INTO University Partnerships, an education and recruitment partner connecting international students with top universities in the US, UK, and Australia, is launching a new “Return & Connect” digital platform and physical service aimed at empowering international students with enhanced career opportunities, bridging the gap between education and employment worldwide. The platform is designed to support international students returning to their home countries after completing their studies overseas. It connects them with employer and alumni networks for in-market work experience and post-study work placements both during and after their study overseas.
As part of this initiative, INTO has forged an exclusive collaboration with mShare Tech, a leading Chinese firm renowned for its innovative internship and career services and tech solutions for students and graduates in the domestic market. This partnership will, for the first time, specifically streamline the journey for returning Chinese students as they enter the workforce post-study abroad.
Since its establishment in 2016, mShare has served as a go-to resource for over 24 million students and graduates across Mainland China, offering a wealth of employment and work experience opportunities. Today, with an annual volume of new registered student users at over 4 million, it provides 330,000 employers registered on the platform with access to a vast talent pool for recruiting candidates for various roles.
Speaking about the development, John Sykes, CEO of INTO University Partnerships, said:
The Return & Connect service represents a pivotal step in INTO’s commitment to supporting the professional development of international students. It revolutionizes the landscape of employment and post-study work placements. With concerns over long-term employability driving international student decision-making, this initiative empowers universities to extend the reach and impact of their careers and alumni services well beyond their home campus and into parts of the world traditionally under-served by most overseas universities hosting large populations of international students.
The Return & Connect service will roll out in Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam and Mainland China in summer 2024. It will expand to other key international student markets in a phased approach.
Through this collaboration, INTO will leverage its global presence and profile in top study-abroad destinations worldwide to work with universities to enrol international students on the Return & Connect platform free of charge. Meanwhile, mShare will utilize its extensive local network of employers and expertise to integrate its student registrations seamlessly into the Return & Connect platform, establishing Return & Connect as the exclusive brand for international students in China.
Rocky Zeng, CEO of mShare Tech, added:
The partnership demonstrates INTO and mShare’s shared vision of fostering global talent and advancing career pathways for international students. INTO’s unrivalled worldwide reach and mShare’s extensive network in China will give returning Chinese students a distinctive advantage in thriving in the competitive job market.
INTO will offer overseas universities a free presence on the Return and Connect (China) platform during the launch phase. Universities can also enhance their presence and support for students by teaming up with market-based career experts, which INTO will facilitate. As the initiative is rolled out, a wider variety of flexible subscription and revenue-sharing models will be available.
INTO has helped over 150,000 students from over 180 countries realize their dream of achieving a degree from a world-class university. The University envisions a world where every student, no matter their background, can access quality higher education. It is committed to global connections that empower individuals and inspire innovation. It aims to lead international education, partnering with top universities and preparing students for career success in a connected world.
