On February 10, 2026, EdSummit arrived in Brazil’s largest city — and the conversation shifted. In a market known for volume, maturity, and commercial strength, the focus wasn’t survival. It was optimization.
From data insights to platform evolution, student wellbeing, and advanced payment infrastructure, EdSummit São Paulo reflected a market that is active, competitive, and ready for its next level.
The Brazilian market showed resilience in 2025.
Volume remains strong. But behavior is shifting.
Average program duration dropped by 15.37%, settling at 12.94 weeks. Proposal value slightly declined to $3,537 (–2.37%).
This isn’t contraction — it’s recalibration. Brazilian students are looking for shorter commitments, flexible structures, and clearer financial planning.
For agencies, that means operational precision matters more than ever.
One of the most important insights shared during the event was the average time between proposal and booking: 16 weeks.
That timeline defines the real work.
And the data made something very clear:
Payment plans convert 2.2x more.
In a market where decision cycles are long and price sensitivity is real, structured financial options are no longer optional — they are strategic.
Meanwhile, 96% of agencies expanded their network in 2025, increasing their average number of promoted schools from 38 to 51.
Growth is happening — but through smarter portfolio management.
The comparison between top-performing agencies and the market average wasn’t subtle.
Top 15 agencies in Brazil:
Market average:
The difference isn’t just marketing. It’s systems, process, and diversification.
Scale without structure doesn’t sustain performance. São Paulo made that clear.
São Paulo’s edition emphasized something different from previous stops: system architecture.
Edvisor introduced what it described as its most significant platform evolution in years — not just feature updates, but structural integration.
The shift toward a unified system combining Recruiting, Inventory, Distribution, and Payments reflects the complexity of the Brazilian market.
Agencies now have full autonomy to manage custom inventory — even for providers not originally on the platform. That flexibility supports Brazil’s diversified destination strategy and competitive pricing structures.
With detailed admissions management, AI-supported data organization, and integrated scholarship visibility, the platform adapts to the increasing sophistication of Brazilian student demand.
From dynamic proposals that update pricing in real time to a centralized Command Center and automation flows, the system now reduces friction inside the 16-week decision window.
São Paulo’s takeaway: automation is no longer a luxury — it’s operational survival.
Presented by Lucia Quigley, Senior Account Manager at GuardMe Europe
Lucia Quigley led one of the most important conversations of the afternoon: how student protection has evolved from an add-on service to a strategic pillar of international education.
Drawing on recent global research, she highlighted a clear shift in student expectations. Today’s international students are not only looking for academic quality — they expect structured emotional and wellbeing support throughout their journey.
Key insights shared included:
Lucia emphasized that protection today goes beyond medical coverage. It requires accessibility, multilingual support, and 24/7 availability — especially considering that 66% of support interactions happen outside traditional business hours.
In Brazil, the numbers reflect growing adoption:
The takeaway from Lucia’s session was clear: student wellbeing is no longer reactive. It is preventative, embedded, and increasingly expected by families and students alike.
Presented by Jefferson Lima, Business Development Manager – Team Lead at TransferMate
Jefferson Lima brought a practical and highly operational perspective to the stage, focusing on one of the most complex areas of international education: cross-border payments.
He began by framing the macro context. Global student mobility continues to rise, with projections reaching 9 million international students by 2030. At the same time, international education represents billions in economic impact — $55B contributed to the U.S. economy alone in 2024–2025.
But growth brings friction.
Jefferson highlighted the operational challenges institutions and agencies face:
Through real partner case studies, he demonstrated tangible impact:
He reinforced that payment infrastructure is no longer just financial administration — it directly impacts conversion, operational efficiency, and student experience.
The partnership between TransferMate and Edvisor, active since 2024, aims to simplify this ecosystem by integrating global accounts, multi-currency capabilities, and embedded payment solutions directly into the recruitment journey.
Jefferson’s core message was straightforward: in a high-volume market like Brazil, optimizing payments is not about convenience — it’s about competitive advantage.
The Industry Leaders Panel in São Paulo reflected the strategic maturity of the market.
With representatives from ICEF, BELTA, CI Intercâmbio, ILAC, Bayswater Education, Atlas Language School, TOEFL iBT Brazil, and New Frontier, the discussion focused on:
Brazil doesn’t just follow global trends — it adapts and structures around them.
The evening concluded with recognition of agencies that have demonstrated consistent performance and innovation:
A reflection of a competitive, high-performing ecosystem.
Join upcoming editions around the world and continue the conversation shaping the future of international education.
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