Pivotal moment in international field for educators at NAFSA

In her opening speech, Dr Fanta Aw, Executive Director and CEO of NAFSA Association of International Educators , highlighted that the conference theme – “Purpose, Place, and Partnership” – could not be more timely. “We are living through an era of profound paradox: We’re more connected than ever, yet we’re also increasingly divided. Technologies bring us closer, while ideologies push us apart. The value of higher education is being questioned. Academic freedom is under siege. And international students – our students – are too often seen as numbers or threats, rather than future leaders.”

She encouraged attendees do more, think more and engage more during the event. “I invite you to engage deeply. To ask hard questions. To listen openly. To challenge assumptions. To learn from new voices. To lead with integrity. To partner with intention. And to leave here not just with contacts – but with a renewed sense of purpose and a commitment to innovate. Because purpose without people is like a tree without roots. Place without meaning is a structure with no foundation. And partnership without equity is extraction.”

Dr Fanta Aw, NAFSA Executive Director and CEO. Credit: NAFSA: Association of International Educators

Just days before the conference, the US State Department issued a memo calling for a pause to new student visa interviews while it prepared new guidance on social media screening, and the Department of Homeland Security terminated Harvard University’s Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) certification for “fostering violence, antisemitism, and coordinating with the Chinese Communist Party on its campus,” which, at the time of writing, had been temporarily halted by the courts. In addition, the president’s nominee for director of US Citizenship and Immigration Services said he would eliminate Optional Practical Training, which enables international graduates to stay and work in the US for up to 12 months.

A session featuring executive directors of Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Emerson College, University of Massachusetts Amherst and a practicing attorney explored the topical subjects of political discourse, protest, and activism on campus and how best to advise international students and scholars on their rights and risks.

Panelists urged delegates to familiarize themselves with institutional policy, to engage in campus wide discussions that respond and adequately support students on campus and utilize “crimmigration” attorneys, if needed, to ensure students are well represented if detained. They also advised institutions to pre-warn students of immigration penalties should they engage in protest and political activism and to communicate actions currently being taken by government to target social media activism, even if historical.

Mark Pettitt, Founder and CEO of Edified, Emily Kirsch, Director of International Relations and Partnerships at UCLA Extension and Gabriela Ardito, Head of Student Mobility at USAL Argentina, President of Argentinian agency association ARSAA and CEO of VCE International.

Emerging trends in international student mobility and their implications for English-language programs were explored in a session by IIE and EnglishUSA . Julie Baer, Research and Learning Lead at IIE, shared insights from the latest Open Doors report which revealed three years of growth and a stabilization in IEP student numbers. Student weeks, however, have not returned to pre pandemic numbers, with students staying for shorter durations, confirmed Julie. A separate news story on IIE’s Intensive English Program (IEP) Survey will follow in due course.

Cheryl Delk-Le Good , Executive Director of EnglishUSA, also shared data-driven insights, including the results of a flash survey of members that analyzed Spring 2024 and Spring 2025 enrolments. The survey revealed an increase in B1 visa students and a preference for shorter courses, prompting traditional IEPs to ask whether what they offer serves this changing student demographic.

Agent Perceptions and Factors that Influence Agent-Educator Collaboration was the topic of a panel discussion led by ICEF, featuring Emily Kirsch , Director of International Relations and Partnerships at UCLA Extension , Mark Pettitt, Founder and CEO of Edified and Gabriela Ardito , Head of Student Mobility at USAL Argentina, President of ARSAA – Argentine Study Abroad Association and CEO of VCE International .

Key takeaways included the importance of adopting a holistic approach to partnerships and carefully selecting the right agent partner – a good agent doesn’t need to lead with commission rates, agreed the panel. Institutions should also work to improve cross-cultural awareness, ensuring staff are attuned to students’ cultural backgrounds, and remain open to revising ineffective procedures. Maintaining regular visits with top-performing agents is essential, as is recognizing that trust takes time to build. It’s also important not to overwhelm agent partners with excessive information and to be mindful of alternative and preferred channels of communication, such as WhatsApp.

Keystone Education Group’s State of Student Recruitment 2025 survey

Attendees were given a sneak peek at Keystone Education Group’s latest annual survey, examining evolving dynamics in study abroad decisions. The survey of 41,995 student respondents from more than 150 countries revealed a preference for in person communication, up 200+ per cent in 2025 and a shorter student journey – with 57 per cent of students researching study abroad opportunities for less than six months before applying for a master’s or bachelor’s degree, compared with 51 per cent in 2024, 54 per cent in 2023 and 45 per cent in 2022.

The UK remained the top destination choice for HE study among surveyed students, with the US losing market share in 2025 over 2024 figures. Referencing the impact of policy on student decision making, Mark Bennett, VP of Research & Insight at Keystone, highlighted that international students don’t mind changes to the status quo but argued there needed to be a defined status quo.

Other sessions included how to use data for advocacy in international education with Studyportals B.V. , World Education Services and Oxford International Education Group . With findings from the Global Enrolment Benchmark Survey by Studyportals, produced in collaboration with NAFSA and the Oxford Test of English, the panel analysed the affect migration limitations and policy uncertainty had on university enrolments in the current climate, including a move away from the big four (US, Canada, UK and Australia) to alternative destinations in Europe and Asia.

Meanwhile, a session on current issues with the U.S. Department of State Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) drew the crowds but gave little in terms of clarity on nkew policy measures being explored by the Trump administration. NAFSA implored delegates to join the association and the rest of the U.S. for Success Coalition to urge congress to use its authority to protect international students from harmful executive actions. For more details on the campaign, please click here.

Next year’s NAFSA conference and EXPO will be hosted in Orlando from May 26 – May 29, 2026.