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Higher Ed Chats

December 11th, 2025

17 minutes

What’s Next for International Higher Education in 2026?

Join us for a special episode of Higher Ed Chats with Fredrik Högemark, CEO and co-founder of Keystone Education Group, for an in-depth conversation about the current state and future of international higher education. 

With over 20 years of industry experience, Fredrik shares his unique perspective on how the sector has evolved since he founded EMG in 2004. We explore the dramatic shifts in student behavior, expectations, and decision-making processes that are reshaping how universities recruit and engage with prospective international students. 

In this episode, we tackle some of the most pressing questions facing higher education today: How are universities navigating the challenges of 2025? Does a university degree still offer meaningful value in an era of rising costs? What role is artificial intelligence playing in student recruitment, and how should institutions balance automation with human touch? 

Fredrik takes us on a global tour, examining regional differences in recruitment strategies across Asia, Europe, North America, and the Middle East, while discussing the emerging importance of markets in Africa, Southeast Asia, and Latin America. We also address the critical question of whether governments are doing enough to support international student mobility. 

The conversation wraps up with Fredrik's bold predictions for 2026 and beyond, offering valuable insights for educators, recruiters, and anyone invested in the future of global higher education. 

Who’s in the episode?

Fredrik Högemark_headshot
Fredrik Högemark
Fredrik Högemark is Chief Executive Officer and co-founder of Keystone Education Group. With over two decades of experience, he specializes in business development and digital marketing within the education sector. Fredrik’s mission is to develop and deliver services which help students in their journey to find the right education and to develop innovative solutions for the education industry.
Scott Miller_headshot
Scott Miller

Scott Miller is the host of Keystone Higher Ed Chats and the Executive Director of Keystone's international division, bringing over 11 years of EdTech experience to conversations about global education. 


After graduating from DePauw University, living and working in different cultures showed him that stepping outside your comfort zone doesn't just broaden your horizons; it reshapes them entirely. That belief in the transformative power of international experiences brought Scott to Keystone in 2010, where he's spent over a decade (and counting) helping higher education institutions reach students worldwide. 


On Keystone Higher Ed Chats, Scott speaks with thought-leaders in the industry about what he's most passionate about: how education changes lives, how cultural experiences broaden perspectives at any age, and how Keystone's mission—connecting students with their ideal higher education institution—makes those life-changing moments possible. 

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