ShiftED 2024 Tackles The Trust Gap In International Higher Education

The second edition of GradRight’s flagship event, ShiftED 2024, brought together over 4,000 students, 8 financial partners, 24 leading foreign universities, and industry leaders to address a critical issue affecting students worldwide—transparency, trust, and accountability in the global higher education ecosystem.

Deans and Directors of Admissions from various universities such as Washington University in St. Louis, Lehigh University, Rutgers University, Brandeis University, City University of New York (CUNY), and the University of San Diego, along with lending partners including HDFC Credila, ICICI Bank, Prodigy Finance, and IDFC First Bank, were all present at the event.

ShiftED special guest Prof. Chell Roberts, Dean of the Shiley-Marcos School of Engineering at the University of San Diego said, “The future is India. If you look at population growth and the care for education, the central hub of the world is India. We’re approaching a period of political change and I think it is looking very good for this country. We were very fortunate to find a partner in India, GradRight, that understands how we want to be represented, and how we want to communicate and tell our story. I am excited to have been part of ShiftED, where I was able to talk with other academics, students, and parents, and to share USD’s approach.”

Other higher education leaders present at the event included: Professor Kathryn Graddy, Dean of the International Business School, Brandeis University; Professor Michael Mazzeo, Dean of Olin Business School, Washington University in St. Louis; higher education expert Professor Cecilia Orphan from the University of Denver; and major thought leader in the higher education space Prof. Emeritus Philip Altbach from Boston College, who is also the Founding Director of the Center for International Higher Education.

The event saw thousands of interactions between attending universities, universities and students, and students and lenders. Universities additionally provided students with master classes and breakout room sessions that focused on overcoming obstacles like visa restrictions, adapting to a foreign environment, and work-study as well as research opportunities. Students and parents also received guidance on loan structures, interest rates, repayment options, and other financial planning tools to help students understand the nuances of funding their education abroad more easily and sustainably.

GradRight has recently entered the UK higher education space as part of a strategic move towards building a global education ecosystem that provides students with greater access and financial support to enroll at the world’s leading institutions. As part of this expansion, the company has onboarded five major UK universities, all of which were present at ShiftED. Speaking on the potential of British higher education was Gareth Wynn Own, the British Deputy High Commissioner for Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. The five universities include the University of Sunderland, Manchester Metropolitan, Middlesex University, Royal College of Art, and Heriot-Watt University. GradRight’s entry in the UK marks another important milestone for the brand.