Date post: | 21-Jun-2015 |
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The Use of Education Agents in International Recruitment:
The Case of Manitoba
Robert CoffeyDoctoral Student
Higher Adult Lifelong Education [HALE]College of Education
Outline for presentation
Introduction, purpose of internship Introduction to IEB (Internship site) Manitoba as context for policy problem Education agent use as a policy problem Stakeholders Potential policy approaches
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HALE Center for Higher & Adult Education
Intern Program provides support for HALE graduate students seeking policy experience in higher education
Manitoba
Larger than Japan and twice the size of the UK; fifth largest province in size and population
Population (2010): 1,222,000 Winnipeg is home to 60% of
the population and most post-secondary institutions
Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) fast-tracks migration of skilled workers and international students
International Education
Formed in 2001 as a branch of Advanced Education and Literacy
Mandate to: Increase international and intercultural
knowledge and skills of Manitobans Maximize the benefits of IE to the
economy; Engaging more schools/institutions,
levelsof education, fields of study/training, and regions of Manitoba in IE
Enhancing international recognition of Manitoba as an excellent source of high quality, affordable education and training programs, services, and products
International Education Serve as a first point of
contact for IE matters Develop IE policy Work with Manitoba
institutions and organizations to: • coordinate IS recruitment, • offer marketing assistance,
and• build capacity for greater
involvement in IE
Policy Problem: The Use of Education Agents in International Recruitment
An education agent provides assistance to a student seeking to matriculate at an education institution abroad.
Agents may work independently or for an agency. Agents may provide these services as a sole line
of business, but they may also be: An immigration consultant A tour operator An alumnae/alumnus A family member or friend
Policy Problem: The Use of Education Agents in International Recruitment
Commission-paid agents generally Contract with education institutions to represent them
and recruit for them in a particular market
Also charge students for their services Represent more than one institution
Policy Problem: The Use of Education Agents in International Recruitment
Develop a discussion document to inform the work of a federal-provincial committee tasked with considering this issue
Develop a policy proposal to help shape discussions about education agent use by Manitoba education institutions
Who Are The Stakeholders?
School Divisions (Districts) Colleges (Admissions, Enrollment
Management) Universities (Admissions, Enrollment
Management) Government (Federal, Provincial) Employers Students
Agents As Essential Recruiting Partners
A cost-effective way to recruit internationally Cultural intermediaries who can help students
and families navigate the admissions process Trustworthy ‘experts’ who are more trusted than
the institution Essential in raising awareness of EIs that are
less well-known
Agent Horror Stories
Not disclosing that they’re working on commission
Steering clients to EIs that pay the most commission
Misrepresenting an EI’s programs of study, the credential conferred, and the portability of the credential.
Collecting fees for El services prior to student arrival that were never forwarded to the EI.
Authoring student essays intended to assess the applicant’s written English proficiency.
Colluding with students in misusing the visa process
What are the issues?
What role (if any) should government play?
Institutional autonomy The conflict of interest created by paying
agents on commission What should the relationship between
institutions and agents look like? What / how much responsibility should
institutions have for how agents conduct their business?
Possible policy approaches
Status quo Further research Ban on using agents to recruit Ban on using for-commission agents to
recruit Establish voluntary code of best practices