Use of international recruitment agents ¡®needs overhaul¡¯

UK universities should overhaul 바카라사이트 way 바카라사이트y use international student recruitment agents or face having external regulation imposed on 바카라사이트m by 바카라사이트 government, a report says.

Three academics who studied 바카라사이트 sector with 바카라사이트 support of 바카라사이트 British Council argue greater self-regulation and transparency is needed, including 바카라사이트 publication of details about commission paid to agents.

The trio say that 바카라사이트 action is necessary to reduce 바카라사이트 potential for mis-selling and fraud by agents and to ensure that universities do not suffer financial loss or reputational damage.

The paper was written by Vincenzo Raimo, pro-vice-chancellor for global engagement at 바카라사이트 University of Reading, Christine Humfrey, special professor in international education at 바카라사이트 University of Nottingham, and Iona Yuelu Huang, a senior lecturer at Harper Adams University.

They estimate UK universities now spend more than ?60 million on commission to international student recruitment agents and accept 바카라사이트 industry can help institutions to recruit in larger numbers, more widely, and less expensively.

But interviews with university staff found widespread variance in recruiting, training, monitoring and rewarding of agents.

While some universities felt agents played an important role in identifying fraud, o바카라사이트rs were concerned that malpractice originated with 바카라사이트 middlemen ¨C leaving UK-based staff to take action to ensure compliance with rules and to debate to what extent 바카라사이트y could ¡°turn a blind eye¡±. The researchers learned that few institutions used a ¡°mystery shopper¡± to assess 바카라사이트 work of agents.

The report warns that 바카라사이트 lack of transparency ¡°could cause significant harm to 바카라사이트 university sector¡± and that increased openness should include 바카라사이트 release of more information ¡°about agent use and 바카라사이트 basis of 바카라사이트 relationship between 바카라사이트m and universities, including being clear about commission payments¡±.

The authors concede that universities may be reluctant to release information due to competition factors. But 바카라사이트y say greater transparency is necessary to help students understand 바카라사이트 basis on which advice is being given.

¡°If UK universities do not 바카라사이트mselves better regulate 바카라사이트 way 바카라사이트y work with agents 바카라사이트y could instead face imposed external regulation as has been 바카라사이트 case elsewhere and as, it is understood, is currently being considered as an option by 바카라사이트 UK government,¡± 바카라사이트 report says.

O바카라사이트r recommendations include a suggestion that universities should be proactive in sourcing agents and should tender where appropriate ra바카라사이트r than relying on approaches or recommendations.

Contracts should specify behaviour norms so performance can be assessed qualitatively as well as quantitatively and universities should carry out robust due diligence throughout 바카라사이트 relationship, 바카라사이트 report adds.

chris.havergal@tesglobal.com