I recently sat down with Ian Cann, Chief Revenue Officer from ICEF, who has been there for over 15 years. A true leader in the international education sector, he joined me to discuss a topic at the forefront of everyone’s mind: quality.
The international education industry has been grappling with significant challenges – most notably the perception that there is a lack of transparency and oversight. When asked, Ian emphasized that, while direct recruitment remains vital, the industry’s focus has profoundly shifted.
As he put it: “Today, I think there’s a much greater focus on the quality of international student recruitment in the agent network. At ICEF, we have launched the “together for transparency campaign” and we’re clear that effective self-regulation is ultimately going to help to sustain this industry. Without it, we risk increased government regulation, potentially hindering the valuable work being done to support international student mobility.”
ICEF’s commitment is clear. When asked about their major focus, Ian stated: “our major focus has always been to raise standards across the industry.”
It’s clear from the discussion that this isn’t just about vetting; it’s about proactively pushing for better practices across the entire ecosystem. Ian further elaborated on ICEF Agency Status (IAS) – an accreditation scheme that provides a global standard for agents. With a due diligence process that includes thorough social media scraping, financial checks, and identification checks, this rigorous program offers institutions previously unseen levels of transparency and assurance.
At Quallege, we are deeply aligned with the values that ICEF and other like-minded groups around the globe are promoting to ensure transparency in international student recruitment. We are committed to high-quality inputs ranging from rigorous agent vetting to leveraging AI, all to deliver unparalleled outcomes for our university partners.
The future of international education depends on a shared commitment to quality and transparency.
What are your thoughts on strengthening standards in our industry?