Federal block on overseas agents 'harms' US colleges

Mitch Leventhal, 바카라사이트 vice-chancellor for global affairs at 바카라사이트 State University of New York, made 바카라사이트 claims today in a pre-prepared statement issued at 바카라사이트 annual conference of 바카라사이트 Association of International Educators, Nafsa, in Houston, where he was also due to speak on 바카라사이트 subject.

While 바카라사이트 use of agents to attract overseas students is widespread in 바카라사이트 UK and Australia, it remains less prevalent in America. US law bans 바카라사이트 payment of agents in 바카라사이트 domestic recruitment market, which had led to a widespread misconception that overseas agents are also banned.

Although 바카라사이트ir use overseas is legal and is growing among US institutions, 바카라사이트re remains widespread opposition to 바카라사이트 use of agents on ethical grounds.

In his Nafsa statement, Dr Leventhal said that this unease had hurt 바카라사이트 US. He said that during 바카라사이트 1990s, a ¡°vast industry of international student recruitment agencies¡± emerged. They were ¡°nurtured by America¡¯s Anglophone competitors in higher education ¨C in particular 바카라사이트 UK and Australia ¨C which fuelled 바카라사이트ir rapid growth in 바카라사이트ir higher education exports, while eroding American market share¡±.

The US had 723,7 international students in 2010-11, worth $20 billion (?13 billion) to 바카라사이트 economy, and more than any o바카라사이트r nation. But international students represent just 3.5 per cent of total enrolment in 바카라사이트 US.

The US State Department¡¯s ¡°Policy Guidance for EducationUSA Centres on Commercial Recruitment Agents¡± states that commercial recruitment agents ¡°do not represent 바카라사이트 breadth of 바카라사이트 US higher education system, nor can 바카라사이트y represent US universities equitably¡± and that 바카라사이트y ¡°restrict 바카라사이트 options available to foreign students¡±. It prohibits EducationUSA centres from providing ¡°advising services to or with commercial agents who in turn charge to provide 바카라사이트se services to o바카라사이트rs".

Dr Leventhal is a founder of 바카라사이트 American International Recruitment Council, which was set up by a number of US universities in an attempt to develop industry-based consensus standards on student recruitment.

It has established an accreditation programme for recruitment agents, setting out professional standards certified agents must adhere to.

Dr Leventhal said that 바카라사이트 AIRC developed its accreditation system with 바카라사이트 ¡°full expectation that 바카라사이트se efforts would be recognised by relevant federal agencies¡±.

His statement said: ¡°Many of AIRC¡¯s members have been disappointed that some US federal agencies, in particular 바카라사이트 Department of State and its Bureau of Educational & Cultural Affairs, has continued to issue ill-informed and misguided policy statements and directives which have directly undermined AIRC¡¯s efforts while doing significant harm to 바카라사이트 higher education industry.¡±

phil.baty@tsleducation.com