Interview with Albert Lee, Executive Director

Tell us your story. How did International Education Exchange get started?

I am an English teacher by profession, extremely keen to experience various cultures. I started organising study groups and language travel to English-speaking countries. Having seen young people in Taiwan lacking international experience, we ventured into Work & Travel, Internship, and Professional Training to bridge the gap between the school and workplace. We have assisted thousands of college students to immerse themselves in the United States. This life-changing experience helps prepare them for the challenges in their career.

What makes International Education Exchange different from your competitors?

Customers are not ‘customers’ to us, but rather our students, and the company is an international school.  We look closely into the needs of every individual coming through our door and how to make the most of their potential. This leads to a high satisfaction rate of our service and a good number of student referrals.

What is your favourite success story from your organisation?

Students thanking us for making their dream come true and providing a life-changing experience. One of them became a captain of Evergreen Airline, while another is now a CPA in Silicon Valley.  They said that It wouldn’t have happened without our guidance and support.

What can we expect to see from International Education Exchange in the future?

We will make good use of the expertise accumulated in the past 15 years to extend our services to the financially disadvantaged young people in Taiwan and China, helping them to see the world and making it a better place for all.

Which trends do you see in educational and active youth travel?

Youth travel will be more accessible to the developing countries. The developed countries can support the young people in under-developed countries through volunteering, which will better promote understanding and make the world a better place for all.

How do you work to ensure the health and safety of young travellers involved with International Education Exchange?

To promote the right attitude to the target group, we select, inform and train the young travellers well in advance, making sure they are fully prepared for the challenges to ensure their health and safety.

What was your motivation to join WYSE Travel Confederation?

To meet like-minded partners adding more services and value to our portfolio.

Have you attended a WYSE Travel Confederation event? If so, what was your experience with the event?

I have been attending World Youth and Student Travel Conference for a number of years and I found the event very rewarding as I can meet all our partners in a single event, saving on time and travel costs.

What is an industry challenge your organisation is facing at this time?

Reaching the target group – identifying and preparing the right candidates to have a life-changing experience in an affordable manner is the challenge we are facing.