Winners 2020

Accommodation provider of the year
Winner

Goodenough College, UK

Entry summary

Goodenough College is an independent educational charity that provides student accommodation in London. The community comprises around 700 students, couples and families from 77 countries, with a range of religious and cultural backgrounds. Since 1930, it has been helping to foster mutual respect and an appreciation of global citizenship and social responsibility.

Highly commended

International Student House of Washington, DC, US

Entry summary

International Student House of Washington, DC, US International Student House of Washington, DC is a non-profit with a mission to promote intercultural understanding and build the next generation of global citizens and young leaders. Every year ISH-DC welcomes approximately 300 residents from 60 countries, and holds programs that enhance students’ personal and professional developments.

MyStay International (MSI) Pty Ltd incorporating the Australian Homestay Network (AHN) and the American Homestay Network (AHN USA), Australia

Entry summary

MyStay International incorporating the Australian Homestay Network (AHN) and the American Homestay Network (AHN USA), Australia MyStay International is an Australia-based company specialising in the international student experience market. It was established in 2015 to incorporate the consolidation of the Australian Homestay Network, and then the American Homestay Network. In addition to homestay, the group’s StudentRoomStay project gives domestic and international students the opportunity to establish ‘mixed’ housing units.

Association of the year
Winner

Diversity Abroad, US

Entry summary

Diversity Abroad helps young people from underrepresented backgrounds become equipped with the skills, experiences and networks to thrive in a 21st century interconnected world. In 2019, Diversity Abroad launched a number of tools and initiatives for its members to advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion including the release of the second edition of its Access, Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity (AIDE) Roadmap.

Highly commended

International Education Association of Australia, Australia

Entry summary

IEAA is Australia’s leading association for international education, with a growing membership of almost 3,000 individual members from over 280 institutions and organisations around Australia and internationally. In 2019 it launched a new professional learning framework (PLF), which helps participants to reflect and assess the structure and processes in their organisations. This was the culmination of several years of consultations, research and development work.

Universities UK International, UK

Entry summary

Universities UK International (UUKi) represents UK universities and acts in their collective interests globally. In 2019 it secured a graduate visa route, leading to a 100% increase in student interest in the UK from key markets (IDP, 2019). It also lobbied the UK government on policies around Brexit and Covid-19.

Championing diversity award
Winner

Katalyst, India

Entry summary

Katalyst is an initiative that seeks to liberate women from low income communities through the pursuit of professional education. This year it saw over 1000 girls graduate - 85% of Katalyst students get placed upon graduation with an average starting salary of INR 6,00,0000 (GBP 6,300).

Highly commended

Bayswater Education, UK

Entry summary

Bayswater Education’s mission is to inspire and educate in its classrooms and to extend its ability to educate to communities and cultures across the globe. For every student Bayswater teaches, they will teach another from a disadvantaged background. The organisation donates time, expertise and funds to support children and charities in the home countries of its student. 

Institute of International Education, US - PEER Bridge Award for Displaced Myanmar Youth

Entry summary

Founded in 1919, the Institute of International Education is an organisation which focuses on International Student Exchange and Aid, Foreign Affairs, and International Peace and Security. The IIE PEER Bridge Award (PBA) was created to support displaced Myanmar youth in achieving their goal of earning a university degree. 

Digital innovation of the year - learning
Winner

GROW Observatory's Citizen Science MOOC Programme & Blended-learning Ecosystem, UK

Entry summary

The GROW Observatory is a European wide consortium that has empowered communities to take action on soils and climate. The GROW MOOC program was a multidisciplinary effort led by the University of Dundee. GROW’s innovation was a novel ecosystem of blended learning elements including MOOCs and a mobile app that has promoted citizen science.

Highly commended

Digital Learning Associates, UK - Ready to Run

Entry summary

Digital Learning Associates is a developer and licensor of online content for blended learning that focuses on the challenge of how to engage the ’YouTube Generation’ of digital-first students. The result is an innovative digital resource that allows institutions and companies to rapidly put high quality online and interactive materials into their content.  

Riipen, Canada - Online platform enabling real-world project experiences in the classroom

Entry summary

Riipen is an online platform that enables students, educators, and companies to connect through real-world project experiences in the classroom. Born out of a realisation that millions of students graduate without the skills or experience to succeed in the workplace, Riipen aims to bridge that gap and ensure graduates are better prepared. 

Digital innovation of the year - technology
Winner

Sonder, Australia - Mobile app providing international students with 24/7 rapid in-person support

Entry summary

Sonder’s sophisticated technology aims to ensure the safety of international students. App features like “Track My Journey” and safety notices allow students to have confidence when studying overseas, while also giving parents peace of mind. University partners can extend care duties they are obliged to provide easily

Highly commended

Enroly, UK - CAS Shield

Entry summary

Enroly’s flagship software product, CAS Shield, aims to simplify, streamline and secure the CAS, visa and arrival administration process. The automation platform seeks to address attrition (non-enrolments) of international students post accepting their offer in order to retain lost income for institutions and direct repetitive tasks away from university staff.

Higher Colleges of Technology, UAE - e-Credentials on Blockchain Technology

Entry summary

The UAE’s largest federal higher education institution, the Higher Colleges of Technology, has introduced an E-credentials initiative using blockchain for its students and graduates. Employers and prospective educational bodies worldwide can review applicants’ past academic history, with information able to be immediately verified. More than 155,000 credential documents have been published

Education agency of the year
Winner

Blue Ivy Coaching, Mexico

Entry summary

Founded in Mexico City, Blue Ivy Coaching is a team of over 30 advisers consisting mostly of Ivy League graduates preparing students for entry to the world’s top universities. Last year, the agency grew 115%, generating USD $1.4 million in revenue and helped more than 400 students to study abroad

Highly commended

Education Park, Nepal

Entry summary

Education Park was established in 2012 to build a Nepali brand that could challenge the existing dominance of foreign franchises in Nepal. Education Park has since grown its connections to more than 100 institutions spread over five countries, while the number of satisfied students served by the company has crossed the 10,000 mark.

Language Kingdom, Global

Entry summary

Language Kingdom is a global agency with headquarters in Oviedo, Spain which offers services from more than 12 countries, including the USA, Canada, Spain, and Australia. As of January 2020, Language Kingdom reached 250 staff worldwide, with over 12,000 students in 9 countries, and 15 offices working with over 200 partners

Employability international impact award
Winner

Hacker Exchange (HEX), Australia - Global Innovation Program

Entry summary

The Hacker Exchange (HEX) is a global education service provider based in Australia. It has helped new founders upskill and build networks, helping them launch startups and enter accelerators. Some alumni startups include: Lazy Pharmacy, Esper Satellites, Mint, Gecko, PittrPattr, LoveMyBnb, Numuworld, Tekuma. HEX founders have raised international investment of $100k+ for their start-ups.

Highly commended

Kaplan Business School, Australia - Careers Central

Entry summary

Kaplan Business School (KBS) is one of Australia’s leading independent providers of higher education at which approximately 97% of the total cohort is international students. The organisation has founded an initiative called the Careers Central team, which includes numerous Careers Advisors at each of its five campuses.

Successful Graduate Pty Ltd, Australia

Entry summary

Successful Graduate is an employability edtech company based in Brisbane, Australia. Successful Graduate has worked with professional student career counsellors (members of NAGCAS, CDAA and CICA, including heads of careers units at universities and TAFEs) to develop resources which save institutions time, money and improve scale of delivery.

International alumni of the year
Winner

Riddi Viswanathan, India - The University of Manchester, UK

Entry summary

Riddi Viswanathan was the Manchester Students’ Union first ever full-time International Students’ Officer, representing over 12,000 international students, and has since worked to promote the rights of international students in the UK by playing a vital role in the #PoststudyWorkVisaNOW campaign and addressing hate crime on campus.

Thomson Ch'ng, Malaysia - Curtin University, Australia

Entry summary

A former president of the Council of International Students Australia, Thomson Ch’ng says he initially got involved with student associations at university to improve his English. Since graduating in 2016, he has participated in multiple international platforms such as in his role as Vice-President of the ASEAN Youth Organization, while also working on community projects in Penang, Malaysia.

Highly commended

Ranjeet Singh Rathore, India - London Brunel International College (LBIC) & Navitas UPE, UK

Entry summary

The first international student to be re-elected as the Student Union President at Brunel University, Ranjeet Rathore has actively worked on a number of social issues and served as an inspiration for young people to do more and step out of their comfort zones, campaigning for a variety of environmental and social inclusion causes.

Language educator of the year
Winner

BEC (Broadstairs English Centre), UK

Entry summary

Established in 2009 by a family of teachers, Broadstairs English Centre is particularly noted for its dedication to training, particularly for homestay providers, a program that encourages the promotion of learning outside of class and in the home by teaching providers ways to facilitate conversation and learning through techniques used in the classroom

Highly commended

ILAC - International Language Academy of Canada, Canada

Entry summary

As Canada and the rest of the world went into lockdown mode, ILAC made the decision to close its physical schools and transition all classes into ILAC KISS - Keeping it Simple and Smart. Within the space of just one week, ILAC went from nine bustling campuses to a fully virtual classroom experience that was available anywhere in the world, live and in real time.

The University of Sydney Centre for English Teaching - CET, Australia

Entry summary

The Centre for English Teaching (CET) at the University of Sydney welcomes over 3,500 international students every year on a variety of programs, from its Direct Entry Course to teacher training and graduate programs. Its newest offering, Global English, specifically focuses on building the skills and confidence needed for successful social and professional communication

Marketing campaign of the year
Winner

UCL, UK - Disruptive Discoveries #MadeAtUCL

Entry summary

The UK’s University College London has been “confronting humanity’s biggest issues” since 1826. Its Disruptive Discoveries #MadeatUCL campaign promoted the institution as making a positive impact on real-world problems through sharing the stories of 100 impactful research projects, creating a model for public engagement work and a template for communicating research globally.

Highly commended

Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, US - Carmen Sandiego: Fearless Kids Around the World

Entry summary

Debuted by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt in 1985, the Carmen Sandiego brand was a best-selling game franchise in the 80s and 90s that has since produced three TV shows, six Emmys and a Netflix series. Running from September 2019, Carmen Sandiego: Fearless Kids Around the World helps children develop self-awareness skills, responsible decision making, conflict negotiation, and self-confidence.

University of Hertfordshire, UK - Keep Communicating

Entry summary

In the space of just four weeks, the University of Hertfordshire reviewed its entire marketing and engagement plan in response to Covid-19 to introduce a series of new measures that would keep lines of communication open between itself, agents and students. The result was the “Keep Communicating” campaign, which focused efforts on keeping in touch with students and having friendly welfare calls with agents

Outstanding contribution to the industry
Winner

Ruth Arnold, UK

Entry summary

Currently a senior adviser to Study Group, Ruth Arnold developed and chaired the UK’s award-winning #WeAreInternational campaign until 2019. Ruth expanded the campaign from an institutional one at the University of Sheffield before working with stakeholders across the UK to collaborate to promote the country as one that welcomes international students

Highly commended

Enver Yücel, Turkey

Entry summary

Enver Yücel is founder and chair of Europe’s largest private educational network, BAU Global, comprising 300 schools and six universities in 10 countries. Enver has dedicated his life to providing lifelong quality education and improving access since acquiring his first institution, Ugur Schools, at the age of 17.

PIEoneer of the year
Winner

United World Schools, Global

Entry summary

United World Schools is an international NGO working in some of the world’s poorest regions to give every child access to free education. Starting as a school in North-East Cambodia, to date UWS has reached over 35,000 children across Cambodia, Myanmar and Nepal, empowering them to reach their potential and break out of poverty.

Highly commended

FutureLearn, UK - COVID-19 online courses

Entry summary

FutureLearn partners with over a quarter of the world’s top universities to support over 12 million learners to achieve their goals through flexible online courses, micro-credentials and degrees. As the coronavirus began to spread, the platform launched a variety of courses and resources for students, parents, healthcare workers and other individuals affected by the pandemic. 

UNESCO & NOKUT, Global - UNESCO Qualifications Passport for Refugees

Entry summary

One of the main obstacles refugees face when applying for higher education or seeking work in their new countries is the lack of recognition of their prior studies. The UNESCO Qualifications Passport initiative is a tool to ease pressures on countries that host large numbers of refugees and helps to enhance refugees’ self-reliance. 

Progressive education delivery award
Winner

My Online Schooling, UK

Entry summary

My Online Schooling is a digital learning service that provides a full English National Curriculum education online for children across the globe. Pupils can access their education from home, or wherever they connect to the internet, creating an invaluable option for children who are unable to access education via mainstream schooling.

Highly commended

Kaplan Business School, Australia - MBA Program

Entry summary

Kaplan Business School is one of Australia’s leading independent providers of higher education at which approximately 97% of the total cohort is international students. According to the Graduate Outcomes Survey run by the Australian federal government, 100% of KBS MBA students are employed once they graduate and their salaries are 20% higher than the sector average.

University of California, Davis, US & Hands On Institute, Nepal - Community, Technology and Sustainability

Entry summary

Committed to educating the next generation of change makers, UC Davis is working towards Global Education for All, a campus goal to provide 100% of students with global learning opportunities. Collaboratively with Nepal-based Hands-On Institute, the university runs a hybrid online-mobility program for UC Davis and Nepalese university students that has run twice and filled to capacity.

Public / private partnership of the year
Winner

Uber & Open University Programme, Global

Entry summary

Uber is a company that offers vehicles for hire, food delivery, package delivery, couriers and freight transportation. The Open University is a public research university and the largest university in the UK for undergraduate education. In October 2019, Uber introduced a loyalty programme for drivers giving them provision for free higher education through The Open University (OU).

Highly commended

Sonder, Australia & Up Education, New Zealand

Entry summary

Sonder is a world-first personal safety monitoring and response company and UP Education is a leading dual-sector education provider delivering both vocational and higher education across Australasia. UP Education’s partnership with Sonder’s multilingual rapid response network provides immediate help to UP Education students across New Zealand

Hacker Exchange (HEX) & Monash University (Faculty of IT), Australia - Women in STEM & Entrepreneurship (WISE) Silicon Valley Program

Entry summary

The Hacker Exchange (HEX) is a global education service provider based in Australia. Monash University is Australia’s largest university, based in Melbourne. HEX and Monash have started an innovative program to help Women in STEM and Entrepreneurship (WISE) in Silicon Valley. The program is designed to develop an entrepreneurial mindset in the next generation of women in the Internet of Things. 

Real life learning award
Winner

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, US - Study Abroad Program: Kosovo & ERAU Unmanned Aircraft Systems Partnership

Entry summary

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Florida specialises in aviation and aerospace and has been at the forefront of ground-breaking aeronautical milestones since the early days of flight. Using aviation and aerospace technology for some surprising purposes, students from Kosovo and the US worked together to use unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) carrying cameras to document cultural heritage locations for preservation.

Highly commended

Humber College Institute of Technology & Advanced Learning, Canada

Entry summary

The Faculty of Social and Community Services (FSCS) at Humber College has developed an innovative framework for Faculty-Led Programs (FLP) that creates opportunities for authentic learning through short-term work placements abroad. These two-week programs are unique as they are jointly created with global academic partners and led by Humber faculty members.

Singapore Management University, Singapore - SMU-X Overseas Programme

Entry summary

The SMU-X Overseas Programme (SMU-XO) offers students at Singapore Management University a unique, hands-on opportunity to tackle complex, real-world business challenges that overseas organisations face by taking on the role of consultants to provide fresh perspectives and decisive insights. As part of the program students also go abroad, developing global citizenship skills and building networks.

Secondary learning international impact award
Winner

Amerigo Education, US

Entry summary

Amerigo Education supports international high school students in the US academically, emotionally and socially. Round-the- clock supervision, daily English language learning, cultural immersion activities and its university guidance program ensure students are sufficiently prepared for higher education. Its cornerstone four-year Amerigo University Advantage program gives students an added differentiator when applying to universities.

UTP High Schools, US

Entry summary

Partnering with secondary institutions in the USA, UTP High Schools’ campus teams offer a range of services including a Host Family program and a Global Ambassador Club. A new Alumni Network ensures the long-term success of its students. It also works to ensure students are prepared for higher education overseas.

Highly commended

AGORA Sant Cugat International School, Spain

Entry summary

Agora Sant Cugat International School in Barcelona is one of Spain’s top schools. As a member of Globeducate, the school caters to some 1,500 students annually, and its International Home Room service – incorporating newcomers with language challenges to ensure they are prepared for success – is just one of the school’s outstanding initiatives.

Student support award
Winner

University of Windsor, Canada - English Language Improvement Program - Mindflow

Entry summary

The University of Windsor is a public comprehensive and research university in Windsor, Ontario, Canada with approximately 12,000 full-time and part-time undergraduate students and 4,000 graduate students. The university’s Mindflow program enables students to share areas, such as improving sleep, that they wish to receive further advice on.

Highly commended

Education New Zealand / Manapou ki te Ao - NauMai NZ

Entry summary

Student support award finalists Sponsored by Student support award - finalists Education New Zealand / Manapou ki te Ao, New Zealand - NauMai NZ Education New Zealand (ENZ) is New Zealand’s government agency for building international education. In May 2019 the organisation launched NauMai NZ (pronounced ‘know my NZ’). The platform invites each student to ‘step forward’ and join a new community whilst continuing to celebrate their own identity.

Zoni Language Centers, US

Entry summary

Zoni Language Centers is a language school founded by Zoilo C. Nieto in 1991. The school has provided considerable support for its students during Covid-19. Within two weeks of the pandemic, Zoni had transferred close to 3000 in-person students (more than 75% of their students) to their virtual platform.

Sustainability international impact award
Winner

The GREEN Program, US

Entry summary

Since 2009, the GREEN Program has provided short-term experiential education programs for future leaders in sustainable development. Some 3,300 students have participated in programs including visiting Fukushima’s disaster zones, working in reforestation in Iceland and installing solar microgrid systems in Nepal’s rural villages since the program’s inception.

Highly commended

Global Experiences, US - Green Initiative

Entry summary

Internship provider Global Experiences launched a Green Initiative in 2019 in a bid to reduce its environmental footprint as it aims to become carbon neutral by 2025. As well as ensuring that interns’ flights are carbon offset at no additional cost, participants undertake green education throughout their programs.

Rome International School - Globeducate, Italy

Entry summary

The Rome International School has taken a leading role in promoting, educating and leading its community towards a more sustainable and environmentally friendly future. Working with its Globeducate network, students aged 6-17 have taken part in the Eco Schools program while the school has introduced a sustainable transportation ”Green Scheme” among other initiatives.