Unizportal Founder: Technology Must Improve Student Visa
Rahul Sachdeva, founder of Unizportal, argues the international education sector's key challenge is recruiting the right students, not more students.
The core question for universities has shifted from recruiting more international students to recruiting the right ones. According to Rahul Sachdeva, founder of the education technology firm Unizportal, this change demands better decision-making tools throughout the student visa and admission journey.
Sachdeva states that institutions globally face evolving policies, higher compliance standards, and pressure to improve student results. Prospective students, meanwhile, expect faster and more personalized experiences. He contends the sector's primary challenge is no longer attracting applications, but making superior, more informed selections.
The Wrong Question About AI
Sachdeva believes the industry has historically asked the wrong question about technology. The focus should not be on what artificial intelligence can do in isolation. Instead, he argues leaders should ask where technology can eliminate friction and create greater confidence in processes. This philosophy guides innovation at his company, Unizportal.
He identifies student visa and university interview preparation as one area ripe for improvement. These interviews are critical for assessing a candidate's motivation and authenticity, yet many students face this high-stakes environment for the first time during the actual interview. Sachdeva calls this a preparation gap, not a talent gap.
ANNIE: An Interview Preparation Tool
To address this gap, Unizportal developed ANNIE, an AI-powered interview preparation platform. The tool's goal is not to coach students on specific answers but to help them understand the process and build confidence. "When students are better prepared, universities have better conversations," Sachdeva says. He claims this leads to more informed admission and visa decisions.
University partners have reportedly responded positively to the tool. Sachdeva views this as validation that preparation strengthens the entire system. However, he emphasizes that ANNIE is not an endpoint but a single example of a larger vision.
Building an Intelligent Ecosystem
Sachdeva envisions an intelligent ecosystem where technology supports every stage of the international student journey. This includes helping students make informed choices about destinations and visas, enabling recruitment partners to focus on advising, and giving universities greater confidence in each admission decision. He stresses that this technology does not replace human judgment but aims to strengthen it.
Trust is the foundation of international education, Sachdeva notes. He argues technology must reinforce that trust, not undermine it. The institutions that will succeed in the coming decade, in his view, will not merely be those using the most AI. They will be those using technology thoughtfully to enhance quality, solidify partnerships, and create better outcomes for continuing international students.
Sachdeva is focused on a future where technology improves human judgement in student visa and admission processes. He is working to build that future through his company's platforms.
