Crisis in Recruitment

Transcription

1 Are We Ready for Global Standards in Agency-based Recruitment? Mitch Leventhal, PhD Founding Chair & Former President, AIRC Vice Chancellor for Global Affairs, State University of New York AIEC 2013 Canberra Crisis in Recruitment There is growing consensus that we need enforceable standards for agents. But so far, few approaches are binding upon agents and can be enforced across borders. 1

2 The London Statement 2012 Hailed by the British Council as a Landmark development signed by Australia, New Zealand, Ireland and the UK. Stresses the need for professionalism and ethical responsibility on the part of the commission-based agents who help many schools, colleges and universities to recruit international students. Calls for a voluntary International Code of Ethics for education agents. No compliance or enforcement mechanism proposed. National Efforts at Agency Regulation Australia ESOS Act, National Code, PIER Counselor Certification Legally mandated practices for Australian education providers alongside voluntary professional development for education counselors New Zealand Specialist Agent scheme, Code of Conduct (based on London Statement), Voluntary Counselor Training & Certification, Incentivization through Marketing Support from Education New Zealand United Kingdom Counselor training leading to Certification with British Council Trained Agent Status, Incentivization through Marketing Support from the British Council 2

3 A Critique of Present Approaches Legislated approaches, such as the Australian ESOS Act though ground breaking are inadequate because the onus of enforcement rests with local education providers and law does not extend across borders to the locus of the agents. The Certification efforts of Australia (PIER), New Zealand (Specialist Agent scheme) and the UK (BC Trained Agent Status) are all focused on training individual counselors, and not on the integrity of the agency as an entity. Many appear to be marketing promotion schemes rather than real quality assurance mechanisms. NO COMPLIANCE OR ENFORCEMENT MECHANISM! An Alternate Approach: AIRC Agency Certification Established in 2008 as a university-led, university-controlled industry self-regulatory process with cross-border enforceability. Builds upon Standards and Best Practices developed in Australia and elsewhere. Provides for Certification of the Agency corporate entity (not individual agents or counselors) based on a process modeled rigorously on higher education accreditation. Has compliance mechanism which can result in sanctions on agencies which violate the standards, following investigation and due process. 3

4 Elements of the AIRC Certification Standards Organizational effectiveness Integrity of the recruitment process Student and family engagement Student and institutional engagement Complaints process Steps in the AIRC Certification Process Background Check Criminal, Civil, Company and Principals Agency Self-Study Internal Professional Development On-Site External Review by Institutional Members Validation by an Independent Certification Board 5-Year Renewal with Annual Reports and Substantive Change Reporting Certification May be Revoked Based on Documented Violations following Due Process 4

5 Acceptance of AIRC Certification AIRC Certification is the most rigorous agency quality assurance approach, bar none. Institutions join AIRC in order to be involved in standards setting, regulatory oversight and for their own professional development. More than 200 U.S. institutions are now members. Agencies join AIRC to differentiate themselves from the competition and to gain access to the U.S. market, where an increasing number of institutions require AIRC Certification prior to contracting. 56 Agencies are now certified in 88 countries and 283 cities. AIRC Certification Compliance & Enforcement To the extent that AIRC Certification is required by all institutions, agencies will be incentivized to obtain it and maintain it. Agencies invest time and money in order to obtain certification since they have skin in the game they are reluctant to risk the investment loss of certification would mean both loss of money and market access. 5

6 What is American about AIRC? Two things only The word American in the name, and Standard 2.1 Knowledge of the U.S. Education System In truth, the AIRC Certification process extends already established standards within a global enforcement regime managed by higher education institutions. AIRC Certification can be just as effective protecting the integrity of Australian institutions as it is for American as well as the students who apply to both. Globalizing AIRC Certification 1. Create AIRC International as an umbrella organization with an International Board to Manage Standards and Certification Process transfer ownership of standards from existing AIRC (US-AIRC) to AIRC International. 2. Modify Standard 2.1 to Knowledge of Destination Education System 3. Modify AIRC process to require specific Country Endorsements earned through an Assessment process managed Country Affiliates composed of accredited institutions. 4. AIRC Certification would require at least ONE country endorsement, but agencies may apply for as many as desired. 6

7 Globalizing AIRC Certification (Concept for discussion only. NOT APPROVED BY AIRC BOARD) Board Elected from among AIRC Country Affiliate Members US-AIRC Board Appoints Cert Board from Country Affiliate Members AIRC Certification Board AIRC International Board UK-AIRC NZ-AIRC AIRC Co-equal country affiliates are responsible for managing assessment for country-specific assessment for purposes of awarding Endorsements. Criticisms of AIRC Certification Not Controlled by Government though industry selfregulation has proven highly effective in many markets. High Cost but this will be substantially reduced as more institutions join AIRC and require Certification as a prerequisite for contracts.. 7

8 So, are we ready for global standards? How will the London Statement be operationalized into a real compliance and enforcement regime? Is there a plan? Are there plans to establish cross-border compliance and enforcement mechanisms in Australia, New Zealand, Ireland or the UK? Is counselor training combined with marketing support sufficient to obtain the outcomes desired?. Thank You!. 8