In our second part with Salmaan this Quallege Q, dives deep into the shifting landscape of international recruitment and why the current “volatility” is actually a massive opportunity for U.S. institutions.

With years of experience managing markets across South Asia, Asia, Africa, and the Middle East, Salmaan has seen firsthand how global events—from politics to the pandemic—reshape student flows.

The “Diversification” Challenge

One of the biggest lessons Salmaan learned was the importance of diversity on campus. “We suddenly faced an issue of diversity… with classes being made up of 60-70% Indian students, were we really providing the diverse experience our students were looking for?” This led him to pioneer recruitment in Africa, a market many thought was “alien.”

“When I saw the numbers grow from 20 enrollments to 1,000 African students making it into the university in five years… that was a huge achievement,” he shared. His strategy was simple: “We had a degree for every market… we knew what degrees to sell in what country.”

The Current U.S. Landscape

While some see current U.S. immigration policies and the “hostile climate” as a deterrent, Salmaan sees a need for better representation. “U.S. universities now need us more than ever,” he believes. “The Universities really want the best representatives in country selling their academic products in the most ethical manner”

He notes that the market is shifting toward institutions that can offer clear value and “credible pathways” to employment.

Strategy Over Flamboyance

As Quallege expands its “bouquet” of university partners, Salmaan’s advice to the industry is to stay grounded. “Don’t be flamboyant. Just be cool. Just be humble about it,” he said. “Treat [agencies] well, be nice, be friends with them… and continue these relationships.”

Salmaan is bullish on the future: “The opportunity is huge at this moment.”