Excellence in our community

Each year, it’s our great pleasure to take a moment to recognise, honour, and celebrate the excellent work taking place across our international higher education admission and guidance community in these three areas:

Excellence in Change & Innovation

Excellence in Counselling

Excellence in Higher Education Practices

Year-round nominations. Recipients announced each November

We encourage nominations throughout the year and enjoy the highlight of announcing the recipients at our annual CIS Global Forum on International Admission & Guidance each November.

Who to nominate and why

In this impressive community of professionals, representing more than 1,525 CIS institutions across 124 countries, people can leave positive and lasting impressions on us in many ways.

We encourage you to nominate the individuals and groups at CIS schools and universities who demonstrate excellence in higher education admission and guidance in their service and support to you, your students, your institution, and ultimately, our global community.

We have expanded our nomination criteria to include groups in addition to individuals. A group can be from the same institution, or they might work across institutions within the CIS community. All nominees are working diligently to support students during a significant transitional time in their young lives.

Help us recognise colleagues in our community by submitting a nomination!

Nominate now

Nominate for: Excellence in Change & Innovation

By nominating an individual or group for Excellence in Change & Innovation, you are recognising changemakers in higher education enrolment or secondary school counselling who embody the CIS mission, vision, and values.

Your nomination celebrates their contributions and achievements in advancing international education in relation to international higher education admission and guidance.

Your nominee(s) demonstrate strong leadership among their peers and a record of creating positive and lasting change within their community and international admissions and guidance communities.

Nomination criteria:

The individual or group within or between CIS member schools and universities:

serve in higher education international enrolment management (including but not limited to admissions and recruitment) or as a school counsellor/university advisor/future pathways advisor at a CIS member institution
embody the CIS mission, vision, and values, including a focus on socially responsible leadership, a commitment to inclusion via diversity, equity, and anti-racism (I-DEA), and well-being
demonstrated leadership in innovating or otherwise creating significant and lasting change in international education
demonstrated an innovative and energetic approach with respect to their work in university admissions or school counselling
have a record of service and/or volunteerism in the profession
have been active in the promotion of global and cultural understanding
understand what their work can mean for an individual student, the student’s family, their country, and our world
are easily described as an exemplary individual or group who has exhibited strong leadership and personal integrity, insists on ethical professional practices, maintains high personal expectations, demonstrates a positive attitude and demeanour toward others, and seeks to understand and appreciate other cultures and educational programmes
have placed the best interests of students at the heart of their decisions
are broad-minded and inclusive in work and in their interactions with others
have actively participated in the CIS community

Nominate for: Excellence in Counselling

By nominating an individual or group for Excellence in Counselling you are recognising their contribution and achievements in international education that meet the criteria listed below.

Nomination criteria:

The individual or group within or between multiple CIS member schools:

serves as a school counsellor/university advisor/future pathways advisor at a CIS member school
embodies the CIS mission, vision, and values, including a focus on socially responsible leadership, a commitment to inclusion via diversity, equity and anti-racism (I-DEA), and well-being
have actively promoted international secondary school guidance, counselling, and transitions-care
demonstrated commitment to furthering the professional development of colleagues
have been active in the promotion of global and cultural understanding
understand what the work as a school counsellor/university advisor/future pathways advisor can mean for an individual student, their family, their country, and our world
are easily described as an exemplary individual/group who exhibits personal integrity, insists on ethical professional practices, maintains high personal expectations, demonstrates a positive attitude and demeanour toward others, and seeks to understand and appreciate other cultures and educational programmes
demonstrated the ability to excel at inspiring and leading others
placed the best interest of students at the heart of their decisions
are broad-minded and inclusive in work and in their interactions with others
have provided significant contributions to CIS and the profession

Nominate for: Excellence in Higher Education Practices

By nominating an individual or group for Excellence in Higher Education Services you are recognising their contributions and achievements in international education that meet the criteria listed below.