News Update from Educational Credential Evaluators, Inc. (ECE):
Stacy Riley, President, and Dan Benischek, Chief Operating Officer, attended The PIE Live North America event in Chicago, Illinois, December 1-3, where Stacy participated in a panel discussion titled, “Data superstars: education insights that will blow your mind.”
News from World Education Servies (WES)
WES recently published a variety of resources including a case study written in partnership with the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Alberta (APEGA), a report detailing insights from international students in Canada on improving information to immigration systems, and a policy brief about how three states have responded to physician shortages.
Also, in a new case study, our partners at the Skoll Centre explore WES’ evolution from credential evaluator to social enterprise.
News Update from Educational Credential Evaluators, Inc. (ECE):
Margaret Wenger, Senior Director of Information and Knowledge, and Ben Iberle, Information Systems Specialist, attended the Groningen Declaration Network (GDN) annual meeting in Oslo, Norway. Margaret is the current Treasurer of the GDN Board.
Margaret Wenger also participated in the Council for International Schools (CIS) Global Forum in Seville, Spain.
Upcoming:
Stacy Riley, President, and Dan Benischek, Chief Operating Officer, will be attending the upcoming The PIE Live North America event in Chicago, Illinois, December 1-3, where Stacy will be participating in a panel discussion titled, “Data superstars: education insights that will blow your mind.”
ECE is also offering an upcoming webinar that is free and open to all, if that would be appropriate to share with NACES:
Beyond the File Cabinet: Don’t lose your knowledge!
Wednesday December 10, 2025
Topics covered:
Introduction to knowledge management, why archive your knowledge, issues in overseeing your knowledge, wiki uses, and case studies
Presenters: Margaret Wenger, Senior Director of Information and Knowledge
With Guest Speaker Jake Shumilin, Product Manager at Jisc
https://theconnection.ece.org/30-Minute-Snapshots/
News from the International Education Research Foundation (IERF)
In celebration of International Education Week 2025 (November 17–21), IERF shared a series of valuable resources with our clients, colleagues, and institutional partners. Among these was the release of a new publication in our Anatomical Guide series: Lithuania: Secondary School Supplement. This publication is now available in the IERF Vault at www.ierf.org, alongside a wide range of resources that provide evaluators, advisors, practitioners, and policymakers with free, trusted insights to support their work.
Earlier in November, IERF also participated in the 2025 Credential Counselors & Analysts of California (CCAC) Conference in Sacramento, CA. Melody Ojeda, Senior Evaluator and Manager of the Evaluation Department, delivered a well-received session titled “Navigating University Credentials and Evaluation Resources for China and Latin America.”
As we enter the holiday season, IERF extends our warmest wishes to our applicants, colleagues, and partners. We thank you for your continued trust, collaboration, and support throughout the year.
News from World Education Services, Inc. (WES):
In November 2025, WES published its latest edition of The WES Voice. This issue features updates on new strategic partnerships, case studies highlighting innovative practices, and important business updates to keep institutional partners informed and engaged. Read the full newsletter. If interested, please subscribe here: https://knowledge.wes.org/subscription-center.html
News from the the Academic Evaluation Services, Inc. (AES)
On September 25, 2025, Nathalia Ferrer, Client Service Specialist, represented Academic Evaluation Services at Brewster Technical College in Tampa, Florida. The event featured a rotating presentation attended by nine ESOL classes, offering educational handouts and interactive materials. Students actively engaged with the content and asked follow-up questions, demonstrating strong interest in the services presented. This event continues to be a valuable opportunity for students and prospective college entrants to explore academic programs, financial aid options, services from Academic Evaluation Services, Florida Central Credit Union, and Brewster’s Fall Festival.
“The Balkans Lost Cousin: Secondary Education in the Caribbean”, TAICEP 2025 – Cavtat, Croatia conference session presented by Kurt Baumbach, Director of Evaluation and Translation Services, Academic Evaluation Services, Inc. (AES) and Freda Clement-Willis, Associate Director, University of Miami on October 20, 2025. This session provided an overview of the secondary education systems in the Caribbean and discussion topics included the Caribbean Examinations Council examinations, similarities/contrasts, and updates on the educational reforms.
“Navigating Crisis and Complexity: Digital Solutions and Recognition Pathways for Displaced Learners”, TAICEP 2025 – Cavtat, Croatia conference session presented by the evaluation representatives from five countries (USA, Ukraine, United Kingdom, Poland and Norway) on how war, displacement, and rising application volumes are challenging education systems across Europe on October 22, 2025:
ENIC Ukraine National Information Centre of Academic Mobility, Information and Image Centre State-Owned Company of the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine highlighted the TAICEP session on its website TAICEP 2025 Annual Conference of Credential Evaluators https://enic.in.ua/index.php/en/news/487-taicep-2025-annual-conference-of-credential-evaluators as Director Viktoriya Sergiyenko and Senior Adviser Tetiana Vahina represented the National Information Centre of Academic Mobility (ENIC Ukraine) at the conference.
Jalyn Peng, Client Service Specialist, represented the Academic Evaluation Services, Inc. (AES) by exhibiting a booth at the NAFSA: Association of International Educators’ 2025 Biregional Conference for Regions VIII and X in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on October 14-17, 2025.
Tatiana McKenna, Senior Credentials Evaluator, represented the Academic Evaluation Services, Inc. (AES) by exhibiting a booth at the NAFSA: Association of International Educators’ 2025 Region V Conference in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on October 29-31, 2025.
News from Academic Evaluation Services and Global Credential Evaluators:
NAFSA Region VII Conference was recently held in Flowood, MS. Attendees from the southeast delved into topics involving all aspects of global education while enjoying events highlighting the conference theme: Soul Matters-The Heart of Global Education. NACES was represented by Academic Evaluation Services (Natalie Tyska) and Global Credential Evaluators (Margaret Donaldson). The two companies were exhibitors and promoted the use of NACES members for credential evaluations.
News from Educational Credential Evaluators, Inc.
TAICEP 2025:
Majka Drewitz, Senior Manager of Research and Knowledge Evaluation
Jade Jiang-Rieger, Senior Manager of Evaluation
Amy Kawa, Director of Evaluation Services
Tim Kell, Senior Evaluator
Martha Van Devender, Senior Evaluator
Margit Schatzman, President Emerit
NAFSA Region V:
Daniel Mueller, Research and Knowledge Evaluator
NAFSA Region XII:
Alison Zaharias and Robyn Schoenung, Evaluators
Webinar:
ECE e-Learning 30-Minute Snapshot: “Beyond the File Cabinet: Don’t Lose Your Resources!” was presented by Ben Iberle, Information Systems Specialist, and Daniel Mueller, Research and Knowledge Evaluator in October 2025.
The recording is available on The ECE® Connection: https://theconnection.ece.org/ResourceDetail/34662
IERF Shares Research and Insights with the Global Educational Community
The International Education Research Foundation (IERF) continues to share its expertise and insights with the global higher education community through active engagement at key international conferences and publications this Season.
At the 2025 TAICEP Conference in Croatia, IERF presented a session titled “Bridging the GAP: Strengthening Collaboration Between U.S. Institutions and International Credential Evaluation Services” And shared its latest research findings on international academic qualifications and evaluation practices. In collaboration with U.S. university leadership, IERF co-presented a session that brought forward higher education perspectives and fostered dialogue on current challenges and innovations in international credential evaluation. In addition to its conference presentation, IERF’s research article titled “International Branch Campuses: Credential Evaluation in a Changing Landscape” was published in the October edition of TAICEP Talk, further contributing to the global conversation on international education standards and practices. You can read the full October issue of TAICEP TALK Online Flipbook with our article starting on page 26.
IERF also participated in the NAFSA Region XII Conference in California, connecting with professionals across the field of international education. The team engaged in discussions on emerging trends, innovative evaluation solutions, and strategies for strengthening institutional partnerships to better serve globally mobile students.
In addition, IERF was proud to attend the Groningen Declaration Network (GDN) Conference, where it reaffirmed its decade-long commitment as a Signatory member. Through its active involvement, IERF continues to support global efforts toward secure, ethical, and efficient digital record sharing and management within international education.
These engagements and publications reflect IERF’s ongoing dedication to advancing the understanding and practice of international credential evaluation, fostering collaboration among education professionals worldwide, and contributing to the development of transparent and equitable global mobility systems. IERF is committed to promoting the understanding of international education and qualifications through research, evaluation, and engagement with the global education community.
News from the International Education Evaluations (IEE):
On October 20, 2025, three IEE senior evaluators presented at the TAICEP 2025 conference held in Cavtat, Croatia on the topic: “The ABCs of Accounting Qualifications and Organizations: Best Practices and Tips & Tricks”: Adriahna Hann, Garrett Garcia and Bradley Griffin. This presentation explored the world of accounting qualifications and licensure, with a comparative focus on some of the most frequently seen accounting qualifications, such as the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW), the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Pakistan (ICAP), the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI), the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA), and the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA).
News from The Evaluation Company (TEC):
News from Educational Credential Evaluators, Inc.
ECE e-Learning 30-Minute Snapshot: “Beyond the Filing Cabinet: Don’t Lose Your Documents!” was presented by Majka Drewitz, Senior Manager of Research and Knowledge Evaluation and Martha Van Devender, Senior Evaluator in August 2025.
The recording is available on The ECE® Connection: https://theconnection.ece.org/ResourceDetail/34533
News From the Academic Evaluation Services (AES):
In July 2025 AES two evaluators, Tatiana McKenna and Natalie Tyska, consolidated their knowledge and experience on authentication of educational credentials in the NACES blog article entitled “Securing Trust: How to Authenticate Foreign Educational Credentials in a Digital Age”. The article dwells on such crucial authentication factors, as why authentication of educational credentials matters, on the core methods of authentication, examples of oline verification databases accross the world, requirements for verification, types of credentials and their verification paths, technology’s role in credential verification, challenges and considerations as well as best practices for evaluation agencies.
News from News from Educational Credential Evaluators, Inc.
ECE e-Learning 30-Minute Snapshot: “Beyond the Filing Cabinet: Don’t Lose Your Documents!” was presented by Majka Drewitz, Senior Manager of Research and Knowledge Evaluation and Martha Van Devender, Senior Evaluator in August 2025.
The recording is available on The ECE® Connection: https://theconnection.ece.org/ResourceDetail/34533
An upcoming event: Karen Krug, Senior Research and Knowledge Evaluator, will be presenting a poster session on “The Changing Landscape of U.S. Academic Accreditation” at the EAIE conference in Gothenburg, Sweden on September 10th
News from TEC – the Evaluation Company:
The TEC team attended the International Association for College Admission Counseling (IACAC) annual conference in Boston, Massachusetts, July 15-17. We had a wonderful time connecting with our peers in international higher education.
The TEC team attended the 2025 National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) Annual Meeting held in Chicago, August 13-15. It was a privilege to network with so many healthcare heroes and discuss global solutions to the nursing shortage here in America.
News from International Education Research Foundation (IERF)
Empowering Global Talent: IERF’s New Community Partnership
IERF continues its commitment to supporting international students in their career exploration and helping train future professionals in the field of international credential evaluation.
This spring, IERF welcomed an international intern through a partnership with Cultural Vistas, a nonprofit organization dedicated to fostering global understanding through international exchange. The intern joined through the Korea WEST (Work, English Study, Travel) program—a joint initiative between the Republic of Korea and the U.S. Department of State. The program offers South Korean university students and young professionals the opportunity to improve their English skills, gain practical career experience, and engage with American culture.
Through this collaboration, IERF is proud to contribute to a meaningful exchange experience and continue investing in the development of global talent.
News from Transcript Research:
In July 2025, Transcript Research released four new blog posts for international education enthusiasts! Learn more about independent calendar systems that don’t follow the Gregorian calendar, the Expanded Tertiary Education, Equivalency and Accreditation Program (ETEEAP) in the Philippines, a brief review of Engineering Degrees in Ireland, and a summary of Teacher Training programs in Uganda.
News from World Education Services, Inc. (WES):
News from The Evaluation Company (TEC):
News from International Education Research Foundation (IERF):
IERF Announces 2025 Sepmeyer Award Winner
The International Education Research Foundation (IERF) is pleased to announce Courtney Pham and Lynda Belmehdi of TruMerit (CGFNS) as the 2025 recipients of the Sepmeyer Award for Excellence in Credentials Evaluation Research!
Their presentation, “Nursing on a Global Scale: Insights into Education & Regulation,” delivered at the 2024 TAICEP Conference in Quebec City, offers a timely and insightful look into the global landscape of nursing education and regulation.
The Sepmeyer Award, established in honor of the late Inez Sepmeyer, a pioneer in international credential evaluation, recognizes outstanding contributions to research in international education and credential assessment. The award supports original work that promotes a better understanding of international education systems and their U.S. comparability.
This year, IERF received an impressive number of submissions from scholars and professionals around the world. We extend our sincere appreciation to all nominees for their valuable contributions to the field and for helping advance the mission of research in international education.
The winning proposal will be supported by a grant and will be featured in IERF’s online research library, the IERF Vault IERF Credentials Vault – International Education Research Foundation.
For more information about the Sepmeyer Award and previous recipients, please visit Sepmeyer Award: International Education Research Foundation.
News From the Academic Evaluation Services (AES):
On June 25, 2025, Academic Evaluation Services evaluators Kurt Baumbach and Tatiana McKenna received two International Education Research Foundation (IERF) Certificates of Nomination in recognition of our outstanding submission of conference presentation materials and contribution to the field of international credential evaluation. Our work exemplifies the spirit of innovation, scholarly excellence, and professional dedication that the Sepmeyer Award seeks to honor. In 2024 Academic Evaluation Services, Inc. (AES) presented at the TAICEP Annual Conference on October 28-31 in Quebec City, Canada, with the following presentations: “Game of Ministries Returns” [Kurt Baumbach (AES), Laura Dirvonskyte (CIMEA, Italy), Tatiana McKenna (AES)] and “Military Education in the War-Torn World” [Kurt Baumbach (AES), Alexander Agafonov (Globe Language Services), Tatiana McKenna (AES)] which were nominated for the Sepmeyer Award.
News from World Education Services, Inc. (WES):
News from Educational Records Evaluation Service, Inc. (ERES):
ERES attended the FACRAO 2025 Summit, continuing its commitment to global collaboration in credential evaluation. (June 08, 2025, to June 11, 2025).
Recent Articles from Transcript Research:
Study Australia’s Technical and Further Education (TAFE) Certificate: https://transcriptresearch.com/blogs/news/australia-s-technical-and-further-education-tafe-certificates-4
Dive into German Language Programs (Part I): https://transcriptresearch.com/blogs/news/german-language-programs-part-i
Continue a mini tour of German Language Programs (Part II): https://transcriptresearch.com/blogs/news/german-language-programs-part-i
Explore Lebanese Vocational and Technical Education: https://transcriptresearch.com/blogs/news/lebanese-vocational-and-technical-education
Learn about unaccredited English language Bachelor degree programs in Benin: https://transcriptresearch.com/blogs/news/unaccredited-english-language-degree-programs-in-benin
News from International Education Research Foundation (IERF)
Spotlight from NAFSA 2025 + Upcoming Sepmeyer Award Announcement
The International Education Research Foundation (IERF) was pleased to participate in the 2025 NAFSA Annual Conference, where over 8,000 international education professionals from around the world gathered to exchange ideas, explore trends, and strengthen global partnerships.
Among the highlights of the week was a meaningful reconnection with a previous IERF Sepmeyer Research Award recipient, Dr. George Kacenga. Dr. Kacenga, who was recognized several years ago for outstanding research in international credential evaluation, is now serving in key roles in international enrollment management and higher education leadership including the Vice President for Enrollment Management at William Paterson University, the chairperson of NAFSA’s International Enrollment Management Knowledge Community, and president of the American International Recruitment Council. This encounter underscores the lasting impact of the Sepmeyer Award and IERF’s continued commitment to advancing research that informs best practices and supports global academic mobility.
IERF is also pleased to announce that the recipient of the 2025 Sepmeyer Research Award will be formally announced later this month. The award, named in honor of IERF’s founding members and the legionary international educators, Inez and Ludwig Sepmeyer, recognizes innovative and impactful research in the field of international credential evaluation.
News from World Education Services, Inc. (WES):
NAFSA 2025 participation
Oumar Sanga, WES; Planning Committee and Panelist
Moderator: Esther T. Benjamin, WES CEO
Carlos Quezada Monroy – Understanding Latin American Credentials and Qualifications
Lily Georcheska – Career Pathways for Students of Offshore Caribbean Medical Schools
Oumar Sanga, MPA – African Higher Education Qualifications: Global Mobility, Trends, Opportunities, and Outcomes
Sarah Klein and Anukriti Randev – Policy Impacts on International Student Mobility: Lessons From Three Countries
Sulaf Alshaikhly – Sudan’s Refugee Crisis: Education Challenges, International Response, and WES Experience
Bryce Loo: International Law Students: Career Outcomes and Best Practices
Welcoming Interactive 2025, panel presentation
One To World Fulbright Awards Dinner, sponsor
News from Educational Credential Evaluators (ECE):
News from The Evaluation Company:
News from Transcript Research:
Available weekly at https://transcriptresearch.com/blogs/news
News from Educational Credential Evaluators [ECE]:
News from World Education Services (WES):
AACRAO 110th Annual Meeting, 2025
Beka Tavartkiladze, Senior Director, Global Education and Knowledge, presented at the Global Learning Mobility Luncheon, addressing how U.S. institutions can respond to evolving changes in immigration policy, credential recognition, and learner mobility to better support international students.
WES will be hosting 3 webinars showcasing our new AccessWES (electronic delivery) platform, highlighting its enhancements to streamline processes and improve the user experience. Through a live demo, you’ll gain firsthand insights into the platform’s key features and how they can benefit you. This will also provide attendees the opportunity to engage with our Client Success Team and learn how their strategies can support your work.
https://wes-org.zoom.us/
https://wes-org.zoom.us/
https://wes-org.zoom.us/
NAGAP Graduate Enrollment Summit, 2025
If you are heading the San Franciso, please make sure to stop by the WES booth in the exhibit hall to meet and get WES updates from Shawn Patton and Aliyyah Nazeem!
NAFSA Annual Conference and Expo, 2025
In addition to meeting the team in the exhibit hall, mark your schedule now for these exciting presentations!
United for Success: Advocating for International Students: Fatima Ramadan Sanz, Senior Policy Manager
Africa Forum: Africa NOW: Engaging African Partnerships Towards Advancing the SDGs: Oumar Sanga, Credential Evaluator – Exception Specialist
Catalysts for Change: Global Women Leaders Driving Social Impact: Esther Benjamin, CEO and Executive Director
Recent Articles of Interest:
https://www.wes.org/
International Education Evaluations [IEE] to attend the NAFSA Annual Conference and Expo will be held on May 27-30, 2025, in San Diego.
IERF Concludes Successful Participation at the 2025 NAGAP Summit Conference
International Education Research Foundation (IERF) is pleased to announce the successful conclusion of its participation at the 2025 NAGAP Conference (April 23-26), the premier event for graduate enrollment management professionals.
Throughout the conference, IERF welcomed colleagues, institutional partners, and new connections to its booth, engaging in thoughtful and meaningful discussions about the evolving landscape of credential evaluation and international admissions. These conversations reaffirm IERF’s commitment to collaboration, innovation, and excellence in service.
As the field of graduate enrollment continues to evolve, IERF looks forward to embracing new opportunities and challenges—working hand-in-hand with its partners to enhance service offerings and improve outcomes for institutions and applicants alike.
ERES attended the NAGAP 2025 Graduate Enrollment Management (GEM) Summit, which took place April 23–26, 2025. We enjoyed connecting with fellow professionals in the field of graduate enrollment management in San Francisco.
News from Globe Language Services:
Setting the standard of excellence for credential evaluation services since 1987
Setting the standard of excellence for credential evaluation services since 1987
The National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES®) was founded as a trade association in 1987 to promote excellence in the field of credential evaluation. In the absence of a US government agency that monitors such services, NACES is committed to formulating and maintaining the highest ethical and professional standards in the field.
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