ApplyBoard uses AI to democratize global admissions market: Karun Kandoi

With a vision to democratize the global admissions market for graduate and undergraduate programs through the effective use of AI, three brothers Martin, Meti, and Massi Basiri, founded ApplyBoard in 2015. It is an EdTech platform that empowers students around the world to study abroad and access the best education.

Here, Karun Kandoi, GM and Head of India Operations, ApplyBoard, tells us more. Excerpts from an interview:

DQ: How is ApplyBoard helping Indian students to pursue their dreams?

Karun Kandoi: ApplyBoard empowers students from India and students all over the world, to access the best education opportunities by connecting students, partner schools and recruitment partners on one platform. ApplyBoard offers a simple application process, admission counselling, visa assistance, financial guidance and the access to choose a program from over 1,500+ schools across Canada, the UK, the US and Australia.

With ApplyBoard, students have the opportunity to discover programs and schools, get matched to the best options and easily submit their applications. Through the AI-powered platform and our structured vetting system, students have a 95% chance of receiving an offer letter to their program of choice.

DQ: What were the trends observed by ApplyBoard for the year 2021?

Karun Kandoi: ApplyBoard recently released an article on Indian students enrolled in post-secondary studies in Canada, the United States, and the United Kingdom. The article summarized some key trends and research based on government and industry research. Here are some of the trends we witnessed:

• From January to September 2021, nearly 115,000 Indian students were approved to study in Canada, helped by a jump in approval rates and enthusiasm for Canada's Post Graduate Work Permit Program.

• Six times as many Indian students submitted applications to study in the United States through ApplyBoard in 2021 as did in 2020. 

• The number of Indian students in the UK grew by 52% between the 2019/20 and 2020/21 academic years.

• Business and management is the leading field of study for Indian students studying in the UK (44%) and Canada (37%). In the US, 78% of Indian students study or work in STEM.

• In Canada, health sciences and skilled trades workers are in high demand. In the UK, the IT and health sciences sectors have the most vacancies.

DQ: How many students joined the platform in the last year?

Karun Kandoi: Since ApplyBoard was founded in 2015, ApplyBoard has become the world’s largest online platform for international student recruitment, assisting more than 300,000 students with their educational journey.

DQ: What is the future Plan of ApplyBoard?

Karun Kandoi: Our priority will always be to fulfill our mission of educating the world as we continue to make the study abroad journey simpler so that more students can gain access to the best education opportunities. We recently expanded our office in India and look forward to continuing to grow our presence in India.

DQ: What are the popular programs/fields of study for India students studying in Canada?

Karun Kandoi: Business, and computing and IT are very popular subjects among Indian post-secondary students studying in Canada. College studies are popular among Indian students.

DQ: How are advancements in EdTech quickly changing the entire landscape?

Karun Kandoi: The expansion of the student recruitment industry was one of the major drivers of international student populations over the last 10 years and this was largely driven by tech advancements. ApplyBoard is proud to offer the latest insights and data about the international education industry which helps make studying abroad more successful for students - but also the schools and recruitment partners too. ApplyBoard is excited to see all of the new technologies that exist in the industry that are improving accessibility and financial opportunities for students.

DQ: What are the changing trends of overseas education? Why do international recruitment platforms expect to get more applications for Study Abroad in 2022?

Karun Kandoi: ApplyBoard released a trends report in 2021 that analyzed the sector’s current state, emerging recruitment markets, and industry trends. One of the main trends impacting study abroad education are the new factors that influence a student's decision-making process. Today, students are looking for lower tuition prices, access to post-graduation work opportunities, and in-person learning opportunities.

Prior to the pandemic, most students browsing programs on the ApplyBoard Platform searched for programs with tuition fees up to $100,000 per year. During the first 10 months of 2021, more than half of all students chose to view only programs with annual tuition fees of $30,000 or less. 

The trends report also looks at data from last year that pointed to a strong industry recovery. Over the course of 2021, ApplyBoard saw more students searching for study abroad programs than ever before, and program deferrals fell significantly. From March to October 2021, UK student applications on the ApplyBoard Platform rose by more than 300%, Canadian applications grew by over 200%, and US applications spiked by 750% compared to the same period in 2020. This as well as a rebound in visa approval rates indicated a positive sign for the overall industry.