While rapidly changing policies make for a dynamic landscape, underlying demand from international students remains strong. Universities are having to do so much to stay relevant and competitive in this fast-paced, changeable environment, and internal resources are being stretched to their limits.
But, focusing on what they can control, reviewing and optimising critical processes, and investing in robust, integrated systems is one way universities can secure their future success in this evolving landscape.
Instead of fragmented systems, universities need integrated solutions to address the specific pain points of international education, from application processing and tuition fee collection to managing global agent networks. This is not merely about efficiency; it’s about building resilience. Streamlining and simplifying complex and time-consuming processes will reduce administrative burden, enhance the student experience, and build a foundation for future growth and prosperity.
1. Automate more of the application process
The ICEF Agent Voice Report 2024 revealed education agents value fast application processing from partner institutions as well as rapid responses to queries/issues. Cumbersome or slow application processes can deter prospective students and the agents who support them.
Institutions can streamline document submission and review processes, as well as automate things that tend to bog the process down – such as offering up necessary insurance products – within the workflow. This efficiency boosts agility and helps teams act quickly, significantly enhancing the student experience to boost conversion rates.
2. Make international payments easier
Payment is a point of unnecessary friction and stress for many international students and their families, who are often unfamiliar with cross-border payments and rely heavily on education agents for advice and support. In fact, the ICEF Agent Voice 2024 data revealed that the majority of agents assist students with payments, sometimes even by making the payment on the student’s behalf. Students and their families need access to information in their local language and time zone if they have questions or issues.
Instead of fragmented systems, universities need integrated solutions to address the specific pain points of international education
Short payments due to FX can cause ripple effects – holding up reconciliation and delaying steps needed for students to secure enrollment – as can missing ID information, adding to student anxieties. Providing transparent, localised, and digital payment experiences is essential for student satisfaction and retention.
3. Strengthen agent partnerships
Education agents remain crucial partners for institutions in their efforts to recruit students across the globe. Efficient management of these partnerships, including comprehensive training, swift query response, transparency and timely commission payments, helps foster stronger relationships and incentivises agents to prioritise your institution. According to the 2024 ICEF Agent Voice report, 86% would value more training from their partner institutions signalling that they too want to build stronger relationships.
Critically, leveraging technology will be the key to simplifying and streamlining processes and building resilience. Connecting agent management, application and payment workflows will deliver significant operational efficiencies and allow teams across campus to focus on other valuable initiatives such as improving student support or expanding recruitment to new markets.
At the same time, integrating systems will automate manual tasks and accelerate financial reconciliation, reducing errors and improving response times, while ensuring compliance, mitigating fraud risks and enhancing overall stability. Moreover, integration can deliver valuable data insights on student origins, payment trends, and agent performance, empowering universities to make more informed strategic decisions.
For more information on how Flywire connects the international education ecosystem to drive institutional success and stability in the face of uncertainty, visit www.flywire.com.
About the author: Mina Fakhouri is senior vice president of education sales APAC & global agents at Flywire
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