OpenApply Admissions Conference Portugal: Full Schedule

OpenApply Admissions Conference "Empathy Elevates Education"

Hosted at TASIS Portugal
Estrada Nacional No 9 Quinta da Beloura II, 2710-697 Sintra, Portugal

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8:00am WEST

Shuttle: from Legacy Hotel to TASIS

Friday April 25, 2025 8:00am - 8:20am WEST

Av. 25 de Abril 528, 2750-511 Cascais, Portugal

We have scheduled a shuttle between Legacy Hotel Cascais and TASIS. Feel free to sign up for the shuttle even if you are not staying at the hotel.

One of our team member will meet you at the lobby and take everyone to the bus. Please make sure to be on time.

Friday April 25, 2025 8:00am - 8:20am WEST
Legacy Hotel Cascais, Curio Collection by Hilton Av. 25 de Abril 528, 2750-511 Cascais, Portugal

Transportation

8:20am WEST

Morning Tea & Registration

Friday April 25, 2025 8:20am - 8:45am WEST

Av. 25 de Abril 528, 2750-511 Cascais, Portugal

Pick up your badge and meet us in the Gallery with some tea and coffee before we start the day!

Friday April 25, 2025 8:20am - 8:45am WEST
TASIS Gallery

Networking

8:45am WEST

Welcome Remarks

Friday April 25, 2025 8:45am - 9:10am WEST

Av. 25 de Abril 528, 2750-511 Cascais, Portugal

Friday April 25, 2025 8:45am - 9:10am WEST
TASIS Gallery

Networking

9:10am WEST

SOUL: What Does Empathy Mean to You?

Friday April 25, 2025 9:10am - 10:00am WEST

Av. 25 de Abril 528, 2750-511 Cascais, Portugal

Empathy is a core ingredient in successful stakeholder engagement in a school.

Discover how we can leverage empathy, happiness, passion, transparency, and transformation to craft powerful stories that resonate with our school communities. Storytelling is integral to marketing/enrollment/admissions but how can we then celebrate these stories and strategize to foster the success of our students equitably?

In terms of ‘inclusivity’ ‘pluralism’ ‘diversity’ - what are we doing to build classrooms that ought to be representative of a wider audience and not only those who can afford our schools? Similarly, do we have a voice (as Admissions folk) at the big table? Diversity isn’t just for the student body but also within the decision-making level at a school. Admissions is an important voice.

This session will include insights, gained from working with students, staff, parents, and alumni/donors on

Establishing a strategic approach towards enrolment, with one important ingredient, 'SOUL'.
Practical tips for enhancing stakeholder engagement through storytelling.

Speakers

Arjun Puri

Dean of Admissions, Aga Khan Academy Hyderabad

Arjun Puri was born and raised in Kolkata and schooled at the prestigious La Martiniere for Boys, where he was appointed the 167th school captain in 2002-03. He graduated from the University of St Andrews in 2007 and worked with Merrill Lynch International Bank in London for nearly... Read More →

Bringing SOUL to Stakeholder Engagement Arjun Puri Lisbon 2025 pdf

Friday April 25, 2025 9:10am - 10:00am WEST
Theater

Admissions PD

10:00am WEST

Coffee Break

Friday April 25, 2025 10:00am - 10:15am WEST

Av. 25 de Abril 528, 2750-511 Cascais, Portugal

Friday April 25, 2025 10:00am - 10:15am WEST
TASIS Gallery

Networking

10:15am WEST

Host School Story – TASIS Portugal

Friday April 25, 2025 10:15am - 11:05am WEST

Av. 25 de Abril 528, 2750-511 Cascais, Portugal

Founded in 2020, TASIS Portugal is the newest member of the TASIS family of schools joining three renowned schools in Switzerland, England, and Puerto Rico. Amazingly, next year TASIS Portugal will be the largest TASIS school enrolling over 960 students. Learn about the transformation of a former commercial center (shopping mall), the silver lining presented by opening in a pandemic, and how integral a modern enrollment management team is to success. Partners like OpenApply –with us from day one—also play a key role in sustaining/growing enrollment.

Speakers

Aimee Gruber

Head of Enrollment Management & Marketing, TASIS Portugal

Aimee has spent the past three decades honing her skills in admission and related fields, first as a director of admission and financial aid at boarding and day schools in the United States, and then working for nonprofit educational associations: The Enrollment Management Association... Read More →

Friday April 25, 2025 10:15am - 11:05am WEST
Theater

Admissions PD

11:05am WEST

Short Break

Friday April 25, 2025 11:05am - 11:10am WEST

Av. 25 de Abril 528, 2750-511 Cascais, Portugal

Friday April 25, 2025 11:05am - 11:10am WEST
TASIS Gallery

Networking

11:10am WEST

Building Connections: Empathy and Belonging in International School Admissions

Friday April 25, 2025 11:10am - 12:00pm WEST

Av. 25 de Abril 528, 2750-511 Cascais, Portugal

At Villiers School, empathy and belonging are at the heart of our international admissions process. We understand the importance of connecting with families from diverse backgrounds and ensure that every applicant feels heard and valued. Our admissions approach goes beyond forms and interviews, focusing on building meaningful relationships that reflect our commitment to fostering belonging. By embracing each student’s unique cultural perspective, we create a supportive environment where all students feel they truly belong. This empathy-driven approach ensures that every student, from the moment they apply, is welcomed into the Villiers School community with care and understanding.

Speakers

Susan Peña

Admissions & Communications Manager / EDI Lead, Villiers School, Limerick Ireland

Susan Peña (she/her) is the Admissions, Marketing & Communications Manager at VilliersSchool.Susan is an Alumna of Villiers School and holds an Honours Bachelor’s degree in Commercefrom the National University of Ireland, Galway, as well as an International Diploma fromShannon... Read More →

Jill Storey

Head of School, Villiers School

Jill Storey (she/her) is Head of School at Villiers School.Jill holds a Bachelor’s degree in English and Philosophy and a Master’s degree in Philosophyfrom the National University of Ireland, Galway. Jill has also achieved a Higher Diploma inSecondary Education and Teaching from... Read More →

Building Connections pdf

Friday April 25, 2025 11:10am - 12:00pm WEST
Theater

Admissions PD

12:00pm WEST

Lunch

Friday April 25, 2025 12:00pm - 1:00pm WEST

Av. 25 de Abril 528, 2750-511 Cascais, Portugal

Friday April 25, 2025 12:00pm - 1:00pm WEST
Fleming Forum

Networking

1:00pm WEST

Social Media That Works: A School’s Guide to Effective Online Presence

Friday April 25, 2025 1:00pm - 1:50pm WEST

Av. 25 de Abril 528, 2750-511 Cascais, Portugal

Every school has a story, but is yours reaching the right audience in the right way? This interactive session will guide admissions, communications, and leadership teams in creating a tailored content strategy that resonates with their unique school community. Learn how to align messaging with admissions goals, leverage data-driven insights, and ensure consistency across platforms. We’ll explore real-world examples, workshop audience-specific messaging, and provide actionable steps to refine your school’s content plan. Walk away with a customizable content framework that strengthens your school’s presence and deepens engagement with prospective and current families.

Speakers

Thaísa Pessoa

Marketing and Communications Specialist, TASIS Portugal

Thaísa Pessoa is a marketing and communications specialist with extensive experience helping schools tell their stories in meaningful, impactful ways. Having worked in both local and international settings, she brings a unique blend of creativity and data-driven strategy to every... Read More →

Social Media That Works Thaisa Pessoa OA pdf

Friday April 25, 2025 1:00pm - 1:50pm WEST
Upper School Library

Admissions PD

1:00pm WEST

Analytics in Action

Friday April 25, 2025 1:00pm - 1:50pm WEST

Av. 25 de Abril 528, 2750-511 Cascais, Portugal

Let’s talk numbers! Join Tom to dive further into the potential for analytics within OpenApply, especially some of the new analytics features in OpenApply. What metrics are important for you that would give you more insight into your school’s admissions and enrolment statistics?

Speakers

Tom Kirby

Head of Client Experience, EMEA, Faria Education Group | OpenApply

As Head of Client Experience, EMEA, I am responsible for helping our customers in the region to get the most out of our products here at Faria Education Group (OpenApply, ManageBac, SchoolsBuddy and Atlas). Feel free to ask me any questions about OpenApply!I have worked for Fariafor... Read More →

Analytics in Action OA Conf Portugal 2025 pdf

Friday April 25, 2025 1:00pm - 1:50pm WEST
Classroom B2.26

OpenApply

1:00pm WEST

Re-Enrolment & Transition

Friday April 25, 2025 1:00pm - 1:50pm WEST

Av. 25 de Abril 528, 2750-511 Cascais, Portugal

Conor & Katrease will present how the re-enrolment process works in OpenApply, and the steps needed to prepare for re-enrolment in your school. They will also review the necessary steps to transition from one year to the next.

Speakers

Katrease Sinclair

Customer Support Representative, OpenApply

Conor Grogan

Customer Support Representative, OpenApply

Conor is now based in Italy and has built a diverse career in the sports industry since graduating from university. His experience spans business development, lecturing, and sales in the edtech sector, and he has recently transitioned into customer support. Conor thrives on leveraging... Read More →

Re enrolment and Transitioning Years pdf

Friday April 25, 2025 1:00pm - 1:50pm WEST
Classroom B2.25

OpenApply

1:50pm WEST

Short Break

Friday April 25, 2025 1:50pm - 2:00pm WEST

Av. 25 de Abril 528, 2750-511 Cascais, Portugal

Friday April 25, 2025 1:50pm - 2:00pm WEST
High School Commons

Networking

2:00pm WEST

Beyond the Homepage: Website Pages That Drive Admissions Success

Friday April 25, 2025 2:00pm - 2:50pm WEST

Av. 25 de Abril 528, 2750-511 Cascais, Portugal

Your school’s homepage is just the beginning. While it’s a vital first impression, families looking to enroll won’t make their decision based on a homepage alone. This session dives deeper into the pages that truly impact admissions—those that tell your school’s story, answer key questions, and inspire action. From tuition transparency to student life and application support, we’ll explore what matters most to prospective families and how to optimize these pages for conversion.

Speakers

Lori Foster

International Client Success Manager, Finalsite

Lori is a dedicated and experienced Client Success Manager known for her patience and understanding of the unique goals and marketing challenges faced by schools. Her extensive experience working with schools in the UK and Europe gives her a valuable international perspective. Lori... Read More →

Beyond the Homepage 2025 pdf

Friday April 25, 2025 2:00pm - 2:50pm WEST
Classroom B2.26

Admissions PD

2:00pm WEST

Data-Driven Empathy: Enhancing Admissions Through Compassionate Analytics

Friday April 25, 2025 2:00pm - 2:50pm WEST

Av. 25 de Abril 528, 2750-511 Cascais, Portugal

To help school admissions teams learn how to balance data-driven decision-making with empathy in order to create more inclusive, fair, and community-centered admissions processes. Look at strategies for using analytics not just to process applications efficiently, but to truly understand the students behind the numbers.

Speakers

Francisco Vigo

School Consultant, Letras Práticas Lda

Francisco brings over a decade of expertise in educational consultancy, school operations, and strategic planning to international schools. As a proud International Baccalaureate alumnus, he is deeply committed to fostering innovative and globally minded learning environments.An advocate... Read More →

Data Driven Empathy pdf

Friday April 25, 2025 2:00pm - 2:50pm WEST
Upper School Library

Admissions PD

2:50pm WEST

Coffee Break

Friday April 25, 2025 2:50pm - 3:10pm WEST

Av. 25 de Abril 528, 2750-511 Cascais, Portugal

Friday April 25, 2025 2:50pm - 3:10pm WEST
High School Commons

Networking

3:10pm WEST

Panel: Empathy Elevates Education

Friday April 25, 2025 3:10pm - 4:15pm WEST

Av. 25 de Abril 528, 2750-511 Cascais, Portugal

In this panel discussion, Tom will engage with our expert panel to delve into the following topic aligned with the conference theme:

Empathy Elevates Education
Challenges & Opportunities
Analytics & Forecasting

Speakers

Wendy Ratcliff

Head of Admissions & Marketing, Hurlingham School

Francisco Vigo

School Consultant, Letras Práticas Lda

Arjun Puri

Dean of Admissions, Aga Khan Academy Hyderabad

Catalina Gardescu

Marketing, Admissions & Communications Specialist

Catalina Gardescu is an experienced Educational Marketing, Admissions, and Communications professional with over 20 years of expertise in international school advancement. She established and led the Admissions and External Relations Department at the American International School... Read More →

Tom Kirby

Head of Client Experience, EMEA, Faria Education Group | OpenApply

Robin Berting

Admissions Director, American School of Barcelona

Originally from Vancouver, Canada, Robin has "come home" this year to the American School of Barcelona where he is in the first year of his second stint as Head of Admissions after having worked at schools in Belgium, Switzerland, and South Korea over the past ten years. Robin... Read More →

Claudine Hakim

Head of Transitions & Student Support, International School of London

Claudine Hakim is Head of Transitions, Student Support and Advancement at the International School of London (ISL) and is the leader of the award winning ISL Crossroads Transitions programme. Claudine was previously a Head Teacher at an independent Special School and another International... Read More →

Goncalo Santos

Head of Marketing & Admissions, International Sharing School Taguspark

With an extensive international background, Gonçalo Santos is currently leading the Sales &Marketing team of the SHARING Education Group in Portugal.Having completed his studies at Glion in both Switzerland and London campuses, Gonçalogained invaluable experience working in vibrant... Read More →

Friday April 25, 2025 3:10pm - 4:15pm WEST
Theater

Admissions PD

4:15pm WEST

Shuttle: from TASIS to Legacy Hotel

Friday April 25, 2025 4:15pm - 4:35pm WEST

Estrada Nacional No 9 Quinta da Beloura II, 2710-697 Sintra, Portugal

We have scheduled a shuttle between Legacy Hotel Cascais and TASIS. Feel free to sign up for the shuttle even if you are not staying at the hotel.

Friday April 25, 2025 4:15pm - 4:35pm WEST
TASIS Portugal Estrada Nacional No 9 Quinta da Beloura II, 2710-697 Sintra, Portugal

Transportation

5:30pm WEST

Happy Hour 🙌🏻

Friday April 25, 2025 5:30pm - 7:00pm WEST

Largo cidade vitoria 32, Tv. das Flores 4, 2750-348 Cascais, Portugal

We will have a casual happy hour (with both alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks) at the newly-opened rooftop of Copo Alto in the heart of Cascais. We will start at 5:30pm and end around 7pm so you can freely go on to dinner or explore the city afterwards.

Friday April 25, 2025 5:30pm - 7:00pm WEST
Copo Alto Largo cidade vitoria 32, Tv. das Flores 4, 2750-348 Cascais, Portugal

Networking