2. UK universities use of agents
• British Council research found that 40% of prospective students
considering studying in the UK have used or planned to use the
services of an education agent
• the vast majority of UK universities use education recruitment
agents, paying them on a commission basis per student.
• A Times Higher investigation found that UK universities recruited
more than 50,000 international students through commission
payments to overseas agents in 2010-11, spending close to £60
million.
• This represents thirty percent of all international non-EU students
enrolled on UK higher education courses.
• For most universities this is the most cost effective way of
recruiting
3. We value the work agents do to promote UK education
• This is why we work to share our expertise in education counselling and
information provision to ensure a high quality service is delivered .
• Agent training is designed for education advisors by the British Council, to
increase their capacity to promote UK education
• It is also designed to promote and reward ethical and professional behaviour
and to improve the quality of agents, by providing a British Council
professional development route
Valuing the work of agents
4. Benefits to agents in joining the Professional Development route
Aim of Certification and Benefits
Certification aims to confer on suitably trained and experienced education
agents/advisors „British Council trained agent status‟.
The benefits to education advisors are:
• International recognition as having achieved a high standard of excellence.
• Listing of details on a publicly available BC Trained Agent List
• The Certificate to display
• We are investigating the use of a logo/badge which can be used on
publicity materials
5. The Continuous Professional Development Route
Year 1 foundation -
Supported on-line learning
Formal exam
Year 2 - 3
Agent practitioner led
Evidence of CPD activity
Credentials
BC facilitated and guided
Every 2 years thereafter
Agents evidence CPD
Gaining and maintaining BC trained agent status
6. The Education UK Certificate for agents continues
• Foundation training for education agents, counsellors, advisors, consultants
• A certificated course, delivered in-country, across the regions, managed,
moderated and quality assured in the UK
• Passing this, together with 2 years‟ practitioner experience, is a prerequisite for
applying for the BCAAC
Foundation training
7. BC Advanced Agent Certificate
Agents need to complete 35 hours of CPD activity to complete the BCAAC.
“this can include courses, seminars or other activities, run by the British
Council, or by sector partners, or institutions
This gives us the opportunities to:
• Formalise and add value for agents in training and service offers from local BC
offices in regions and countries
• Market UK centralised global training offers, such as webinars
• Work with sector partners, such as UKBA, UCAS‟ international advisor training
• Work with institutions providing training
• ……………..
Acknowledging and rewarding continuous professional development
8. Best Practices For
Managing Agency Based
Recruitment in the U.S.
John Deupree
Executive Director, AIRC
NAFSA 2013 – St. Louis
American International Recruitment Council (AIRC)
4710 Rosedale Avenue | Bethesda, Maryland 20814 | Tel. +1 240 547 6400 | info@airc-education.org
9. US National Framework for Agency
Management
• No National Consensus-Federal Agencies Differ
on Agency Use
• No Federal Legislation Governing Agency Use
Internationally
• Federal Legislation is Domestic Focused and
Based on Payment Methodologies, Not Agency
use “per se”
American International Recruitment Council (AIRC)
4710 Rosedale Avenue | Bethesda, Maryland 20814 | Tel. +1 240 547 6400 | info@airc-education.org
10. • NAFSA etc.
• NACAC Commission
• AIRC
American International Recruitment Council (AIRC)
4710 Rosedale Avenue | Bethesda, Maryland 20814 | Tel. +1 240 547 6400 | info@airc-education.org
Primary Agency Management Discussion
at the Association Level in U.S.
11. AIRC Created as Grass Roots Effort to
Safeguard Student and Institutional Interests
in Recruitment Process
• Membership Association Created and Controlled
by U.S. Institutions
• Non Profit 501(c)(3)
• Registered Standards Body
American International Recruitment Council (AIRC)
4710 Rosedale Avenue | Bethesda, Maryland 20814 | Tel. +1 240 547 6400 | info@airc-education.org
12. AIRC Agency Certification
• Based on Regional Accreditation Model and
Global Standards
For Agencies not Agents
Background Check
Self Study
Peer Reviewed
Validated by Independent Board
Five Year Renewal With Annual Reports
May be Rescinded Based on Documented Violations
American International Recruitment Council (AIRC)
4710 Rosedale Avenue | Bethesda, Maryland 20814 | Tel. +1 240 547 6400 | info@airc-education.org
13. Certification Standard Areas
• Organizational Effectiveness
• Integrity of the Recruitment Process
• Student and Family Engagement
• Institutional Engagement
• Complaints process
American International Recruitment Council (AIRC)
4710 Rosedale Avenue | Bethesda, Maryland 20814 | Tel. +1 240 547 6400 | info@airc-education.org
14. Who Grants Authority?
• Agencies Undertake AIRC Certification
Voluntarily
• Stems from Integrity of the Process
And “Buy in” of Institutions and Agencies
American International Recruitment Council (AIRC)
4710 Rosedale Avenue | Bethesda, Maryland 20814 | Tel. +1 240 547 6400 | info@airc-education.org
15. Agents - The way forward
Sam Hoben – Market Development Manager
16. Education New Zealand
» Stand alone agency since Sept 2011
» Functions include:
o Promote destination NZ
o Promote NZ education products and services
abroad
o Research, strategies, marketing
» Christchurch recovery; agent review; alumni
17. NZ Specialist Agents
» Commenced April 2008
» 290 agencies, 558 agents (Dec 2012)
» Includes training; code of conduct
» Review complete; in early implementation
phase
18. Revamped program
Our focus: quality
» revised Code of Conduct based on London Statement
» Free online training available from July 2013
» Modularised, designed to train not test
» Agents to receive personalised certificates upon completion
» Access to online toolkit incl. selling guides, marketing material,
digital applications
19. Next steps
» Agents role in online immigration system being
worked through
» ‘Elite’ NZSA group under consideration
20. Any questions?
» For further information, any time:
› Sam.hoben@educationnz.govt.nz
› Mobile: 202-390-6198
› www.newzealandeducated.com
21. Best Practice in Managing Agents
2013 NAFSA Conference
Mark Darby / Australian Education International
May 2013
22. ESOS Act - Regulations
ESOS Charges Act
National Code
Education Services for Overseas Students (ESOS) Framework
23. Rules and regulations for registration
Obligations of registered providers
Operation of the ESOS Assurance Fund
Enforcement of ESOS framework
Establishment of the National Code
ESOS Act and the ESOS Regulations
24. Written agreements, comply with National Code,
process for monitoring and termination conditions
Up-to-date and accurate marketing information
Not accept students from questionable agents
Terminate agreement for questionable actions
Taking immediate corrective and preventative action
National Code & Providers responsibilities re Agents
25. Practice responsible business ethics
Provide current, accurate and honest information
Transparent business relationships - agreements
Protect the interests of minors
Information to enable informed decisions
Act professionally
Raise ethical standards and best practice
London Statement
Notes de l'éditeur
QUICK BIT ABOUT EDUCATION NZCrown Agency since Sept 2011 (essentially we do not report to a government ministry) … Government’s objective, plainly stated, is to double the economic value of international education to NZ$5b by 2025. Functions include:broad promotional activities of the sector overseas (incl. NZ education and training services overseas - not so relevant in highly developed market like US)manage overseas representationresearch overseas marketsprovide information to international students about NZWork with other parties to ensure international students are adequately supported whilein NZFirst year dominated by helping with the recovery of international education providers in Chchfollowing the earthquakes … Chch has important gateway role for international arrivalsSpecialist Agent program review has been another key task… now completed… will come to that.And we have recently gotten underway with building a NZ alumni network.NZ IncBesides education sector, in keeping with way we do things in NZ we are very much part of an all-of-government approach to NZ’s economic development – what we call NZ Inc.MFAT, NZTE, MoE, NZQA, Immigration NZ, Tourism New Zealand - one goal.Inter-agency working groups approach to quality assurance. Partnering with the commercial sector – egAirNZ.
WILL NOW GIVE YOU A BIT ABOUT ROLE OF AGENTS IN NZ AND WHERE ENZ FITS INEstimated that between 30 and 50 percent of foreign students come to us through agents – so a very important relationshipOur involvement with agents revolves around the NZSA program.Program commenced in April 2008 … to end of 2012, some 290 agencies and 558 agents/counselors worldwidehad been through the accreditation processGenesis of the code (and indeed the Specialist Agent Program) … arose out of the influx of Chinese students in the mid-2000s, when we simply didn’t have the infrastructure and practices in place to deal with numbers arriving … some less-than-perfect practices saw NZ’s reputation dented in China … to a fair extent NZ’s response put us out ahead of the London Statement. The NZSA training processdesigned to provide credible demonstration of agents’ knowledge of our education system and test their commitment to NZSA code of conduct.Specialist agents sign an agreement binding them to terms/conditions of the code … Code of conduct outlines that agents must, for example, conduct themselves with integrity, maintain high professional standards, and provide only accurate information to students.Specialist Agent recognized as such by ENZ, other government agencies, and education institutions … does not mean that institutions will use those agents – they often have established agent relationships.With formation of the new organisation, ENZ, a review was timely. One objective guiding the review was establishing how we can better support high performing agents with a demonstrated commitment to the NZ market.
SO TO THE NEW MODELOur slogan: quality agents working with quality institutes for quality outcomes for quality students ENZ has made its focus arming agents with information they need - Simplified standards and improvements designed with agents requirements in mind and to stamp out as best we can the sort of mis-information we all hear aboutSeeking to provide better support to agents and reinforce expectations:London Statement has been firmly incorporated in the Code of Conduct.Improved marketing across all mediumsNew features:Online and freeNo exam but a series of modules where a student needs to pass before progressing to next module. Also 4 or 5 case studies based on real life student scenarios, which agent must get correct to passOpen to all – prerequisite is gone; aimed at capturing agents new to the NZ market
SO THE REVIEW IS COMPLETE AND IMPLEMENTATION IS GETTING UNDERWAYOnce e-learning aspects of the review are up and running, we will focus on how best to incentivise and reward high performing agents- We are closelyengaged with INZ in its work taking many aspects of the visa process online (due for introduction in 2014). Aim is this will ease life for everyone concernedElite NZSA Group being considered(also slated for introduction in 2014.)WILL LEAVE IT THERE!