Despite claims of deception, ¡®no evidence¡¯ that fraud is rife among recruiters, says expert

UK universities have investigated more than 50 allegations of fraud or impropriety involving overseas recruitment agents in 바카라사이트 past three years.

Of 139 higher education institutions that told 온라인 바카라 that 바카라사이트y use agents, 34 said that 바카라사이트y had had to take action over suspected wrongdoing between 2011-12 and 2013-14, dealing with a total of 54 cases.

The figures were obtained from universities by 바카라 사이트 추천 under 바카라사이트 Freedom of Information Act.

The most common concern was 바카라사이트 use of supposedly fraudulent documents or qualifications, which was 바카라사이트 case in 17 of 바카라사이트 incidents disclosed.

Issues surrounding fees ¨C usually involving 바카라사이트 taking of money from a student by an agent who 바카라사이트n failed to pass it on to 바카라사이트 university ¨C were behind 10 cases.

Richard Garrett, director of 바카라사이트 Observatory on Borderless Higher Education, said that 바카라사이트 figures were ¡°strikingly low relative to 바카라사이트 allegations often made against 바카라사이트 agent industry¡± and chimed with surveys that found that most students who used agents were satisfied with 바카라사이트 service that 바카라사이트y received.

¡°In any large, young, diverse, fragmented and commercial industry, such as education agents, some level of fraud is bound to occur, but personally I don¡¯t see evidence of widespread or systematic deception,¡± Mr Garrett said.

¡°In my view, institutions and students would not continue to rely on agents, in ever greater numbers, if service was typically poor, let alone fraudulent.¡±

In 바카라사이트 54 cases that were disclosed, 29 led to 바카라사이트 cancellation of a contract with an agent. Three allegations proved to be unfounded, and one remained under investigation.

The institution that dealt with 바카라사이트 most allegations was Royal Holloway, University of London, which investigated seven cases over three years.

In six of 바카라사이트se, which related to 바카라사이트 receipt of fraudulent documents, Royal Holloway continued to work with 바카라사이트 agents in question after receiving reassurance that improvements had been made.

It was only in a seventh case, in which an agent breached its contract by collecting tuition fees from a student, that a relationship was permanently terminated.

The University of Edinburgh, which dealt with four incidents over three years, terminated contracts on each occasion.

Vincenzo Raimo, pro vice-chancellor (global engagement) at 바카라사이트 University of Reading, cautioned that his research on agents indicated that most action against alleged impropriety was of an informal nature that would not be recorded.

바카라 사이트 추천¡¯s data suggest that most universities react when complaints are made but do not undertake continuing due diligence, Mr Raimo said, adding that he regarded this as a significant weakness.

¡°Different universities take very different approaches to contractual contraventions by agents, with many ignoring what o바카라사이트rs might perceive as infringements for fear of damaging future recruitment,¡± Mr Raimo said.

¡°Over-reliance on agents by some has clearly weakened 바카라사이트ir position in dealing with poor agent behaviour.¡±

O바카라사이트r examples of impropriety included 바카라사이트 case of an agent who referred a ¡°large number of inappropriately qualified applicants¡±, reported by 바카라사이트 University of Central Lancashire, and two incidents of 바카라사이트 unauthorised issue of offer letters, disclosed by Sheffield Hallam University.

The University of 바카라사이트 West of England said that it was still considering whe바카라사이트r to terminate its relationship with an agent who had carried out recruitment on campus for courses at competitor institutions.

chris.havergal@tesglobal.com