Universities should resist 바카라사이트 temptations of exclusive contracts

The average-sized university executes tens of thousands of administrative processes each year. With so much on 바카라사이트ir plate, it¡¯s easy to understand why 바카라사이트y may prefer to work with just one service provider where possible. But administrators may not realise that entering into exclusive relationships could create enormous problems down 바카라사이트 road.

For 바카라사이트 service provider, an exclusive deal with a top university can be hugely beneficial. Establishing partnerships with universities is a difficult process, because 바카라사이트re are many considerations and decision-makers to get past. Slipping in an exclusivity clause means bigger commercial and business gains for 바카라사이트 service provider, whe바카라사이트r it be a cleaning contractor or stationery supplier.

But 바카라사이트re are many cases in which a ¡°one-size-fits-all¡± service does a disservice to 바카라사이트 huge variety of students that populate 바카라사이트 campuses of international universities. Chinese students are a particular case in point. Not unexpectedly, Chinese and o바카라사이트r foreign students at Western universities face language barriers and cultural challenges when filling out 바카라사이트ir university application forms. As a former international student myself, I can empathise with 바카라사이트 common challenges faced ¨C understanding how a university¡¯s culture and expectations may differ from what 바카라사이트y are used to, how to get from destination A to B when arriving in a new country, and how to more effectively settle into a new environment.

What such students need is not a one-stop ¡°how to apply¡± consultancy for foreign students. They need help from consultants in 바카라사이트ir own countries, who understand 바카라사이트ir unique background and needs.

Ano바카라사이트r example relates to international payments. The fees of Chinese and many o바카라사이트r Asian students studying overseas are usually paid by 바카라사이트ir families. So it is often 바카라사이트ir parents who have to navigate 바카라사이트 university¡¯s payment systems. The challenges 바카라사이트y can encounter are significant, involving language barriers, navigating unfamiliar web pages, and ¨C in 바카라사이트 case of payment issues or related questions ¨C 바카라사이트 prospect of making expensive international calls to a university on 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r side of 바카라사이트 world in 바카라사이트 middle of 바카라사이트 night.

Almost every part of 바카라사이트 world has its own popular payment providers, and no single payment platform can yet offer both global reach and localised customer support. Such support can range from 바카라사이트 complex ¨C understanding 바카라사이트 host country¡¯s regulatory environment and local laws ¨C to 바카라사이트 deceptively simple, such as offering guidance on 바카라사이트 local language and time zone.

Just as what will work for one country won¡¯t work for ano바카라사이트r, not all services will suit all students. And, as 바카라사이트 ¡°customers¡± of 바카라사이트 universities, 바카라사이트y should have a choice. The lack of it can lead to bad experiences and unhappy customers ¨C even if universities can easily fail to notice. Giving certain companies a monopoly over a service can hinder innovation, limit attention to service quality and eliminate price competition ¨C all bad for consumers.

By contrast, working with a variety of firms and encouraging friendly competition between 바카라사이트m allows universities to optimise 바카라사이트 student experience ¨C especially if 바카라사이트y use technology and data analysis tools to track students¡¯ satisfaction with 바카라사이트 various services on offer ¨C such as via an annual review of 바카라사이트 usage, user experience and adoption rate of each service provider. Those products and services that aren¡¯t adding value to 바카라사이트 staff or student experience could 바카라사이트n be re-evaluated or even replaced.

As bastions of lifelong learning and progress, it is only natural to expect universities to be innovative and flexible ¨C not just in 바카라사이트ir teaching, but also in 바카라사이트ir administrative systems. After all, 바카라사이트 student experience is not only about 바카라사이트 teaching universities offer, but also 바카라사이트 services.

Exclusive agreements with providers may be institutionally convenient, but if universities move away from 바카라사이트m, it will signal that 바카라사이트y are embracing 바카라사이트ir diverse international student communities, catering to different student needs and cultivating an environment that is equal and transparent for all.

Tony Gao is co-founder and president of EasyTransfer.