Advocating for international education: the CIS Global Forum 2025

By Jane Larsson, CIS Executive Director

In November 2025, 900 participants gathered in Seville, Spain, for our annual Global Forum on International Admission & Guidance to share their perspectives and learn from one another …

Given the significant regulatory changes in 2025 that have altered university admissions and student application and acceptance decisions, it is even more important that we take these opportunities to gather, connect, and collaborate.

Why do so many people attend our flagship event each year?

To learn from peers about the opportunities and challenges facing institutions and students as they consider international admissions practices in higher education. And this year, we launched a specialized executive track for senior leaders to provide space for experienced professionals to explore emerging strategies and changing policies.

Photo of 2025 CIS Forum Keynote Speaker Dr Dirk Van Damme showing a Stephen Hawking quote

On Day 1, Dr Dirk van Damme, (see photo, right) Center for Curriculum Redesign, opened the Forum with a fitting keynote address: 'Adaptability for the age of AI: The lasting human superpower'. He advised:

‘By designing learning environments where students can learn from mistakes without punishment, they can learn how to be adaptable now and for their future with AI,'

On Day 2, a plenary panel of educational association leaders helped participants to consider the changing landscape for international education, internationally and nationally, as they shared perspectives and reflected on new and emerging challenges.

CIS illustration Forces impacting international education

Our roles as advocates for international education have never been more important: collaboration with a purpose is a powerful form of change.

Participants shared their appreciation for the opportunity to learn our respective perspectives, highlighting the importance of our collaboration, a shared solutions-oriented approach to challenges, and said they feel more hopeful as a result.

‘The past week has taught me that closer collaboration between key organisations in the international education sector is instrumental in the current climate. In our respective roles we can stimulate international collaboration in education and research; not only for the benefit of the individual students and staff involved, but also for our economies and societies.’
—Mervin Bakker, Executive Director, European Association for International Education (EAIE)

A valuable investment

CIS members have been posting about this year’s Forum as a valuable investment of their time, commenting on relevant content, the importance of coming together as a community, and the realization that we are not alone as we face new challenges to international student mobility and success.

As I thought about how to convey all that we learned at this year’s Global Forum, the words of our members demonstrate the impact of our time together:

‘Education is, at its heart, a collective effort—one that crosses borders, institutions, and perspectives to help every student reach their fullest potential. When more than 900 educators and counsellors from over 75 countries come together, as we did last week at the CIS Global Forum 2025 in Seville, we are reminded of the power of collaboration to reimagine what international education and student success mean as we navigate unprecedented political, technological and societal shifts.’
—Mar Hurtado, VP Global Recruitment and Marketing, IE University, Spain

‘This year’s theme was focused on the importance of adaptability and collaboration as we face changing and uncertain times—how important it is that we, as educators, learn to be adaptable and to embrace the power of collaboration to ensure that we can teach our students to do so too. I have a lot of new knowledge to take back to ICS Inter-Community School Zurich with me to strengthen my support of students and their families in navigating future plans. I leave with an overall sense of hope, in the knowledge that everyone in International Education is working together to ensure more inclusivity, flexibility and real-world relevance in education, both within the school environment and beyond.’
—Rachel Doell, Future Pathways Advisor, Inter-Community School Zurich, Switzerland

‘As TED Bursa College, we have been honored to take part in this global gathering for 17 consecutive years. Being surrounded by such a dedicated community of university representatives, counselors, and educational leaders continues to inspire and motivate us each year.’
—Ayşe Gülsün Savaş, Overseas Counselor at TED Bursa College, Türkiye

‘Thank you to the CIS organizers for crafting such an insightful Forum—your dedication to nurturing professional knowledge, knowledge sharing, and adaptability sets the benchmark for our field. The opportunity to engage with fellow counselors and university representatives, explore recent trends, and reflect together on best practices was invaluable.’
—Barry Phipps, Advisor/Counselor, International School of Uganda

‘The European School continues to align students’ increasingly diversified interests with opportunities in emerging study destinations, ensuring that our UCCO team anticipates international trends and translates them into student success.’
—Keti Jolia, European School Tbilisi, Georgia

‘Just returned from the CIS Global Forum in Seville—an intense, inspiring, and deeply meaningful experience. What stood out to me most wasn’t just the high-level discussions on international education, student mobility, and the future of global recruitment—but the human side of it all. The countless conversations in hallways, over coffee, and between sessions reminded me that behind strategies, numbers, and market trends, there are stories, aspirations, and people genuinely committed to shaping transformative educational journeys. I had the chance to meet colleagues and leaders who are not only experts in their fields but are driven by purpose—building bridges between cultures, empowering young minds to explore the world, and helping institutions become truly welcoming, inclusive, and globally minded. For me, it wasn’t just a conference. It was a space of connection, shared vision, and realignment with why we do what we do. Because education is not a service: it’s a life-changing experience.’
—René Angeramo, Orientation, Promotion and Recruitment Manager, Rome University of Fine Arts, Italy

‘It was quite fitting that Dr Dirk Van Damme opened the CIS Global Forum with a powerful message to our international audience on Adaptability, certainly in education but in life too! Often, we equate consistency with success and change with failure, and even our systems reward certainty and penalize experimentation BUT growth depends on both. Every pivot, transfer, or “wrong turn” can be a profound form of learning. Adaptability, similar to empathy or communication, isn’t innate and IS trainable. It flourishes only when we create space for people to experiment, reflect, and recover.’
—Robert Nowak, Associate VP of Enrollment Management and Dean of Admission, Lawrence University, USA

‘I’ve just come back from the CIS Global Forum in Seville, and honestly … I’m still absorbing everything. The sessions I ran went beautifully (big shoutout to Amanda Lopez for our strong partnership), but the real highlight wasn’t the presentations. It was the people. The conversations over coffee, the long hallway chats, the “I’ve been wanting to talk to someone about this” moments. I met so many brilliant, kind, deeply thoughtful educators that it felt like I grew a few years in a few days. I left feeling fuller, sharper, and strangely calmer in the way you do when you realise you’re not doing this work alone.'
—Hamit Özonur, College Counselor, CLIP The Oporto International School, Portugal

THANK YOU!

Thanks to all who came together at our 2025 Global Forum to envision the future of international education. With a focus on enabling and supporting students through their transitions to university and careers, we collectively create and strengthen new opportunities for students. Well done, CIS community!

And congratulations to Michelle Duschang, Barbara Prevosti, and Jeff Neill—three extraordinary individuals whose passion, dedication, and leadership have positively impacted the lives of countless students and continually inspire colleagues worldwide.

Read why they received this year’s Recognitions of Excellence: CIS honours inspiring professionals in international higher education admission & counselling

Enjoy browsing the Forum photos and SAVE THE DATE for next year’s CIS Global Forum in Prague on 19–20 November 2026! (Take a look at our event schedule for the many events already filling the calendar for our international higher education admission and guidance community supporting student success worldwide).

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