by DreamApply
EdTech and Pancakes, brought to you by DreamApply, is a podcast about paradigm shifts in education. Together with leading experts from around the world, we explore the ever-evolving landscape of EdTech. Whether you’re facing challenges in student enrollment or marketing, looking to get more done with less effort or just passionate about education, you’re in the right place. Dive deeper at https://www.dreamapply.com
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Publishing Since
12/27/2023
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June 15, 2026
<p>In this episode of EdTech and Pancakes, host Razmik Sargsyan speaks with Javier Fontoba, Strategic Partner Manager for Europe at Flywire, a global provider in the fintech space processing cross-border transactions across more than 100 countries. Before moving to fintech, Javier ran international admissions himself at ESIC Business and Marketing School in Valencia, which gives him a rare view from both sides of the student payment journey.</p><p><br></p><p>The conversation covers what international students and their families actually experience when paying tuition fees abroad, what the data from 1,600 students across top European business schools reveals about payment friction and enrollment conversion, and how institutions can turn a moment of high anxiety into a competitive advantage. Javier also shares his contrarian take on international student recruitment, and why chasing volume without looking at fit is costing universities more than they realise.</p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p>𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀</p><p><br></p><p>00:00 Introduction</p><p>01:04 Javier's journey from admissions to fintech</p><p>03:01 The pain of paying tuition fees abroad</p><p>06:05 How Flywire works and what it solves</p><p>09:00 The DreamApply and Flywire integration</p><p>11:48 What 1,600 students told Flywire about payment security</p><p>14:33 Why only 59% of students go to the university when they have doubts</p><p>17:11 How to communicate with students and parents separately</p><p>20:41 Removing friction by simplifying information</p><p>21:42 Administrative bottlenecks: acceptance letters and visa timelines</p><p>23:05 How automation turns a negative into a conversion lever</p><p>27:28 DreamApply citizenship-based portal personalisation</p><p>29:22 AI and the future of admissions in 5 to 10 years</p><p>33:37 DreamApply AI Highlighter and governed use of AI</p><p>35:27 Communicating the ROI of higher education</p><p>40:02 Contrarian take: quality over quantity in international recruitment</p><p>43:33 The experience of the rejected applicant</p><p>44:27 Refunds and the student who did not make it</p><p><br></p><p>𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗹𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲</p><p><br></p><p>Request a free Smart Admissions Plan: <a href="https://www.dreamapply.com/personalized-admissions-plan?utm_source=spotify&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=flywire" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">https://www.dreamapply.com/personalized-admissions-plan?utm_source=spotify&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=flywire</a></p><p><br>Book a free demo of DreamApply: <a href="https://www.dreamapply.com/request-a-demo?utm_source=spotify&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=flywire" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">https://www.dreamapply.com/request-a-demo?utm_source=spotify&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=flywire</a></p><p><br>Explore case studies: <a href="https://www.dreamapply.com/case-studies?utm_source=spotify&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=flywire" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">https://www.dreamapply.com/case-studies?utm_source=spotify&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=flywire</a></p><p><br></p><p>Learn more about FlyWire: https://www.flywire.com/</p><p><br></p><p>𝗔𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗗𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗺𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝘆</p><p>Founded in 2011 in Estonia, DreamApply seeks to simplify the admissions process for educational institutions and millions of applicants globally. More than 300 educational institutions in more than 40 countries have benefited from DreamApply's application management software to improve admissions and related processes. </p><p><br></p><p>DreamApply's easy-to-use and customizable software is known to increase international student enrollment by 50% and reduce application processing time by 40% on average. </p><p><br></p><p>With features designed with and for educational institutions, and integrations with commonly used systems, DreamApply empowers teams to get more done with less effort.</p><p><br></p><p>#EdTech #HigherEducation #StudentRecruitment #Admissions #InternationalStudents #EnrollmentManagement #Flywire #DreamApply #TuitionPayments #HigherEdFinance #StudentExperience #AdmissionsManagement #intled</p>
April 27, 2026
<p>Every admissions team is working hard. But somewhere between the first inquiry and enrollment, students disappear. This conversation is about why that happens, and what the institutions getting it right are doing differently.</p><p>EdTech and Pancakes is a podcast by DreamApply about admissions, student recruitment, and the trends reshaping higher education. In this episode, Razmik Sargsyan sits down with Akos Kiraly, Prokurist at SRH Higher Education, one of the leading providers of private higher education in Germany and the Netherlands, serving over 23,000 students across five universities and more than 100 study programs.</p><p>Akos has spent 15 years on both sides of international student recruitment. He came to Germany as an international student himself and now leads international growth strategy for one of Germany's largest private university groups. SRH has been a DreamApply partner for several years, and in this conversation Akos speaks from direct experience about what works, what doesn't, and what most institutions are still getting wrong.</p><p>TOPICS COVERED</p><p>00:00 A glimpse of the episode02:11 Welcome and introduction04:37 The SRH merger: what changed overnight for admissions07:08 How DreamApply supported the merger through co-creation11:18 Every intake is almost a new generation14:43 How global instability is reshaping student psychology15:44 From the Big 4 to the Big 14: Germany's moment19:14 What today's applicants actually want as proof of ROI25:30 Domestic vs international students: different recruitment principles27:21 When marketing brings the lead and admissions closes it28:44 Education has the value of a car — and should be treated like it31:09 The 3 KPIs admissions and marketing teams must align on33:09 Focus groups: the most underused tool in higher education34:12 How SRH uses DreamApply and what co-creation really means36:32 How to get the most out of your admissions system39:40 What takes most time in admissions and how technology helps42:06 AI in admissions: putting handcuffs on the right decisions42:36 Why consistency across 12 to 15 months matters more than most think44:06 The applicant launching 5 to 7 applications simultaneously45:06 Word of mouth starts at the application stage47:45 What most admissions leaders won't admit about their role in sales52:02 Automation vs personalization: how to combine both57:00 What Akos wishes he had known 10 years ago59:16 Exporting German higher education: a new way to think about growth01:00:22 Closing reflections</p><p>RESOURCES</p><p>Request your free Smart Admissions Plan:<a href="https://www.dreamapply.com/personalized-admissions-plan?utm_source=spotify&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=akos_kiraly">https://www.dreamapply.com/personalized-admissions-plan?utm_source=spotify&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=akos_kiraly</a></p><p>Book a demo:<a href="https://www.dreamapply.com/request-a-demo?utm_source=spotify&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=akos_kiraly">https://www.dreamapply.com/request-a-demo?utm_source=spotify&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=akos_kiraly</a></p><p>Explore case studies:<a href="https://www.dreamapply.com/case-studies?utm_source=spotify&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=akos_kiraly">https://www.dreamapply.com/case-studies?utm_source=spotify&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=akos_kiraly</a></p><p>Read the blog:<a href="https://www.dreamapply.com/blog?utm_source=spotify&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=akos_kiraly">https://www.dreamapply.com/blog?utm_source=spotify&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=akos_kiraly</a></p><p>ABOUT DREAMAPPLY</p><p>Founded in 2011 in Estonia, DreamApply seeks to simplify the admissions process for educational institutions and millions of applicants globally. More than 300 educational institutions in more than 40 countries have benefited from DreamApply's application management software to improve admissions and related processes. DreamApply's easy-to-use and customizable software is known to increase international student enrollment by 50% and reduce application processing time by 40% on average. With features designed with and for educational institutions, and integrations with commonly used systems, DreamApply empowers teams to get more done with less effort.</p>
February 27, 2026
<p>In this episode of EdTech & Pancakes, host Razmik Sargsyan speaks with Isidora Andjus, Senior Talent Acquisition Advisor at École Polytechnique, one of France's most prestigious engineering schools and one of DreamApply's latest partners. Isidora shares what student recruitment looks like at an institution where selectivity is the strategy, and candidates are C-level executives with nearly two decades of professional experience.</p><p><br></p><p>The conversation covers the challenges of recruiting a niche, high-value audience, the importance of a fluid and personalized admissions process, and why Isidora's closing advice applies to any admissions professional regardless of country: automate what you can, and put your human energy where only you can make a difference.</p><p><br></p><p>If you work in admissions or student recruitment and are looking to streamline your process, DreamApply offers a free Personalized Admissions Plan to help you identify the most impactful improvements for your specific context. DreamApply works with partners across 40+ countries, including France.</p><p><br></p><p>Chapters</p><p><br></p><p>00:00 Introduction</p><p>00:53 Isidora's journey and role at École Polytechnique</p><p>05:40 Day-to-day work and primary challenges</p><p>10:18 Mistakes to avoid in international student recruitment</p><p>16:36 Qualities of an effective international student recruiter</p><p>18:27 How and why École Polytechnique chose DreamApply</p><p>23:17 The most surprising benefit of DreamApply</p><p>25:27 What makes student recruitment in France unique</p><p>28:39 Advice for institutions looking to streamline admissions</p><p>31:15 One insight to walk away with</p><p><br></p><p>Request a free demo: https://www.dreamapply.com/request-a-demo?utm_source=Spotify&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=podcast</p><p>Get a free Personalized Admissions Plan: https://www.dreamapply.com/personalized-admissions-plan?utm_source=Spotify&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=podcast</p><p>More podcast episodes: https://www.dreamapply.com/podcast?utm_source=Spotify&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=podcast</p><p><br></p><p>---</p><p><br></p><p>Dans cet épisode d'EdTech & Pancakes, Razmik Sargsyan s'entretient avec Isidora Andjus, Senior Talent Acquisition Advisor à l'École Polytechnique, l'une des grandes écoles les plus prestigieuses de France et l'un des derniers partenaires de DreamApply. Isidora partage ce que représente le recrutement étudiant dans un établissement où la sélectivité est au coeur de la stratégie, avec des promotions limitées à 36 participants et des candidats dirigeants avec près de vingt ans d'expérience.</p><p><br></p><p>La conversation aborde les défis du recrutement d'un public de niche à haute valeur, l'importance d'un processus fluide et personnalisé, et pourquoi le conseil final d'Isidora s'applique à tout professionnel de l'admission: automatisez ce qui peut l'être, et concentrez votre énergie là où vous seul pouvez faire la différence.</p><p><br></p><p>DreamApply propose un Plan d'Admission Personnalisé gratuit pour vous aider à identifier les améliorations les plus impactantes pour votre contexte. DreamApply collabore avec des partenaires dans plus de 40 pays, dont la France.</p><p><br></p><p>Plan d'Admission Personnalisé gratuit: https://www.dreamapply.com/personalized-admissions-plan?utm_source=Spotify&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=podcast</p><p>Demandez une démo gratuite: https://www.dreamapply.com/request-a-demo?utm_source=Spotify&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=podcast</p>
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Rita Csuri-Magosi
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Emília Szörényi
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EdTech and Pancakes, brought to you by DreamApply, is a podcast about paradigm shifts in education.
Together with leading experts from around the world, we explore the ever-evolving landscape of EdTech.
Whether you’re facing challenges in student enrollment or marketing, looking to get more done with less effort or just passionate about education, you’re in the right place.
Dive deeper at https://www.dreamapply.com
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