Hanna Eliis, an Estonian student at an international school in India, often shared stories of her country—its history of being part of the Soviet Union and its transition to becoming a member of the European Union in 2004. Her perspective offered valuable insights into how Estonia navigated its place in a changing world, blending tradition with new opportunities.

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But our conversations weren’t just about Estonia; they often turned to the broader world of higher education. For years, I had seen how education migration followed patterns shaped by the Cold War and post-colonial legacies. These narratives reinforced a Western-centric view, overlooking the diverse opportunities in regions like Eastern and Central Europe, Asia, Africa, Latin America, and the Middle East. Today’s shifting global order, increasingly multipolar, invites a rethinking of what success looks like—one that moves beyond old hegemonies to reflect a more inclusive and interconnected world.

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When I decided to create a platform to support this new perspective, Hanna suggested the name Innustame, an Estonian word meaning "We Encourage." It perfectly captured our vision: a platform that opens doors for students, families, and communities to explore education globally, whether within their own countries or across borders. It also offers universities a way to engage in thoughtful, sustainable student recruitment in a world where opportunities and aspirations are no longer confined to traditional centers of power.

Innustame isn’t just a tool; it’s part of a larger effort to reimagine higher education migration. By valuing the richness of opportunities across all regions, it aims to foster a truly global narrative of learning—one that recognizes success as diverse, evolving, and shared.