Across international education, artificial intelligence is moving from experiment to everyday practice and it’s reshaping how universities and students alike interact with information. Institutions and agencies are adopting AI to manage their enquiries more efficiently, while international students are using tools like ChatGPT and Gemini to guide their study decisions.
The latest edition of IDP Education’s Emerging Futures: Voice of the International Student research shows that 54 per cent of international students already rely on AI to help choose an institution. It’s easy to see why: popular AI platforms are quickly serving up (mostly accurate) information about tuition fees, visa processing times, and career outcomes, helping them make informed decisions about the life changing journey ahead of them.
While AI is a powerful tool that is already supporting our sector, there’s clear evidence that students are still seeking something that AI can’t give them – human connection – as they make their decisions. The latest Emerging Futures research also shows that 45 per cent of students say authentic, student-centred engagement is key to building trust and belonging and strongly shapes how they perceive their study choices.
There comes a critical time in all students’ journey where they need human insights and input to support their decisions. A person you trust, with lived experience, who can guide you through questions like: Is there a community there for me? Will I feel safe walking around campus at night? Will I find a job to support myself? These are the questions that ultimately determine whether students feel confident in their choices.
The opportunity for our sector therefore lies in combining AI and technology with human connection.
At IDP, we’ve seen how combining technology with human connection can make a real difference.
Unlike others in the sector looking to adopt, IDP’s approach to AI is grounded in already existing governance and trust, built from years of verified student data and ethical use frameworks. Through IDP’s The Ambassador Platform (TAP), prospective students can connect directly with current ambassadors, showing how technology can amplify, not replace, authentic human voices. Similarly, our proprietary AI assistant, built on our extensive global student data, is helping reduce counsellors’ admin load so they can focus on guiding students through complex and deeply personal decisions.
This approach isn’t unique to IDP. New Zealand’s University of Waikato provides an example of the impact of merging human connection with AI. With just five student ambassadors, the university put the human element first, embedding their storytelling into webinars and nurture emails. Amplifying their voices with technologies drove a more than 200 per cent increase in international enrolments, their highest on record.
Across the Asia-Pacific, teams are restructuring, student expectations are shifting, and global competition is fierce. In this environment, efficiency matters, but it’s clear that efficiency alone won’t be the difference maker. Confidence, connection and trust will.
International students can find data easily, so they’re seeking assurance that they will be safe, welcomed, and supported. They want to know they can build a community, thrive in their studies, and succeed in their careers.
Of course, we must embrace AI for the efficiency and information it can provide, but we must never lose sight of the people standing alongside those at the heart of the journey. The future of international education depends on how well we balance both ends of this spectrum.
These insights were discussed in a panel session at the Australian International Education Conference, hosted in Canberra between the 14th and 17th of October
Neil Pearson is the Chief Digital Officer at IDP Education
