ECU Dean, International Business Operations, Marko Remes with ATLAS26 presenters
Edith Cowan University's (ECU) ATLAS26 Global Insights Forum has brought new clarity to its international direction, aligning strategy, student demand and partnerships at a pivotal time for the sector.
Held at ECU's City Campus in early 2026, the full-day forum led by the University's International Business Operations team drew on expertise from major and emerging global education players including QS, Studyportals, IDP, Navitas and Insider.
A sector in motion
A consistent message emerged throughout the day that international education is undergoing steady, but significant, change.
New projections from QS indicate that global student mobility will reach 8.5 million by 2030, with nearly 800,000 students expected to choose Australia as a study destination. Growth is forecast to be gradual, at around 2.5 per cent annually.
For ECU, the figures reinforce the need for a targeted strategy rather than broad expansion.
Southeast Asia (SEA) and market diversification has become a central priority. With the Australian Government policy placing greater emphasis on the SEA region, ATLAS26 included dedicated sessions on student sentiment and market behaviour in Vietnam, Indonesia and the Philippines, alongside broader regional engagement. Discussions combined market data with frontline insights into student decision-making, expectations and evolving preferences.
Turning insight into action
Beyond sector analysis, the forum created tangible opportunities for engagement.
In the days following ATLAS26, ECU's International Business Operations team secured an invitation to meet Western Australia's newly appointed Indonesian Consul-General, Mr Irvan Buchari. The meeting will focus on future business development and partnership opportunities.
The connection originated at the forum, where a Consulate representative participated in a panel on Indonesia, highlighting the event's role as a catalyst for relationship-building.
A clear direction
Manager of Global Strategy and Performance, Isabelle Lange, said the forum was designed to provide clarity in a complex environment.
"ATLAS26 was about bringing clarity to the complex international environment, and equipping our staff with a global mindset," she said.
She noted that combining data, market intelligence and lived experience enabled staff to make more informed decisions about ECU's global positioning.
"By connecting data, market insight and lived experience, we are better positioned to make informed decisions about how ECU positions itself internationally," Ms Lange said.
QS Regional Partnerships Director (Australia and New Zealand), Shelly Maller, observed a strong sense of purpose across the event, pointing to ECU's emphasis on community, global engagement and career-focused outcomes as key strengths.
"ECU's commitment to community, global engagement and its ability to attract students seeking meaningful career mobility were evident throughout the sessions. It was a privilege to be part of the Forum," Ms Maller said.
Dean of International Business Operations Marko Remes said ATLAS26 offered a valuable opportunity to connect sector-wide expertise with ECU's strategic ambitions, with overwhelmingly positive feedback from staff.
"ATLAS26 provided the ECU community a unique opportunity to connect the sector ecosystem expertise with ECU's ambitious global direction, and the feedback has been overwhelmingly positive."
ECU continues to grow
Informed by insights from the forum and industry partners, and buoyed by the opening of City Campus, ECU has recorded a strong international intake for semester 1, 2026.
ATLAS26 represents a step forward within a broader strategic journey.
As ECU works towards its future goals, sustainable international growth remains central, supported by stronger partnerships, refined market focus and a coordinated approach to risk.
