Study in Greece, in collaboration with Studyportals and the Athens University of Economics and Business, conducted the workshop titled “Data, Internationalisation and Benchmarking: Evidence-Based Strategies for Greek Universities” on January 15th, 2026, at the Troias Building of the Athens University of Economics and Business. The aim of this event was to better familiarize leading representatives from Greek higher education institutions with the collection and interpretation of data and analytics from multiple sources, so that they can incorporate key takeaways into robust internationalization strategies.
The event featured two high-profile speakers from Studyportals, Dr. Mathias Falkenstein and Damaris Clark, both of whom were eager to share their extensive knowledge, built on years of experience and commitment to best practices in internationalization. The workshop opened with remarks by the Director General of Study in Greece, Dr. Theodoros Papaioannou, and Mr. Thomas Bebis, Rectorate Acossiate of the Athens University of Economics and Business, who emphasized the importance of data-driven international outreach in strategic planning of universities.
The first session featured the “Data for Internationalization” presentation by Ms. Damaris Clark, Senior Analytics Consultant on the Analytics and Consulting team at Studyportals, who boasts a robust academic background in Research and Innovation in Higher Education and substantial experience in sectors such as student admissions and recruitment. Ms. Clark provided an in-depth overview of the types of data collected and analyzed by organizations such as Studyportals from a range of sources and indicators, offering actionable tools to be used for evidence-based decision-making in higher education. She delved into the methodology of data collection and the quantitative and qualitative aspects of this method, used in equal measure, and instructed participants to interpret and utilize these datasets. Ms. Clark also emphasized how data can help universities pinpoint student needs and perceptions with regard to studying abroad and key actions that can be taken to cater to students’ wishes.
After a short break and networking session, the event continued with the “Benchmarking and Peer Learning” presentation by Dr. Mathias Falkenstein, Director of Higher Education Development at Studyportals Analytics & Consulting, with over two decades of experience in higher education management. Dr. Falkenstein set the framework for benchmarking areas and practices in higher education, identifying and analyzing best practices among institutions and incorporating strategies into individual universities. He underlined the practice of comparison between similar institutions in fields such as graduate employability, target audiences based on regions and subject interest and ongoing trends in student mobility. A key takeaway was that universities learn not only from analyzing their own data, but also from comparing it with that of peers and competitors. Such comparisons enable institutions to better understand the international education landscape and refine their internationalization strategies. As such, the Benchmarking and Peer Learning session was directly linked to the “Data for Internationalization” session, which familiarized participants with navigating datasets and extracting insights and meaning from them, and the second session identified actionable strategies for all the information data can provide.
The final session and centerpiece of the event was an interactive group exercise with a case study which gave participants the opportunity to enjoy a hands-on experience of analyzing and interpreting a specific dataset and exploring methods to make use of these analytics. Using available data, the university representatives engaging in this activity were able to outline key benchmarking areas for maximizing institutional benefits and draw up actionable strategies for the future. This simulated case study provided insight into how data and benchmarking can be a system for learning, understanding the needs of the market and acting as a basis for well-informed, targeted strategic planning.
The Studyportals workshop holds particular significance, not only because it was hosted in person at a Greek institution, but primarily because it strengthened Greek universities’ capacity to harness data strategically. Through close collaboration with Study in Greece’s international partners, participants gained the tools and insights needed to translate analytics into targeted, forward-looking internationalization strategies.
