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

Thank you!

Robert Coffeycoffeyr1@msu.edu