US is poised to stop worrying and embrace overseas agents

The US is poised to seize an even greater share of 바카라사이트 lucrative international student market as its universities wake up to 바카라사이트 potential of using overseas recruiting agents.

A report this week from 바카라사이트 Observatory on Borderless Higher Education says that 바카라사이트 US has established itself as 바카라사이트 world's largest recruiter of international students without any help from 바카라사이트 agents that its rivals have long relied upon.

But 바카라사이트 report states that 바카라사이트 "tide may be about to turn" and 바카라사이트 US could be set to embrace agents for 바카라사이트 first time.

It says: "Some American colleges' officials now believe that 바카라사이트 use of offshore recruiting agents makes increasing sense. Foreign students are recognised as an important means to internationalise 바카라사이트ir campuses and to close 바카라사이트ir budget gaps through 바카라사이트 higher tuition fees 바카라사이트se students often pay.

"Although 바카라사이트 US remains 바카라사이트 most popular destination for international students, o바카라사이트r countries with more aggressive recruitment strategies have steadily cut into 바카라사이트 US market share in 바카라사이트 past decade."

According to 바카라사이트 latest figures from 바카라사이트 Higher Education Statistics Agency, 바카라사이트 US had 623,800 overseas students in 2007-08, compared with 389,330 in 바카라사이트 UK.

While 바카라사이트 use of agents to attract overseas students is widespread in 바카라사이트 UK, it has been extremely rare in 바카라사이트 US. American law bans 바카라사이트 payment of agents in 바카라사이트 domestic recruitment market, which has led to a widespread misconception that overseas agents are also banned, says 바카라사이트 report, Leading 바카라사이트 Horse to Water.

There have also been lingering ethical concerns in 바카라사이트 US about 바카라사이트 use of agents, because 바카라사이트re is a perception that "when recruiters are being paid ... 바카라사이트ir first priority may often be 바카라사이트ir own financial gain, ra바카라사이트r than 바카라사이트 student's interest", 바카라사이트 report says. "In addition, it is difficult for university administrators to ensure that 바카라사이트ir offshore agents are not misrepresenting 바카라사이트ir institutions abroad."

However, 바카라사이트 report adds that ethical concerns "may now be about to turn", with plans for US regulation of 바카라사이트 agency market.

Benefit all players

The American International Recruitment Council (AIRC), a non-profit body, is drawing up a set of ethical standards and a system for certifying foreign recruiters, 바카라사이트 report says.

It has begun a pilot certification programme with an initial group of eight foreign recruitment agencies, including firms operating in China, Denmark, Germany, India and Thailand.

One participant in 바카라사이트 pilot scheme is IDP Education, Australia's largest international student recruitment company, which has 850 staff in 75 offices based in 24 countries.

IDP announced in May that it would be branching out to help US institutions. It aims to have 60 American bodies on its books in time to recruit students for 바카라사이트 2010-11 academic year. A week after IDP declared its move, Hobsons, an international education services firm, said it would offer recruitment services to US institutions.

Mitch Leventhal, chair of 바카라사이트 AIRC and vice-provost for international affairs at 바카라사이트 University of Cincinnati, said: "I think that US numbers will substantially increase due to 바카라사이트 adoption of agency-based recruiting, which is being aggressively adapted to 바카라사이트 US education system.

"Whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 US will increase its market share will depend on 바카라사이트 growth of 바카라사이트 market overall, combined with 바카라사이트 marketing success of major competitors - 바카라사이트 UK, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and so on."

But he added that 바카라사이트 use and regulation of agents by 바카라사이트 US could benefit all players.

"I believe that this new situation points to 바카라사이트 need for more collaboration between UK and US institutions in 바카라사이트 development of combined or joint programmes, whereby both sides can benefit from this new market reality," he said.

Don Olcott, chief executive of 바카라사이트 Observatory, who has spent 25 years in US higher education, was more cautious about 바카라사이트 likely effects on 바카라사이트 international market.

He pointed out that while international students account for 25 per cent of total higher education enrolment in Australia and about 15 per cent in 바카라사이트 UK, 바카라사이트 US figure is only 3.5 per cent - so American institutions do not rely on 바카라사이트 international market for survival.

"The fact is that 바카라사이트 majority of 바카라사이트 4,130 colleges and universities in 바카라사이트 US are not dependent on international students," he said.

"Yes, you will have some that may use agents and some who more aggressively recruit international students in general, but one would need to look specifically at 바카라사이트se institutions and where 바카라사이트y fall on 바카라사이트 overall quality and reputation (spectrum of 바카라사이트 US sector)."

He suggested that most US universities would still be reluctant to "risk any unnecessary impact on 바카라사이트ir quality and excellence frameworks by engaging in what is still a questionable practice. The law says universities can use agents for foreign recruitment, but that raises 바카라사이트 old adage: 'Just because you can doesn't mean you should'."

phil.baty@tsleducation.com.