As we begin a new year, I am delighted to bring you this special edition of CIS News, your window into the progress and innovation unfolding across our global community.

2025 was marked by new dynamics for international education as governments increasingly scrutinize and regulate academic content and mobility. There is no shortage of opportunities or challenges ahead. We realize how important it is to use our voices as advocates for international education. We also recognize that many people around the world feel unable to speak about the new realities we face. “Will speaking out about new regulations hurt my institution? Will speaking out hurt my community, my colleagues, my family, my career?” The risks can be significant.

Conferring together across schools and universities, we gained new insights through virtual conversations, school evaluation visits, workshops, regional gatherings, university fairs, and our annual Global Forum on International Admission and Guidance. Moving forward, we will continue to advance competency-based assessment, develop learning communities through socially responsible leadership, strengthen practices that lead to well-being, and support international students as they identify pathways for success. 

This newsletter is designed especially for those not currently working at member institutions and eager to stay informed about our journey and the tangible resources we're building for the future. I invite you to discover how our collective efforts are shaping the landscape of international education, and how your perspective continues to inspire our mission. On behalf of the entire CIS team, wishing you a joyful and productive new year!

—Jane Larsson, Executive Director

How we shaped the future of international education in 2025
 

Read more about our work in the CIS Perspectives blog

We were thrilled to welcome over 900 school counsellors, university admissions, and student services professionals from 75 countries to Seville for the Global Forum in November. Energized members connected and collaborated over the two-day event, sharing their perspectives on the opportunities and challenges facing the international admission and guidance field today.

In partnership with the University of Melbourne, we introduced the New Metrics for International Schools (NMIS) program. Our objective is to use next generation assessment and recognition practices for competency-based learning across diverse school communities, and together, use what we learn to lead the global recognition and selection agenda. To date, 23 schools in 13 countries have joined the movement to develop assessment practices across the CIS global community. Read insights and key takeaways.

To further support our members in creating positive transitions within their institutions, we launched the Educational Transitions Framework and hosted our first session of the Foundations of Transitions-Care course to enhance how institutions develop and implement comprehensive transitions-care practices. With the new framework and targeted resources for schools and universities, we broadened our higher education services, guiding and supporting university recruitment, admissions, student services, and orientation teams to guide students as they navigate their educational journeys and future pathways.

We then launched the Secondary to Higher Education Transitions Support Pack, built on the framework, to help our members support their students in their transitions to life beyond secondary school. This collection of guidance, videos, discovery questions, and research all use a shared language to bring international schools, universities, parents, and carers together to guide and prepare students for this pivotal step in their journeys.

We helped schools take greater ownership of their evaluative and improvement processes using the CIS International Accreditation Framework to centre their strategic initiatives within their accreditation plan as a developmental, personalised journey.

In 2025, we launched the International Safeguarding Development Programme, providing safeguarding leads with core learning as they develop their practices using the CIS International Safeguarding Toolkit. This year-long training programme provides eight learning sessions and access to the online toolkit to manage and monitor work within the school.

We remain committed to strengthening socially responsible leadership via a contextually relevant, inclusive approach for each community. CIS member schools can now access a joint programme for leaders and governors designed to strengthen their whole-school approach to meet the specific needs of the families they serve.

101 schools achieved CIS International Accreditation or re-accreditation last year, demonstrating their school community's commitment to high-quality international education.

116 schools and universities joined the CIS membership community in 2025.