Education Marketing Expert: Speaking, Training and Advisory
I’m Abbas Sajid, an education marketing expert who has worked on every side of student recruitment: building offline centres, franchise and channel networks from scratch, running digital campaigns for 200+ institutions, and advising leaders on enrollment strategy. Today I share that experience through keynotes, hands-on training for admissions and marketing teams, and advisory roles with universities and education companies.
- 200+ institutions
- 12+ countries
- 50,000+ students enrolled
Abbas has worked with universities, skill missions and education brands including
What makes an education marketing expert worth listening to
There is no shortage of marketing advice. What institutions need is advice from someone who has carried an enrollment target and knows what works at each step, from the first advertisement to the student who walks into class on day one.
My expertise comes from doing the work:
- On the groundOpening counselling centres, signing franchise partners, managing channel networks, running fairs and school outreach.
- In digitalFunnels, paid campaigns, SEO, social media, WhatsApp automation and enrollment analytics.
- At leadership levelStrategy, budgets, team structure and reporting for vice chancellors, founders and boards.
- Across bordersRecruitment from South Asia, Africa and the Middle East.
That range means the frameworks I teach are practical. They have been tested in real admission seasons.
Areas of expertise
- Student recruitment strategyDomestic and international recruitment planning, market selection and partner networks.
- Enrollment funnelsTurning enquiries into applications and enrolled students through fast, personal follow-up.
- Performance marketingRunning and judging paid campaigns on cost per enrolled student.
- Higher education SEO and contentProgramme pages, content strategy and visibility in AI search.
- Business building in educationOffline centres, franchise models and channel partner programmes built from zero.
- Institutional brandingPositioning institutions so students and parents understand why to choose them.
- AI in education marketingPractical, responsible uses of AI chatbots, lead scoring and content tools in recruitment, in line with emerging guidance such as UNESCO’s work on AI in education.
Ways to work with me
Keynotes and panels
I speak at education conferences, university leadership forums and industry events on the future of student recruitment, enrollment funnels, data-driven marketing and AI. Full topics and booking details are on the Speaking page.
Training for admissions and marketing teams
In-house workshops that give your team practical skills they can use the next day. Every session is tailored to your institution, uses your own data where possible and ends with an action plan.
Advisory and mentoring
I serve as an advisor to institutions and education companies that want senior guidance without a full consulting engagement: regular sessions with leadership, review of plans and results, and support on key decisions. I also mentor marketing heads stepping into larger roles.
Expert commentary
I am available for media interviews, podcasts and articles on student recruitment, education marketing and the use of AI in admissions. Media enquiries can be sent through the contact page.
HighEdInfo
Through HighEdInfo, I share insights, trends and playbooks for education marketers. Follow along on Instagram at @highedinfo.
Want your team trained on recruitment funnels, digital campaigns or AI? Tell me about your team and goals.
Training programmes
Enrollment Funnel Masterclass (half day or full day)
For marketing and admissions teams. Covers funnel stages, lead response, WhatsApp and email nurturing, counselling conversations and the metrics that predict enrollment. Outcome: a funnel map and a 30-day improvement plan for your institution.
Counsellor Conversion Workshop (half day)
For admissions counsellors and telecallers. Covers first-call structure, discovering what students and parents need, answering objections on fees, placements and safety, follow-up discipline and using the CRM well. Outcome: shared scripts and daily targets.
Digital Marketing for Education Teams (one or two days)
For in-house marketing teams. Covers campaign planning, Google and Meta basics, landing pages, SEO for programme pages, social content and reporting. Outcome: a channel plan for the next admission season.
AI in Education Marketing (half day)
For leadership and marketing teams. Covers where AI already helps recruitment, practical tools, risks around data privacy and accuracy, and a 90-day pilot plan. Outcome: a list of AI use cases ranked by value and risk.
The frameworks I teach
- Enrollment-first planningStart every plan from the number of students you need, then work backwards to applications, enquiries and reach.
- The six-stage funnelAwareness, enquiry, engagement, application, offer and enrollment, with one owner and one measure for each stage.
- Channel scorecardsJudge every channel, event, agent and partner on cost per enrolled student, not on volume.
- Built-from-zero networksThe step-by-step model I used to build offline, franchise and channel partner networks, adapted for institutions.
These frameworks also guide my consulting. If you want them applied to your institution, see my work as a higher education marketing consultant or an education digital marketing consultant for education brands.
About Abbas Sajid
Abbas Sajid is a higher education marketing consultant and student recruitment strategist who has worked with 200+ institutions across 12+ countries. He speaks at education events, trains admissions and marketing teams, and founded HighEdInfo. Before consulting, he built offline, franchise and channel education businesses from zero.
Frequently asked questions
Do you run training online or in person?
Both. Online sessions suit distributed teams; in-person workshops work best for counselling teams and leadership groups. Hybrid formats are also possible.
Can training be tailored to our institution?
Yes. Before every session, I review your current results and challenges so examples, exercises and action plans are specific to you.
Do you speak at internal events, such as faculty or leadership retreats?
Yes. I regularly adapt keynote topics for internal audiences. See the Speaking page for topics.
How is advisory different from consulting?
Advisory is lighter: regular guidance and review for your leadership team. Consulting includes audits, strategy documents and hands-on work with your team.
Related pages
Learn from an education marketing expert who has done the work
Tell me who you want to train or what event you are planning. I will suggest the right format and send a short proposal.
Prefer WhatsApp? Message Abbas on WhatsApp