This session will discuss the current state of the global economy and in particular focus on:

• The financial crisis: Is the worst over? How will it affect the real economy in 2009?
• The outlook for the developed world (US, Eurozone, Japan, UK): Is a short, shallow recession in prospect or can we expect a slump?
• The outlook for emerging markets: Financially more resilient than in the past, but how will they withstand the downturn in developed markets?

Technology is an ever-changing landscape, which means that harnessing modern technologies, like the Internet and mobile phones, can seem like a daunting task. Each new generation of international students brings with them greater literacy with these technologies, which means they offer new and exciting opportunities to achieve your goals. Many institutions have already embraced these new technologies, including the iCommons Team at Harvard University, who have begun to successfully use the social networking website Facebook for course enrolment communications. As well as social networking, modern technologies can facilitate on-line and distance learning through ‘virtual’ lectures using webcams.

This session will explore how your institution can remain competitive in the education market by using these new technologies to your full advantage. We will look at how to anticipate and meet the needs of the current international education market.

In this session, we will discuss an important issue affecting all institutions: the management of your brand and identity. Although most institutions have a logo or crest, these may not be immediately recognisable to international students considering which UK institution to choose.

Today, the international education market is a diverse audience – each student has their own unique perspective and goals – which means that your brand and identity can make a big difference to the way you recruit international students. Important questions for your institution to ask include: What is our institution’s brand or identity? Does it reflect the product we are selling? Does our brand and identity appeal to the type of student we want to target? Are we using our brand and identity to effectively meet our goals?

Speaker BJ Cunningham, entrepreneur and council member of Business Superbrands, will teach you how to apply the lessons of the business world to the education market. In a world where perception is everything, this session can help you begin to make the most of your brand and identity to achieve your recruitment goals.