Fast forward to today, and technological progress continues to accelerate. Take ChatGPT, for example: it debuted in 2022, quickly amassing 100 million users within just two months, and peaked at 1.8 billion users in 2023.

The impact of technological advancements and industrialisation is especially evident in the field of international student mobility. Following the rise of mass air travel after World War II, it is estimated that 6 million students’ study abroad today, with projections suggesting this number could reach 8 million by 2030.

At UAPP, we often find ourselves asking, “What do future generations expect from us?” This question drives our efforts to prepare proactively for the future, ensuring we continue to provide value and relevance to students, parents, universities, and stakeholders alike.

The most common response we hear is a desire for “digital transformation, innovation, and a personal touch”. To meet these expectations, we have been developing innovative AI tools to help students navigate the complexities of choosing destinations, courses, accommodations, and more.

As we look ahead, it is crucial to think not only about the tools students will need but also how their expectations around accessibility, sustainability, and personalisation will shape the future of international education.

AI will play a key role in offering personalised, multilingual services, delivering fast, accurate information without the hassle of lengthy searches. We also foresee increased transparency in application processing, which will lead to faster response times and higher conversion rates.

While some regions have already integrated AI into their recruitment processes, others are just beginning to explore these possibilities. At UAPP, we are dedicated to ensuring that our AI-powered solutions are inclusive, accessible, and scalable across different educational systems.

This vision aligns with the 2024 ICEF Digital report, which predicts that technologies like MS Copilot, ChatGPT, and AI chatbots will become integral tools for students searching for information about international education.

AI will play a key role in offering personalised, multilingual services, delivering fast, accurate information without the hassle of lengthy searches

At UAPP, we are committed to being part of this transformation, not only offering guidance on destinations, courses, accommodations, and all aspects of studying abroad but also providing access to £4m in loans for international students coming to the UK in 2025.

We are not alone in this mission to revolutionise the international recruitment space. We have already partnered with several key stakeholders, including universities and service providers.

If you want to be part of this exciting industry journey, we invite you to join our online community “Global Education 2.0“.

About the author:

With over 20 years of experience in the global education sector, Alan Bahia is the sales and marketing director at UAPP, a one-stop-shop Edtech organisation dedicated to supporting international students in the journey to find their dream of studying abroad using technologies such as AI.

In his previous role as commercial director at BCdiploma, he collaborated with institutions and stakeholders worldwide, focusing on digital credentials, continuing education, and student mobility using innovative technologies.

Alan has also held various senior roles at organisations such as Global University Systems, Glyndwr University, and OCR one of the largest awarding bodies in the UK, part of Cambridge Assessment and the University of Cambridge.

As CEO of Alphabet Education Group, he has led initiatives in transnational education (TNE), global commercial expansion, and business transformation with partners like Shorelight Education and Berlitz. Despite recent changes in the global student recruitment markets such as the addition of aggregators, Alan believes that the industry is only in its ‘maturing’ stages, and more collaboration and integration is needed to enable a better offering and support to global students and universities. Technology may enable us to achieve this through an ecosystem that is fit for purpose.