Successful Graduate, in partnership with ICEF, has launched The Understanding Employability Course for Education Counsellors, a new professional development course designed to help education counsellors understand how employment opportunities, labour market trends and employer expectations are increasingly influencing students’ study decisions.

The course reflects the growing importance of career outcomes in international student recruitment and forms part of ICEF’s broader commitment to supporting education counsellors with high-quality, independent professional development. In the 2025 ICEF Agent Voice survey, respondents rated the importance students place on employment opportunities when choosing a study destination at 7.56 out of 10, signalling that career outcomes are playing an increasingly important role in how students and their families evaluate their study options. 

At the same time, a recent OECD analysis of six major international study destinations found that many international students remain under-informed about local labour markets, employer expectations and language requirements, while institutions may sometimes overstate the ease with which graduates secure employment after completing their studies. (OECD)

“Counsellors are often the first people students turn to when comparing study options,” said Markus Badde, CEO of ICEF. “As questions about employment become more common, it’s important they can distinguish between different types of information and understand what it means in the context of a student’s goals. This course is designed to help counsellors have more informed conversations with students and families about employability and career outcomes.” 

Developed and delivered by Successful Graduate, the fully online, self-paced course introduces participants to the factors that influence graduate employability, including employer expectations, graduate recruitment practices, workplace readiness, labour market realities and the role institutions play in supporting successful career
outcomes.

“Employability is ultimately about return on investment,” said Gordon Scott, Founder and Managing Director of Successful Graduate. “Students and families are making one of the largest financial decisions of their lives, and they want to know it will pay off. Counsellors need to understand how the various data points institutions provide fit together to help students judge whether an institution can actually deliver that return.”

The launch reflects ICEF Academy’s continued expansion into emerging areas of professional development, supporting education counsellors as the international education sector continues to evolve. The Understanding Employability Course for Education Counsellors is available now and can be completed online at participants’ own pace. Further information is available here.