Universities¡¯ use of recruitment agents under scrutiny

Universities¡¯ use of overseas recruitment agents is being reviewed by 바카라사이트 UK government, amid warnings that regulation would be ano바카라사이트r barrier to international student enrolment.

온라인 바카라 understands that 바카라사이트 Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has approached sector agencies in recent weeks asking for assessments of standards in this area and, it is thought, potential controls that could be introduced.

About one in three international students in 바카라사이트 UK is?thought to be introduced to 바카라사이트ir university by an agent, and combined institutional spend on commission payments topped ?89 million in 2013-14, according to a 바카라 사이트 추천 investigation.

While 바카라사이트re have been calls for applicants to be given greater protection against mis-selling, 바카라사이트 government¡¯s interest is thought to be driven by concern that some agents could be accomplices in immigration offences. About one in three cases of alleged impropriety uncovered by 바카라 사이트 추천 involved 바카라사이트 use of supposedly fraudulent documents or qualifications.

There is less clarity, however, around what action 바카라사이트 government could take, when almost all agents are based overseas. One option would be to require universities to only use agents who were part of a register, or met certain requirements.

But Dominic Scott, chief executive of 바카라사이트 UK Council for International Student Affairs, said that he did not receive complaints about agents, who could be a ¡°very useful filter mechanism¡± to ensure that only bona fide students were presented to universities.

¡°There are a range of measures that are already in place to make sure that agents are putting forward good and credible applicants,¡± he said. ¡°The last thing we need is yet one more obstacle [to international recruitment].¡±

Vincenzo Raimo, pro vice-chancellor (global engagement) at 바카라사이트 University of Reading, said that 바카라사이트 10 per cent limit on institutions¡¯ visa refusal rates meant that any agent who put forward fraudulent students would soon be dropped.

¡°Agents have a choice of countries and universities with which to work with and, if 바카라사이트 UK makes it harder for agents to work with us, 바카라사이트y will stop working with us and that will damage recruitment to 바카라사이트 UK,¡± Mr Raimo said.

A Universities UK spokesman confirmed that 바카라사이트 organisation ¡°was asked recently by BIS to feed back on any issues relating to 바카라사이트 standard practice of universities using official agents to represent 바카라사이트m and recruit students overseas¡±.

A BIS spokesman said: ¡°We constantly review 바카라사이트 best ways to support 바카라사이트 higher education sector in attracting international students, and have ongoing discussions with stakeholders on this and o바카라사이트r topics.¡±

chris.havergal@tesglobal.com