13th Annual Conference (Qingdao)

Day 1 Highlights | March 17

The 13th Annual Conference officially commenced in Qingdao, as over 3,000 participants and representatives from 120+ overseas institutions arrived and checked in at the prestigious Qingdao Haitian Hotel. The atmosphere was filled with anticipation, setting the tone for the days ahead.

The conference opened with a keynote by GEA’s CMO & Executive VP, Ben Chen, who delivered an inspiring session titled “Global Insights – Embarking on a New Journey.” His speech provided a forward-looking perspective on the evolving international education landscape, encouraging partners to embrace new opportunities in a rapidly changing world.

Following this, a dynamic panel session on “North America Study: A New Cycle Emerges” brought together leading voices from across the sector. The discussion featured insights from Kevin Wu (Shorelight China), Veronika Du (Amerigo), Ronald Cai (Choice Education Group), Kayla Lu (Navitas), and Ray Yang (Simon Fraser University) . Together, they explored emerging trends and opportunities shaping the North American study landscape.

In the afternoon, Songtao (Tiger) Li, Founder of Leadclimb Outdoor Instruction Center, delivered a thought-provoking keynote on “Challenges of Education in the AI Era — The Emotional and Spiritual Values of Outdoor Education.” His session highlighted the growing importance of human connection, resilience, and experiential learning in an increasingly digital age.

This was followed by another keynote session, “Keep Navigating: A Journey Beyond Scores,” presented by Fei Zhao, Secretary General of the Qingdao Sailing & Yacht Association, alongside Andy Wang. Drawing parallels between sailing and education, they emphasized the importance of holistic development beyond academic results.

Before the evening’s festivities, a highly engaging panel session on “New Opportunities for Studying in Malaysia” took place, moderated by Gilbert Lai Teck How from EMGS. The session brought together distinguished representatives from leading Malaysian institutions, including the University of Reading Malaysia, Swinburne Sarawak, University of Southampton Malaysia, University of Cyberjaya, Sunway University, University of Nottingham Malaysia, and IMU University. The discussion highlighted Malaysia’s growing appeal as a study destination, covering key strengths, future opportunities, and strategic positioning in the global market.

The day concluded with a warm and casual welcome dinner, where partners and participants gathered to connect, exchange ideas, and celebrate the beginning of an exciting conference journey in Qingdao🍻

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