The British Council’s Agents and School Counsellors Symposium in Hyderabad, held on 13 October 2026 at Taj Deccan, brought together 170 agents and school counsellors to discuss the evolving landscape of international education and student mobility.
The symposium opened with a keynote address by Jayesh Ranjan, Special Chief Secretary to the Government of Telangana, on building global talent for India’s next decade. Janaka Pushpanathan, Director – South India and Education Lead, British Council India, set the context with reflections on the India–UK Vision 2035 and the future of international education.
A panel moderated by Aatreyee Guha Thakurta, Head Higher Education – Mobility India, British Council, explored how AI is shaping student counselling and recruitment, including its implications for compliance, ethics, data management, and market diversification.
Sessions led by experts from BUILA, UCAS and UK Visas and Immigration covered the mandatory Agent Quality Framework (AQF), UK admissions processes, and the latest visa updates. Another panel explored how transnational education is reshaping international study pathways. The event also recognised counsellors who achieved milestones through the UK Knowledge Trained Counsellor programme.
The symposium provided a valuable platform for knowledge-sharing to better support students pursuing international education in the UK.