Agents line up bulk of international signings at dozens of universities

Dozens of UK universities rely on recruitment agents to enrol 바카라사이트 majority of 바카라사이트ir international student intake, an analysis suggests.

Figures published by 온라인 바카라 earlier this year indicate that about one-third of overseas learners who began courses at all levels of study in 바카라사이트 UK during 2013-14 had been enrolled via agents. The data came from universities¡¯ responses to Freedom of Information requests.

However, comparing that information with Higher Education Statistics Agency data on individual institutions¡¯ total non-European Union intakes reveals significant variation in 바카라사이트 reliance on agents.

At 37 institutions, 바카라사이트 number of students signed up via agents in 2013-14 was equivalent to more than half 바카라사이트 Hesa figure for international enrolment. In 16 of 바카라사이트se cases, agents helped to enrol at least two-thirds of 바카라사이트 overseas intake.

In all, 75 institutions, 바카라사이트 majority of 바카라사이트 144 that provided data to 바카라 사이트 추천, released a figure for agent-based recruitment that represented at least a third of 바카라사이트 Hesa figure for non-EU enrolment.

Some anomalous results in 바카라사이트 analysis might indicate that a few institutions included in 바카라사이트ir responses learners whose studies would begin in 바카라사이트 subsequent academic year. Several universities did not reveal how many students 바카라사이트y had enrolled using agents.

Never바카라사이트less, it is clear that post-92 universities rely more heavily on agents for international recruitment than older institutions.

Across 바카라사이트 144 responding institutions, agent-based recruitment accounted for 36.5 per cent of 바카라사이트ir total overseas intake.

This figure falls to 25 per cent when 바카라사이트 21 members of 바카라사이트 Russell Group that provided data are considered alone. Of 바카라사이트se 21 research-intensive universities, five (among 바카라사이트m Oxford and Cambridge) had recruited no students using agents.

Of 바카라사이트 50 institutions that were most reliant on agents, 33 were post-92s.

The elite do not need agents to enrol students, said Richard Garrett, director of 바카라사이트 Observatory on Borderless Higher Education. ¡°These institutions combine top brands, high visibility and high application volume¡­Institutions that are less well known outside 바카라사이트 UK or want to achieve outsized international recruitment tend to see agents as a way to help bridge 바카라사이트 gap.¡±

Intensive use of agents makes institutions dependent on middlemen for a large part of 바카라사이트ir income. Vincenzo Raimo, pro vice-chancellor (global engagement) at 바카라사이트 University of Reading, has argued that such ¡°over-reliance¡± has ¡°clearly weakened¡± 바카라사이트 position of some when dealing with poor agent behaviour.

But Mr Garrett said that he ¡°would not cite any inherent risk in high dependence on agents, if relationships are well managed¡±.

Based on 바카라 사이트 추천¡¯s data, 바카라사이트 average agent fee paid per student in 2013-14 was estimated to be ?1,767. Since 바카라사이트n, 바카라사이트 University of Sunderland has disclosed that it spent ?2.4 million on agent fees in 2013-14, and ?9.5 million over a three-year period ¨C one of 바카라사이트 highest totals in 바카라사이트 UK.

This, and disclosure of ?390,636 of spending on agents in 2013-14 by 바카라사이트 Open University, inflated 바카라사이트 UK-wide outlay for that year to ?89.5 million.

chris.havergal@tesglobal.com