Jason Czyz, President of IIE: Open Doors, International Student Data & Trends, and the Future of Global Higher Education
In the Season 4 premiere of the EdUp International Podcast, host James Shafer welcomes back Ben Waxman, CEO of INTEAD, who takes the lead in a timely conversation with Jason Czyz, President and CEO of the Institute of International Education (IIE).
Jason shares how a Rotary exchange year in France transformed his life and inspired a career dedicated to expanding global education opportunities. Together, Ben and Jason explore some of the most pressing topics in international higher education, including:
Emerging student recruitment markets beyond China and India
The growing appeal of U.S. community colleges to international students
Why the United States still has significant capacity to welcome more international students
International enrollment, diversification, and institutional strategy
IIE's philanthropic programs, including the Emergency Student Fund, Scholar Rescue Fund, Odyssey Scholarship, and American Passport Project
The role of Open Doors data and benchmarking in institutional decision-making
How senior international officers can build adaptable strategies in an unpredictable environment
Managing up, celebrating wins, and gaining executive support for internationalization efforts
James also shares practical insights from the front lines of international recruitment, discussing CRM implementation, data governance, visa challenges, and how institutions can identify opportunities during periods of uncertainty.
Whether you're a senior international officer, international enrollment leader, university president, or international educator, this episode offers valuable perspectives on the future of global engagement and student mobility.
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RSS Feed In the Season 4 premiere of the EdUp International Podcast, host James Shafer welcomes back Ben Waxman, CEO of Intead, who leads an in-depth conversation with Jason Czyz, President and CEO of the Institute of International Education (IIE).
Jason shares the personal story of how a Rotary exchange year in France transformed his life and launched a career dedicated to advancing international education. From student mobility trends to humanitarian initiatives and higher education leadership, this episode offers insights for international enrollment professionals, senior international officers, university leaders, faculty, and global education professionals.
Topics discussed include:
✅ Emerging international student recruitment markets and the diversification of student mobility
✅ Why countries such as Colombia, Peru, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Romania are attracting increased attention from U.S. institutions
✅ The growing role of U.S. community colleges and the opportunities they offer international students through affordability, transfer pathways, and workforce preparation
✅ Why the United States remains one of the world's most attractive study destinations despite increasing global competition
✅ International enrollment, institutional capacity, housing, affordability, and the future of student recruitment
✅ IIE's Open Doors data and how universities can use research and benchmarking to guide strategy
✅ The importance of data-driven decision making, CRM systems, dashboards, and institutional alignment
✅ Strategies senior international officers can use to build adaptable internationalization plans during times of uncertainty
Jason also highlights several of IIE's impactful philanthropic programs, including:
• Emergency Student Fund
• Scholar Rescue Fund
• Odyssey Scholarships for refugee and displaced students
• American Passport Project
• Fulbright Program engagement and support
James Shafer contributes practical perspectives from the enrollment management side, discussing CRM implementation, KPI development, visa interview challenges, student deferrals, institutional reporting, and how universities can identify opportunity even during difficult recruitment cycles.
One of the episode's strongest themes is that international education is about far more than enrollment numbers. It is about student success, global understanding, research collaboration, institutional innovation, and creating life-changing opportunities for students around the world.
Jason explains why university presidents and leaders across the United States continue to see international education as a strategic priority, while Ben Waxman shares actionable advice on transforming data into decisions, building institutional support, and helping campuses adapt to rapid changes in the global higher education landscape.
The episode concludes with valuable insights on leadership, international partnerships, celebrating institutional successes, and why organizations that continue investing in international education today will be best positioned for tomorrow's opportunities.
Guests:
- Jason Czyz, President & CEO, Institute of International Education (IIE)
- Ben Waxman, CEO, Intead
Host:
- James Shafer
- Director of Internal Student Recruitment & Enrollment, Touro University
Subscribe to the EdUp International Podcast for conversations with global higher education leaders, international enrollment experts, international educators, government officials, and innovators shaping the future of international education.
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