Doubling down on student support

Our student services department, particularly the Student Success Crew (SSC), is dedicated to providing timely intervention and support to our students, helping them succeed not only at university abroad but in life. Their engagement helps students through a myriad of challenges, tackling mental health issues and well-being, academic expectations, professional development, financial difficulties and career aspirations. The SSC ultimately contributes to a decreased drop-out rate and better life experience and diversity, preparing students for more active involvement in the community. The results delivered are evidence-based, with measurable impact on retention and improved student outcomes.

Connecting through global recruitment events

Throughout February, upGrad GSP hosted a roster of B2B global recruitment events across India, Latin America, South Asia and Southeast Asia.

We regularly host these recurring events to connect our partners and stakeholders, fostering meaningful conversations and facilitating strong and fruitful relationships. In a collaborative effort with our different institution partners, we enable them to share valuable insights and guidance regarding the admissions, programs and courses, campus life and culture at their respective institutions. They talk about exciting new offerings, trends, tips and advice, and what makes their institutions stand out. During these events, our partners not only gain vital and exclusive information but also engage in direct conversations while strengthening their networks.

India

Our Key Partners Meet and Greet in Kochi, India was held on 5 February at The View at the PGS Vedanta. Partner universities present include Auckland University of Technology, University of Waikato and Victoria University of Wellington.

The AIBI Meet & Greet Workshop was also held on 13 February at Taj Krishna in Hyderabad with our partner institution AIBI HE.

The upGrad GSP Partner Showcase: Griffith University was also held on 26 February at the Grand Chennai by GRT Hotels. The event put the spotlight on partner institution Griffith University.

On 28 March, we also hosted a workshop and networking hi-tea event in Kochi, India with our recruitment partners to showcase the University of Newcastle.

Nepal

We hosted the upGrad GSP Nepal Partners Meet & Networking Event 2024 on 5 February at the Himalaya Hall of Hotel Himalaya in Lalitapur. The event was attended by 100 recruitment partners and 14 institution partners, namely:

• ATMC Education Group
• British Council Nepal
• Canterbury Institute of Management
• Kaplan Business School
• Southern Cross University-Main Campus
• The Hotel School Australia
• University Canada West
• University of Bridgeport
• University of Niagara Falls
• University of Tasmania
• UP Education
• UTS College
• Education Center of Australia
• Oxford International Education Group.

Learn more about the successful occasion here.

Bangladesh

Held at the Lakeshore Grand in Gulshan, Dhaka on 8 February, the upGrad GSP Bangladesh Agent Networking Event welcomed 140 recruitment partners. It was sponsored by UTS College, Charles Darwin University (CDU), University of Tasmania (UTAS), UP Education, TAFE and James Cook University Brisbane (JCUB).

Chief Growth Officer Mr Ali Butt conducted the key presentation, which highlighted the growth of upGrad GSP in the country in the last year. A panel discussion was also held with institution partners, which included:

• UTS College
• UTAS
• University of Wollongong (UOW)
• UP Education
• Flinders University 
• Griffith College
• Torrens University Australia
• Engineering Institute of Technology
• AIBI Higher Education (HE)
• Trine University
• University of South Australia (UniSA)
• Canterbury Institute of Management (CIM)
• Australian Technical and Management College (ATMC)
• Study Group.

Sri Lanka

The Sri Lanka Agent Networking Event 2024 was held on 13 February at Shangri-la Colombo. It was sponsored by CDU and TAFE NSW. Participants included Flinders University and Southern Cross Education Institute (Higher Education).

The AIBI Meet & Greet Sri Lanka was also held in partnership with AIBI HE.

Colombia

The upGrad GSP Networking Forum 2024: The Year of Regulation was held on 14 February 2024 in Bogota. 100 attendees participated in two early access sessions. The first one was for Australia, attended by Camilo Peña, Business Development Director of Education at the Australian Embassy and Angela Rojas, Education Consultant for Latin America Trade and Investment Queensland. The other session was for the USA, with participation by Karina Otalora, Fair Coordinator of EducationUSA and Samuel Reales, Center Director of EducationUSA. The event discussed how regulation is shaping this year’s recruitment strategies and how agents would be aligning with that new reality. Along with agent sessions, an open forum was held with government representatives and the upGrad GSP Colombia team (Natalia, Laura and David) for further discussions.

Getting prestigious scholarships for our students

On 1 February, Charles Sturt University proudly announced that two outstanding students from upGrad GSP, Namya Kumar from GSP India and Elmeriz Vicaeli Bassig from GSP Philippines, have been awarded the Vice-Chancellor’s International Excellence Scholarship. This scholarship recognises academic excellence, community contributions and alignment with the core values of the university.

Receiving Silver Partner Award

On 8 February in Mumbai, upGrad GSP was honoured to receive The Silver Partner Award from The University of Queensland (UQ). We are proud to contribute to the success of both our learners and the university. This was a real testament to our strong and continuing partnership with the institution.

UQ has been named Australia’s top university in the inaugural Best Universities Ranking by The Australian Financial Review (AFR), highlighting its excellence in both education and research. According to US News & World Report, UQ is ranked 36th in Best Global Universities. It’s also the 3rd Best University in Australia.

Participating at the Annual FAIE Conference

upGrad GSP participated as a gold sponsor in the 2024 Annual FAIE Conference held last 15-16 February in Tallahassee. The event allowed us to support the international education community while further expanding our network. Our North America team, represented by Patrick Colabucci and Catherine Wilson, gave a presentation on the topic “University-Aggregator Partnerships: Issues to Consider.” They welcomed the audience to explore if the aggregator model fits their institution’s global strategy.

Being recognised as Gold Partner

On 28 February, the upGrad GSP Bangladesh team received the prestigious Gold Partner 2023 recognition from UP Education. UP Education is a multi-sector education group and a top-two pathway provider in Australasia. We achieved an impressive Top 4 position within the gold category and a Top 7 overall ranking. Our exceptional team member, Tokee Tahmid, also accepted the Best Performer Award for individual performance for his unwavering commitment and contributions.

Joining Recruit in Canada’s Spring 2024 Fairs

upGrad GSP was thrilled to be part of the Recruit in Canada’s Spring Fairs from 29 February to 3 March. Our team leaders, Patrick Colabucci and Catherine Wilson, represented upGrad GSP at the country’s largest international university and student travel expo. The event ran across Vancouver, Montreal and Toronto. Patrick and Catherine engaged with Canadian and international students searching for top-notch universities. They offered upGrad GSP’s professional services, including providing the best study options and streamlining application experiences to help all aspiring learners reach their educational goals.

Attending the APAIE 2024 Conference

upGrad GSP attended the APAIE 2024 Conference on 4-8 March at the Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre in Western Australia. Here, we joined education professionals from around the globe with the same aspirations as ours. We collaborated and exchanged ideas on improving recruitment processes and services to help students achieve a seamless study abroad experience.

Learn more about upGrad GSP initiatives and events

upGrad GSP is set to continue collaborating with international education professionals, agencies and institutions as 2024 progresses. Stay in touch with our business development experts to know more about our initiatives, events and recognitions.

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The Vice-Chancellor’s International Excellence Scholarship is the university’s largest scholarship for international students, valued at 50% of the students’ tuition fees for the entire duration of their respective courses. This scholarship not only acknowledges academic achievement but also celebrates students’ commitment to community engagement.

Namya Kumar and Elmeriz Vicaeli Bassig, both pursuing healthcare-related Bachelor’s degrees in Port Macquarie—in Nursing and Paramedicine, respectively—exemplify the calibre of students that this scholarship seeks to support.

Charles Sturt Vice-Chancellor Professor Renée Leon recognises the crucial role international students play in its global contributions. “Supporting international students to pursue their higher education dreams strengthens our ties with international partners and enriches our regional campus communities,” he stated.

Pro Vice-Chancellor (International) Mr. Mike Ferguson welcomed the students, expressing anticipation for the valuable contributions they will make to the university and their communities. “Namya, Elmeriz, and Gaurab will be valued members of our student community, and I look forward to welcoming them to Charles Sturt,” he added.

The scholarship, awarded for the first time in 2024, attracted applications from 70 candidates, with 10 shortlisted and three ultimately selected. Applications for the 2025 Vice-Chancellor International Excellence Scholarship are expected to open in mid-2024.

Charles Sturt University boasts a strong student community with students from around Australia and the world–24% of the students are international students from 113 countries. International students can gain the Australian experience and benefit from Charles Sturt University’s diverse and inclusive community, which fosters a welcoming environment for students from different walks of life.

The upGrad GSP team congratulates the successful scholars and highlights the significance of the opportunity to recognise academic achievement and community contributions. This also encourages students like Namya Kumar and Elmeriz Vicaeli Bassig to continue embodying values which led to this well-deserved recognition, highlighting the fruitful partnership between Charles Sturt University and upGrad GSP.

Most importantly, this achievement strengthens upGrad GSP’s mission of providing students around the world with access to educational choices and achieving their goals that will positively change their lives and ultimately impact the world for the better.

To learn more about the exciting study opportunities available for international students with our partner institutions in Australia, please visit our upGrad GSP platform or contact our Business Development Managers for more information.

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Last 18 to 22 September, Shivali Mehendale, our Director for Institutional Partnerships South Asia, visited our institution partners in Ireland and the UK to show GSP’s commitment to follow-through on international students’ well-being as they study and live abroad. 

Together with Lew Wernick, Director for the UK and Ireland, she explored 11 of Ireland’s highly ranked educational institutions, including the University College Dublin, Trinity College Dublin, National College of Ireland, University College Cork, University of Limerick, University of Galway, Atlantic Technological University (ATU), Technological University of Shannon (TUS), Griffith College, South East Technological University (SETU) and Dublin Business School. 

During her trip, Shivali met with one of her accomplished students, Purav Shah, who recently completed his MSc in Pharmaceuticals (Research) at Trinity College Dublin. Purav shared his inspiring experience as an international student and talked about how Ireland’s culturally diverse and welcoming environment exposed international students like himself to a wide range of new learnings, perspectives and value-adding experiences. Shivali highlighted the substantial increase in the number of Indian students choosing the region: “It’s fascinating to see the significant growth in the number of Indian students in Ireland over the past decade”. 

Recent data from the Higher Education Authority (HEA) revealed that the academic year of 2022-2023 has seen a record number of international students with 35,140 international enrolments in higher education, which is around one in seven students or 13.7% of the student population in Ireland.  

This trip not only emphasised the appeal of Ireland’s universities but also revealed the numerous opportunities it offers to aspiring international students from around the world. Ireland’s high-quality education proves that it’s one of the top destinations for students worldwide. “These key factors make Ireland a compelling destination for students”, Shivali remarked. 

Other than the significant increase of international students, Shivali also noted the economic and cultural parallels between Ireland and the UK, as well as Ireland’s standing as the largest English-speaking country in the EU, which makes it attractive to international students seeking post-education opportunities and enables smoother integration and easier communication for international students. 

At their stop in London, Shivali engaged in informative and enjoyable explorations of the city’s iconic landmarks and educational institutions. Her experiences, from traveling in a foreign country to experiencing public transportation (like the train from Heathrow Airport to Liverpool), offered an eye-opening perspective on the international student experience. She also explored famous London landmarks, including the Tower Bridge, Big Ben and Buckingham Palace, getting a glimpse of the city’s rich cultural and historical heritage. 

The UK is named one of the world’s most multicultural cities and is home to more than 127,000 international students. During their visit, Shivali and Lew also stopped by three institutions: London Metropolitan University, London South Bank University, and Greenwich University. Their interactions with university representatives laid the foundation for potential collaborations and provided insights to educational opportunities available for international students in London.  

With Ireland and UK’s growing significance in global education, GSP is committed to connecting international students with quality education and career opportunities and providing tailored support and guidance. By acknowledging the individual aspirations and challenges of each student, GSP ensures that the educational experience is not just informative but transformative, preparing them for a successful future. 

For more information on partnering with GSP and to explore these options, feel free to check out our GSP platform and don’t hesitate to reach out to our Business Development Managers for more information.

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