diversified country portfolio. Learn how leading institutions are moving beyond reactive decision-making to make more confident, evidence-based investments in emerging markets.
  
  Key Takeaways:
  
  • Understand the global forces reshaping international student recruitment
  • Explore a structured framework for evaluating and prioritising emerging markets
  • Learn how to develop a diversified country portfolio that supports long-term enrolment stability
  • Move beyond the search for the ‘next China’ and build a more resilient recruitment strategy
  • Gain insights from sector research, partner interviews, and institutional case studies

• Part Two: Assessing Global Competitors to Identify True Competition
  Wednesday, November 4, 2026 | 2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. Greenwich Mean Time
  
  With new destination countries gaining market share and students considering a wider range of options, institutions need a more sophisticated approach to competitor analysis. This session examines how student decision-making is reshaping the global competitive landscape and provides practical tools for identifying the destinations and institutions that truly influence recruitment outcomes. Discover how to monitor emerging competitors, evaluate competitive threats, and strengthen your institution’s position in an increasingly crowded marketplace.
  
  Key Takeaways:
  
  • Assess competitor destinations through the lens of student decision-making
  • Understand how students compare destinations and institutions when making enrolment decisions
  • Identify practical approaches to monitoring global competition and emerging competitor destinations
  • Learn how to distinguish between headline-grabbing competitors and those that pose a genuine recruitment threat
  •Leave with actionable strategies to refine institutional positioning and compete more effectively