Reflecting on CBIE 2025: Connection, Collaboration, and the Future of International Education
Every November, Canada becomes the global heartbeat of international education. This year, more than 1,000 educators, administrators, and policymakers gathered in Québec City for the Canadian Bureau for International Education (CBIE) 2025 Conference — and the energy was electric.
The theme — “The Future in Focus: Advancing International Education in Times of Uncertainty” — captured what so many institutions are feeling today. In a time of shifting policies, evolving student needs, and global change, the question wasn’t “What comes next?” — it was “How do we build it together?”
💬 Showing Up for the Global Education Community
For Duolingo and the Duolingo English Test (DET) team, CBIE wasn’t just another conference.
It was a chance to reconnect with partners from across Canada and around the world — and to talk about what truly matters: access, inclusion, and innovation in international admissions.
At the Duolingo booth, attendees came eager to explore how test-taker data, equity-focused assessment, and adaptive AI could help their institutions welcome students more fairly and efficiently.
A key highlight was our Codes for Canada campaign — helping institutions interpret DET data to make more informed and inclusive admissions decisions.
“The conversations at CBIE reminded us that English testing isn’t just about scores — it’s about stories, access, and opportunity,” one DET representative shared.
🌱 Supporting the People Who Power International Education
Behind every strong international program are professionals who make it possible — recruiters, advisors, and student support teams.
That’s why Duolingo was proud to sponsor the NourishED International Career Centre, a new initiative that helps higher ed professionals explore career development within the global education field.
For many attendees, this was more than a sponsorship — it was a sign that the sector is investing in its own people, not just its programs.
🕊️ Partnering for Access: Empowering Refugee Students
One of the most powerful sessions of the week came from a collaborative workshop with WUSC, UNHCR, and Wilfrid Laurier University, titled
“Canadian Post-Secondary Institutions as Global Leaders in Refugee Access to Higher Education.”
The room was filled with educators and student advocates working to make Canadian universities more inclusive for refugee and displaced learners.
Duolingo shared updates from its Access Program, which provides free or discounted DET access to students facing financial hardship — ensuring that opportunity isn’t limited by cost or circumstance.
Many attendees shared success stories from their own campuses, demonstrating how policy, empathy, and innovation can come together to transform lives.
🌍 How UNC Charlotte Uses the Duolingo English Test to Boost Global Graduate Enrollment
🤖 The Power of AI in Admissions and Outreach
In another packed session, Duolingo hosted “From Outreach to Enrollment: The Impact of AI in Transforming How Institutions Attract and Evaluate Quality Applicants.”
Panelists Dr. Christian Blouin and Brian Scriver discussed how institutions are leveraging AI not just to evaluate English proficiency, but to personalize recruitment, improve diversity, and identify top talent.
The Q&A session that followed was lively and forward-thinking — a reminder that the intersection of AI and admissions is not the future of education; it’s already here.
🏰 Finding Connection Beyond the Conference
Outside the walls of the convention center, Duolingo hosted a walking tour of Old Québec, where attendees braved the chilly weather to explore the cobblestone streets and centuries-old architecture.
Between the laughter and the history lessons, one truth stood out: international education is built on human connection.
These informal moments — the shared stories, the spontaneous conversations — are what give global education its heart.
🌍 Moving Forward with Purpose
As CBIE 2025 came to a close, one message resonated through every session and hallway:
Global education is changing — but its mission remains the same.
From empowering refugee students to embracing AI, from rethinking admissions to supporting educators, Canada continues to lead by example in creating a world where access and equity define opportunity.
At Duolingo and DET Study, we’re proud to support that mission — helping institutions and students alike thrive in a more connected world.
💚 Here’s to another year of innovation, inclusion, and collaboration in international education.
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