• Date: Thursday 21 September 2023
  • Time: 14.00 - 17.30 hours (GMT +7) *
    *The event will be broadcast from Thailand. For counsellors who attend remotely, the webinar will take place from 14.30 to 16.30 hours (GMT +7)
14.30 – 16.30  Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam 
14.00 – 16.00    Myanmar 
15.30 – 17.30   Mainland China, Hong Kong, Macao, Malaysia, Singapore, Philippines, Taiwan  
16.30 – 18.30   Japan, South Korea 
07.30 – 09.30  UK time 

The British Council is pleased to announce the upcoming East Asia Counsellor Forum - Preparing Students for UK Study Success event on Thursday 21 September. Live from Bangkok, this event is specially designed for university guidance advisers to provide valuable insights and resources to support students as they embark on their journey to UK universities in 2024. 

Admission is free for all teachers. Participants who attend at least one session will also receive a certificate of attendance from the British Council. 

By attending the event and signing up for the British Council agents and counsellors engagement platform, you will have exclusive access to UK university directory and a chance to promote your school. Don't miss out on this incredible opportunity!

A. Features of Event

Discover the power of student mobility data in East Asia

Gain a comprehensive understanding of regional trends, preferences, and challenges. Our expert speakers will delve into the intricacies of this dynamic landscape, equipping you with valuable knowledge on the evolving international education landscape.

Stay informed with the latest updates on UK education policies, student visas, and UCAS process

Staying up-to-date is crucial in today's ever-changing world. Our event offers a unique opportunity to stay informed about the latest updates on UK education policies, student visas, and the UCAS process. Gain exclusive insights from industry professionals, ensuring you have the most accurate and relevant information to guide your students towards their dream universities.

Bridging the gap to UK Study success - Empowering students for university preparation

As we approach the upcoming academic year, our event culminates in a roundtable discussion focused on supporting students applying to UK universities successfully in 2024. Engage in insightful conversations with university representatives and experienced career counsellors. Gain practical strategies, expert advice, and proven techniques to ensure your students' applications stand out from the crowd.

B. Timetable

Event schedule (tentative)

Time (Thailand time) Activity
14:00 Check-in for participants who attend the event in person from Bangkok and Jakarta 
14.30 – 15.30 Study UK Outlook in 2024

 

  Mapping East Asian student mobility to the UK: trends, priority subjects, skills gaps, and employment opportunities by The British Council 
  UCAS update – what you need to know by UCAS
  UK student visas: recent updates and changes for international students by UKVI
  Q&A 
15.30 – 15.40  Break 
15.40 – 16.30 Panel discussion: getting school-university collaborations off the ground - what are your needs?
  UK university admissions: strategies and support for counsellors by BUILA
  Bridging the gap: collaborative approaches for UK universities to provide value added support to career counsellors – speaker TBC
  Q&A
16.30 – 17.30 Networking (for participants who attend the event in person from Bangkok and Jakarta only)

C. Guest Speakers

Jazreel Goh MBE
Country Director Malaysia
EA Education Insights Hub Director, British Council 
Jazreel joined British Council China in June 2004 where she led on the UK’s largest education marketing and partnership initiatives in mainland China. She has worked in various organisations in Malaysia, Australia, as well as Hong Kong in the areas of brand management, corporate planning and investment, international education consultancy, as well as in intellectual property licensing.

Lissapat Kraikruan
Visa outreach officer for UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI), British Embassy in Bangkok
Lissapat Kraikruan is responsible for overseeing the dissemination of visa information in Thailand, Malaysia, and Singapore, as well as liaising with the private sector and education institutions across these countries. As a visa outreach officer, Lissapat aims to provide information while strengthening the effectiveness of visa operations and innovating new approaches to provide the optimum UKVI service for applicants.

Samantha Sykes
Customer Success Manager (Advisers)
Universities and Colleges Admissions Services (UCAS)

Sam has worked within Operations at UCAS for 7 years and leads who supports those advising applicants through the admissions process such as counsellors, teachers, and advisers. Sam is one of our UCAS’ experts in the customer journey and a regular host for many of the UCAS broadcast streams, from Facebook to Hub lives. She is a qualified teacher and prior to joining UCAS worked in UK secondary education.

Shonagh Maak 
International Recruitment Manager (South and South East Asia), University of Glasgow
Lead Agent Quality Framework, Co-opt, British Universities International Liaisons Association (BUILA)

Shonagh has worked with international students since 2008 in a variety of roles across Admissions. Student Services. Accommodation, International Recruitment and Partnerships. She is currently International Recruitment Manager (South and South East Asia) at the University of Glasgow where she leads a team of staff across Glasgow, India, Singapore and Indonesia to grow student enrollment and supports a diverse network of partners from the region. She also leads on the university’s overall agent engagement and management. Shonagh joined Glasgow in 2018 and previously worked at the University of Stirling and INTO Newcastle University. She has served as the Vice Chair of the Scottish Universities International Group and currently works with BUILA as the Co-Opt Lead for the Agent Quality Framework.

D. Join British Council Counsellor Training

To support education advisers a better understanding of the UK education system, the British Council is pleased to announce the launch of a new, free, agent and counsellor training and engagement hub.

The hub represents every level of UK education and includes information on what international students will need to study at an English Language School, Independent School, College, or Higher Education Provider. It will provide a one stop shop for agents and counsellors to engage with the UK as a study destination as a whole.

Why should you sign up?

  • Free of charge: no registration fee, no recertification fee.
  • 100% online learning: content grouped in thematic areas, not by study level, total study time has been reduced by 25%.
  • Flexible learning: modules can be taken in any order, at any time. Experienced advisers can fast-track straight to the assessment – saving study time!
  • Online certificates generated immediately: upon successful completion. After passing an assessment and signing up to the Code of Ethical Practice, you can be listed as ‘certified’ UK study advisor on a public-facing website.

For more information, please visit our website by clicking here and join us today!

Don't miss out on this exclusive opportunity to expand your professional network, enhance your knowledge, and elevate your career counselling skills. Secure your spot now and become a trailblazer in shaping the future of education for your students.

Please note this is an RSVP-only event. Attendees must present the registration confirmation email from the British Council upon arrival in hard or soft copy. 

Please also be informed that although all sessions will be recorded. The panel discussion recording will be used exclusively for internal purposes, specifically for gathering main ideas, and cannot be shared. However, we will provide session summaries and key takeaways to all registered participants after the event.