Bridging the Gap Between Student Recruitment, Admissions, and Academic Readiness 

Celestina Cardoz (Academic Relations Manager, TOEIC^® Program, ETS),  Ellen Schuurman (Head of Admissions, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam School of Law), Shivani Bhalla (Head of International Student Recruitment, Brunel University of London), explored the topic 𝘽𝙧𝙞𝙙𝙜𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙂𝙖𝙥 𝘽𝙚𝙩𝙬𝙚𝙚𝙣 𝙎𝙩𝙪𝙙𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙍𝙚𝙘𝙧𝙪𝙞𝙩𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩, 𝘼𝙙𝙢𝙞𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝘼𝙘𝙖𝙙𝙚𝙢𝙞𝙘 𝙍𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙚𝙨𝙨, in a dynamic panel session at EAIE 2025.

In today’s competitive and globalized education sector, collaboration between recruitment, admissions, and teaching staff is essential to student success. This session explored strategies for attracting and supporting diverse student populations, featuring best student recruitment practices from Brunel University London (ranked the UK’s most international university), admissions practices from the University of Amsterdam and academic readiness strategies suggested by teachers at ETS.

In the panel session, we explored how inclusive admissions processes, strong pre-enrollment support and engaging learning experiences, can set students up for success. Celestina CARDOZ explained how academic readiness is key to student success and how it can be supported on three levels.

At the individual level, it’s about equipping students with the skills, confidence, and resources they need to thrive in an academic environment. At the institutional level, it involves providing the right resources and opportunities for students, for instance, creating clear academic pathways, support systems, and inclusive practices that meet diverse student needs. She also highlights the importance of qualified teachers, and why it’s important to invest in the professional development of your teachers and academic staff. Ongoing professional development ensures faculty staymembers stay up -to -date with best practices and teaching methods, particularly for supporting neurodivergent students and diverse learning needs. Celestina also emphasized the importance of language classes and how language teachers can play an important role in boosting academic readiness. Finally, at the national level, policies and initiatives such as the “Bienvenue en France” *, award label play a crucial role in ensuring access, equity, and quality education for all. 

*The Bienvenue en France label is a certification awarded by Campus France to French higher education institutions that demonstrate excellence in welcoming and supporting international students, including providing French language classes. 

Looking for solutions for your institution? Contact Celestina Cardoz at ccardozmaury@etsglobal.org to learn how ETS can support you.