IACAC 2025: Real strategies needed to navigate US policy hurdles
“Global collaboration is more important than ever,” Shital Vaghasiya, SVP of sales at The Evaluation Company, told The PIE News at the conclusion of the International Association for College Admission Counselling (IACAC) conference in at Northeastern University in Boston.
Vaghasiya noted IACAC’s critical role in bringing together counsellors and university representatives to support globally mobile students. “Every conference session tied back to the shared mission: empowering and guiding students through a complex educational journey,” she said.
Discussions focused on advising students in volatile visa environments, supporting refugee and underrepresented applicants, and fostering cross-border recruitment partnerships grounded in ethical practices.
Speaking to The PIE, Greg Holz, assistant director for global engagement at the University of Central Missouri, addressed the growing tension between welcoming narratives of institutions and shifting government policies. He observed that visa woes, housing shortages, and contradictory immigration messaging are creating real barriers.
“Institutional goodwill alone isn’t enough,” he stressed.
Institutional goodwill alone isn’t enough
Greg Holz, University of Central Missouri
Holz also told The PIE that the consensus among speakers and delegates was clear: welcome and inclusion must be matched with tangible strategies to navigate policy-driven obstacles.
Its largest annual conference to date, drawing over 1,570 participants from more than 100 countries, with nearly a third of attendees participating for the first time, the IACAC event underscored both the scale and the growing diversity of the global education community.
In an environment in which international education continues to face policy, economic, and perception-related headwinds, numerous delegates indicated to The PIE they believed the scale and energy of the Boston conference sent a strong message: global engagement remains a priority across sectors.
Institutional stakeholders emphasised that the demand for international education has not diminished, but has instead shifted, prompting new recruitment strategies and a renewed focus on inclusion and storytelling in the admissions process.
In fact, several conference sessions highlighted how personal narratives of international students are being woven into institutional identity and outreach efforts. These stories were presented as strategic tools for humanising the application process and reframing the value of global education at a time when its role is increasingly scrutinised.
Technology also featured prominently. From AI-powered platforms to CRM systems and virtual fairs, digital tools are clearly reshaping how institutions connect with prospective students. Yet, as Vaghasiya noted, “Technology is changing how we connect, but human connection remains key.”
The next IACAC Conference will be held at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburg, US 14-16 July 2026.
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