USJ Macao Invited to participate in ICEF Asia 2026, held in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
USJ Macao Invited to participate in ICEF Asia 2026, held in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
15
Jun
15/06/2026
The University of Saint Joseph (USJ) Macao continues to expand its global reach and strengthen its international partnerships.
Professor Álvaro Barbosa, Vice-Rector for Internationalisation and Academic Affairs at the University of Saint Joseph (USJ), represented the University at the prestigious ICEF Asia 2026 event, held from 10 to 12 June in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
ICEF (International Consultants for Education and Fairs) is a leading global organisation that supports the international education sector by providing market infrastructure, independent reference frameworks, and objective market intelligence. ICEF events are renowned as the world’s leading B2B networking conferences for international education professionals, facilitating transparent engagement and informed relationship-building across student source and destination markets.
ICEF Asia 2026 brought together over 140 high-quality, ICEF-screened international student recruitment agents and more than 130 education providers from over 30 countries. The three-day event offered opportunities to forge networks with agents representing fast-growing and diverse outbound student markets across Asia, including Vietnam, China, the Philippines, Thailand, Malaysia, and India.
During the event, Vice-Rector Barbosa was invited to participated in a workshop titled “Mastering International Student Recruitment Channels & Agency Model”. The session was led by Josephine Phinith, Global Business Development Manager at ICEF, and featured an opening address by Martijn van de Veen, Chief Business Development Officer at ICEF, who provided an update on Southeast and East Asian study destinations.
The workshop also included a high level panel discussion on the topic “The Power of Partnerships: Leveraging Agencies for International Student Recruitment“. This panel featured prominent speakers, including Rezia Usman, Regional Director of the Office of International Affairs at Woosong University, and Ruttiya Dorkphong, Regional Manager for Laos and Thailand at EEVS Education Consultants.
In addition to USJ Macao, the session hosted representatives from distinguished universities operating in Vietnam, highlighting the region’s vibrant higher education landscape. These include:
- VinUniversity: The first private, not-for-profit Vietnamese university established based on international standards. Located in Hanoi, VinUniversity is recognised for its commitment to excellence, global collaboration, and impactful research, having recently achieved QS 5 stars.
- Van Lang University (VLU): A prominent institution in Ho Chi Minh City that has significantly advanced its internationalization strategy under the “Beyond the Seat” model. VLU cooperates with renowned universities worldwide to build student exchange programs and enhance cross-cultural learning opportunities.
- RMIT University Vietnam: The Vietnamese branch of the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (Australia) and the first completely foreign-owned university granted permission to operate in Vietnam. With campuses in Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, and Danang, RMIT Vietnam is a leading international university in the region, hosting a diverse student body from across the globe.
The participation of USJ’s Vice-Rector in ICEF Asia 2026 and in the strategic workshop is part of the University of Saint Joseph’s ongoing internationalisation efforts, promoting global partnerships and enhancing its value proposition as a leading international study destination for students from Asia and beyond. By engaging with industry leaders and peer institutions, USJ continues to develop its recruitment strategies and expand its collaborative networks in global higher education.
