Making Sense of International Student Data:
What the ISB tells us and the perspective from Rhodes University.
Making Sense of International Student Data:
What the International Student Barometer (ISB) tells us,
and the perspective from Rhodes University.
In association with IEASA
Monday 18th May, 2:00 - 2:45pm [South Africa Standard Time]
IEASA invites members to a webinar on the International Student Barometer (ISB), with a focus on how institutions can use international student data to better understand student experience, identify trends, and support evidence-based decision-making. Moderated by IEASA's Tohiera Bagus, the session will feature Nannette Ripmeester (ISB) and Orla Quinlan from Rhodes University in a conversation about benchmarking, institutional insight, and practical learning from student feedback.
How do international students experience your institution, and what does the data really tell you?
This IEASA webinar will explore the International Student Barometer (ISB) as a tool for understanding student perceptions, benchmarking performance, and identifying areas for meaningful improvement. Rather than focusing on the survey itself, the conversation will centre on what institutions can learn from the data and how those insights can be translated into action.
Drawing upon a rich evidence-base for the international student experience, your presenters will help you understand what students value, where they encounter barriers, and how their perceptions compare across benchmark groups. The webinar will detail how higher education institutions can interpret ISB data in practical ways, with a focus on institutional learning, student experience, and informed decision-making.
Nannette Ripmeester will provide an overview of the kinds of insights the ISB generates, and Orla Quinlan from Rhodes University will share an institutional perspective on working with the data in practice. Together, the speakers will offer a grounded conversation on how student feedback can be translated into meaningful institutional practice.
By joining the session, you will:
- Gain fresh insights from the world's largest survey of enrolled students.
- Discover global trends in student satisfaction and decision-making.
- Understand how this is being put into practice, in African Higher Education institutions.
Your presenters:
Nannette Ripmeester is Regional Director of Surveys for Etio. Her love for international mobility was ignited whilst working for 7 years at the European Commission, streamlining labour mobility within Europe for EURES.
With over 25 years of experience in international student mobility, Nannette leads the largest global student satisfaction survey of enrolled students, the ISB, in Europe, Africa and North America. Her expertise includes employability, mobility, and skills development, and she regularly collaborates with higher education institutions, corporations, and governments worldwide.
Orla Quinlan is Director of Global Engagement at Rhodes University and a leading practitioner in the internationalisation of higher education in South Africa. Over the past 15 years, she has developed extensive expertise across all streams of internationalisation including immigration advice, international student services, inbound and outbound exchange programmes, intercultural competency-building, internationalisation at home and international student recruitment.
She has served for 12 years on the Council of the International Education Association of South Africa, contributing across all portfolios and holding key leadership roles, including as President and Treasurer. She is an active member of the IEASA Directors’ Forum and a committed advocate on national policy and practice relating to internationalisation.
Chrispinus Mkado is Etio's Regional Representative for our work in Africa. He is a dynamic development practitioner and strategic partnerships professional working with Etio to advance institutional growth and student success across African universities.
With extensive experience in community-driven programs, education systems, and youth empowerment, he plays a key role in advancing the International Student Barometer (ISB) initiative, helping universities enhance the student experience through data-informed insights in Africa.