Washington, DC (February 17, 2021) —The Association of International Education Administrators (AIEA) is pleased to announce Dr. Randall W. Martin, Executive Director of the British Columbia Council for International Education (BCCIE), as the 2021 Charles Klasek Award recipient. The award recognizes his service as a scholar and researcher, educator and mentor, senior administrator and advisor, organizer and advocate within the field of international education.

Conceived as a tribute to Charles Klasek’s outstanding contributions both to AIEA and to international higher education, the Klasek Award is presented each year at AIEA’s annual conference to individuals with a record of long-standing and exceptional service to the field. “Chuck” Klasek was a founding member and the third president of AIEA in addition to his achievements at Southern Illiniois University at Carbondale.

For 33 years, Randall has led an extensive and varied career that has demonstrated his commitment and excellence to international education. Under his leadership, BCCIE became the British Columbia Council for International Education (changing from Centre to Council) and was granted core funding from the BC government in 2008. It then became a Crown Agency of the Province of British Columbia in 2012—the only one of its kind in Canada—mandated to support and provide direction to the international education sector in and for the province, from public and private K-12 and post-secondary as well as the large language-training sector.

Randall has overseen the growth of the sector to greater than a $7 billion enterprise directly employing over 54,000 people. Per capita, BC is the largest and most attractive destination for international students in Canada, and Randall’s work has raised the global capacity, profile and success of BC through professional development, engagement with global associations and the creation of platforms and partnerships with governments and sub-government associations across Europe, the Americas and Asia.

BCCIE has achieved several milestones, including attracting the APAIE conference to Vancouver, for the first time ever outside of Asia and Oceania and the first time ever in the Americas (now postponed due to COVID19 to March of 2022), becoming the National Secretariat for Canada for the UMAP consortium, and becoming a formal Affiliate Member of SEAMEO.

Randall has been an innovator and broken new ground throughout his career. From imagining new models for international mobility, to developing international education programs and projects that were ahead of their time, to building an organization that is recognized as a global leader and innovator in international education. He approaches his work with compassion, dedication and a commitment to equitable access.

AIEA congratulates Randall Martin as this year’s Klasek Award recipient.