Education agents without websites – really?
As the AgentBee research team traverses the web, we often come across education agents that do not have a website. Sometimes the agent has a url that when entered
Reference checking education agents: navigating pitfalls
Dr Pii-Tuulia Nikula is an Associate Professor in the School of Business at Eastern Institute of Technology (EIT) in New Zealand. Pii-Tuulia has published a number of journal articles on
ApplyBoard cuts 3,500 ‘Recruitment Partners’
Canadian company ApplyBoard is synonymous with the education agent aggregator business model. Founded in 2015, ApplyBoard has grown quickly - fueled by over US$450m in venture capital - to become
Privacy risks in education agent social media marketing
Spend some time reviewing the Facebook and Instagram pages of enough education agents and you'll soon spot a common marketing technique. It's the 'congratulations' post, congratulating a student on obtaining
Where is the bar set on sub-agent due diligence?
In January 2023 we published what has since become one of our most read posts, Into temptation: the rise of education agent aggregators and sub-agent risk. A key point was
Education agents exploiting the Canada-India crisis
Diplomatic relations between Canada and India are at a low ebb following an allegation by the Canadian PM, Justin Trudeau, that the Indian government may have been involved in the
Canadian Senators take aim at education agents
A discussion paper issued by four Canadian Senators on 20 September 2023 examines the key challenges threatening the integrity of Canada's international student program. Education agents are included on the
Ups and downs in aggregator sub-agent networks
The education agent aggregator model continues to attract attention, in particular in relation to issues of transparency and accountability associated with large sub-agent networks. Government inquiries and policy processes in
Bhutan Government warns public on education agents
On 1 June 2023, the Higher Education Quality Council within the Royal Government of Bhutan's Qualifications and Professionals Certification Authority issued a public notice to students, and their parents, who
Book Launch: Student Recruitment Agents in International Higher Education
Pii-Tuulia Nikula, Vincenzo Raimo and Eddie West have opened the world of education agents for all to see – and what an important world it is!
Simon Marginson, Professor of Higher
Kerala government considering education agent regulation
A recent session of the Legislative Assembly of the Indian state of Kerala included consideration of recent reports of Indian students who are studying abroad, or seeking to do so,
Ontario colleges tighten controls on education agents
On 16 March, Colleges Ontario released a new set of standards to strengthen the programs and supports for international students.
The document includes the following section on international education agents:
International
Kochi City Police to crack down on education agents
In late January 2023, Kochi City Police announced that it will increase its inspections on education agencies, as well as recruitment and travel agencies.
The crack down was prompted by a
Student devastated by dishonest education agent
On 14 February 2023, CBC News Edmonton published the story of 25-year-old Karamjeet Kaur, a disabled Indian student who faces removal from Canada due to a fake letter of admission
Agent aggregators on sub-agent recruitment drive
One of our most popular posts in 2022 was Boots on the ground: agent aggregators build their networks, which mapped the growth of the sub-agent networks of several of the
ApplyBoard – the one that got away…
ApplyBoard has made a big impact in the world of international student recruitment. Founded in 2015 by brothers Martin, Meti, and Massi Basiri, the company now has partnerships with 1,700+
Another fake education certificate racket busted in India
Indian media outlets are reporting the arrest by Rachakonda police of seven members of a gang who were operating a fake education/degree certificate scam. The accused reportedly admitted to selling
Adventus.io cuts staff in India
A Linkedin post by a former Adventus.io employee in late December 2022 stated that:
Over 50 staff pan India was [sic] laid off on all of the sudden zoom call at
Jan 2023 update: Aggregator sub-agent networks
This update post follows our earlier posts:
5 questions to ask an education agent aggregator about their sub-agents, and
Boots on the ground: agent aggregators build their networks
The chart below shows the
Into temptation: the rise of education agent aggregators and sub-agent risk
In 2022, a recurring topic of focus in the international education world was the role and rise of education agent aggregators. Established players like ApplyBoard and Adventus.io continued to market