Smarter, Not Harder
If you’re tired of hearing that everything is “powered by AI,” you’re not alone. Some of us get excited, others investigate, a few wonder about the governance implications (guilty), and many still hope it’s just a fad. Be curious. It is true that those of us who understand AI and can use it in our jobs will be more valuable as an employee, employer, leader, teacher, counselor, advisor. A recent article in The Chronicle of Higher Education, “Your Students Need an AI-Aware Professor” by Marc Watkins, gives excellent advice on where to start in your journey, whether you are a professor or not.
Not long ago, artificial intelligence (AI) was a buzzword tossed around at conferences, in fields we never touched, or in sci-fi movies based in some distant future. Today, it’s becoming the backbone of how we operate, and I’m interested in the intersection of AI in higher education and international education more specifically. Senior International Officers like me face ever-increasing demands with ever-shrinking budgets. We are tasked with expanding global engagement, streamlining admissions, supporting diverse student bodies, complying with complex immigration systems, and still sleeping at night (sometimes). AI is not a panacea, but it is a powerful partner.
When used intentionally, AI can help us work smarter, not just faster, and allow us to focus on the heart of our mission: connecting people, ideas, and institutions across borders with integrity.
Why AI Matters in Higher and International Education
AI’s relevance to our field can be distilled into three core opportunities:
Operational Efficiency: Automating repetitive tasks such as application sorting, document verification, and initial advising allows teams to reallocate time toward high-impact work.
Personalization at Scale: AI can tailor content, communication, and support for prospective and current international students in ways that reflect cultural nuance and linguistic needs. It can also support students on their study abroad journeys through messaging, marketing, risk management, and cultural competency growth.
Data-Driven Strategy: Predictive analytics can refine recruitment pipelines, monitor visa issuance trends, and assess program risk, allowing institutions to act instead of react.
Where AI Meets Our Work
1. AI for International Recruitment
AI offers scalable and transparent alternatives to agents that put students first.
AI agents like College Genie, institution-specific AI agents, Unibuddy, and Tars offer 24/7 multilingual support, reducing student frustration and increasing engagement, especially across time zones.
Predictive analytics platforms like Element451 and Liaison can identify the most promising applicants based on academic fit, engagement behavior, and historical yield data, without relying solely on third-party agents. (Note that predictive analytics tools require impact assessments!)
CRM optimization: AI can segment communication based on intent, country, and level of engagement, delivering messages that resonate. For example, a student from Vietnam applying to a STEM program might receive different content than a student from Ghana interested in humanities.
Admissions-specific tools, like Transcript Genie, streamline the admissions process by evaluating transcripts quickly and easily, giving your admissions staff more time for holistic review, data analysis, and communications with prospective and admitted students.
Most importantly, AI enables universities to have direct-to-student engagement, reducing the institutional dependence on opaque agent networks and fostering a more ethical, accountable recruitment model.
2. AI in Admissions and Visa Documentation
Document verification tools can detect fraudulent transcripts or financial documents faster than manual review.
Natural language processing (NLP) tools can evaluate personal statements for originality, tone, and clarity while flagging plagiarism, supporting holistic admissions without overburdening staff.
Integration with SIS platforms (e.g., SAP, Slate, or Banner) can automate the generation and transmission of I-20s or offer letters, reducing errors and processing time.
3. Student Support and Retention
AI advising assistants or institution-developed AI agents support students with onboarding, housing, and visa questions around the clock, especially helpful for international students adjusting to new systems.
Language support tools such as Grammarly, DeepL, and Google Translate’s AI-driven features can help students navigate academic and social communication in real time.
Cultural preparation platforms such as KAHOOT! with AI-generated quizzes or custom LMS modules can offer gamified intercultural learning tailored to specific destinations.
4. Compliance, Risk, and Global Mobility
AI-enabled dashboards like Tableau (when paired with data warehouses) can map I-20 issuance, enrollment trends, or SEVIS compliance in near real-time.
Machine learning algorithms trained on visa data, application timelines, and geopolitical events can help identify at-risk student populations or countries facing delays.
Global risk platforms like International SOS, now with AI-enhanced tracking, provide up-to-date safety alerts tailored to travel itineraries and regions, aiding education abroad offices in real-time decision-making.
Tools You Should Know (and Try)
Here’s a quick-reference table of the tools I’ve found most promising, both field-specific and general-purpose AI applications, that can enhance international education.
| Tool | Function | Use Case in International Education |
|---|---|---|
| ChatGPT (OpenAI) | Conversational AI, content generation | Drafting emails, FAQs, articles, scripts, and policies |
| NotebookLM (Google) | AI-powered research and summarization tool | Synthesizing research reports, program briefs, or visa policy comparisons |
| Claude (Anthropic) | LLM with extended memory context | Complex document analysis or policy modeling |
| Microsoft Copilot | AI inside Microsoft 365 apps | Smart summaries, language edits, PowerPoint building, Excel analysis |
| Gamma.app | AI slide deck + doc generator | Creating webinars, reports, and presentations |
| Midjourney | AI image generation | Creating recruitment visuals, culture-based graphics |
| Perplexity | AI-powered research assistant | Sourced resources for a variety of purposes |
| College Genie | Career and college counselor | Tailored advice for students, counselors, and even university representatives |
| Element451 | Predictive CRM for recruitment | Targeted outreach, engagement scoring, yield forecasting |
| Unibuddy | Peer-to-peer and chatbot platform | Engaging prospective students through authentic peer stories |
| Grammarly / DeepL | Language clarity and translation | Multilingual support for students and communications |
| Convera | AI in tuition payment tracking | Fraud detection and international payment guidance |
| Kira Talent | Video interview + AI review | Admissions assessments with rubrics and video submissions |
| Mainstay (AdmitHub) | AI-powered advising & nudges | Support with onboarding, deadlines, and FAQs |
| International SOS | AI-enhanced risk alerts | Real-time global safety notifications for study abroad |
Ethics, Equity, and Institutional Readiness
Efficiency is seductive, but it must never come at the cost of integrity or equity. As we incorporate AI into international education, we must:
Audit for bias: Ensure algorithms do not disadvantage applicants from underrepresented regions or non-traditional backgrounds.
Maintain transparency: Let students know when they are interacting with AI and how their data is used.
Protect privacy: Comply with GDPR, FERPA, and other data protections.
Champion human oversight: AI should support, not replace, advisors, counselors, and faculty. Human connection should remain a core value.
Train our staff in AI literacy: Institutions must invest in AI literacy training for international education professionals. In fact, AI literacy is required by the EU AI Act, parts of which are in force. As international education professionals, our work touches users all over the globe. Understanding and complying with country-specific regulations will become an increasing need for institutions.
Challenges
Data fragmentation: Many institutions lack a unified data system. AI is only as good as the data it draws from. Garbage in, garbage out.
Resource disparities: Smaller institutions may struggle to afford premium AI tools without consortium support or grant funding.
Cultural sensitivity: AI-generated content may not always reflect cultural nuances. Oversight is essential.
Overdependence: Efficiency should never become alienation. Students should always know they are more than a data point.
Start Small, But Think Big
If you’re unsure where to begin, start with one pain point. Maybe it’s streamlining admissions, maybe it’s reducing staff email load, maybe it’s identifying yield trends. Pick one pilot project. Measure its impact. Share your findings.
AI is all about impact. When we reduce the burdens on our staff, we free them to focus on mentorship, equity, and creating environments where students thrive and are successful, whether on our home campus or studying across the world. When we use AI to personalize outreach, we speak to students as individuals and not numbers. When we embrace AI with ethical guardrails, we model responsible innovation for the very students we serve.
As international education professionals, we must shape and embrace educational change and innovation. Our students are already way ahead of us, and they’re watching to see if we’ll catch up. AI offers us a chance to reimagine what is possible while giving us time to focus on the reasons we started working in higher education in the first place: students.