10/19/2011
Working Well with Education Agents:
Presenting the Latest Best Practice Initiatives in Agent
Management for Providers, Agents and Students
Across all Education Sectors
Paula Dunstan, PIER
Danielle Hartridge, ISANA: International Education Association
Kate Dempsey VTI
Carolyn Chong RMIT
This session aims to
To provide an overview of PIER resources and
website features relating to education
agents
Describe key data gathered from education
agents 2009-2011
Australian International Education Conference 2011
www.aiec.idp.com
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10/19/2011
About PIER
PIER resources & website features
Daily news
Jobs
Events
Resource library
Online training/professional development
Education Agents Training Course
Diploma of International Education Services
International Student Leadership Program
Workshops for stakeholders /providers
Education agency products & services
Agency finder
Counsellor dashboard
Data collections
Education agent data is collected through
Google analytics, data relating to education agents registering for the
EATC, by country /month, data relating to EATC tests by location,
PIER subscribers & visitors to the PIER website
PIER Agency Finder identifies agent profiles, Qualified Education
Agent Counsellors
Focus group data gathered May 2009-June 2010, in 9 major offshore
city locations, 228 participants
Education agent training workshops 2009-2010
held in 7 countries, around 1300 education agent participants across
18 sessions
Surveys
Sept. 2010:126 responses from 31 countries
Sept . 2011: 293 responses – Australia & off-shore
Australian International Education Conference 2011
www.aiec.idp.com
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10/19/2011
Student security and welfare
focus groups 2009
96% of education agents believed students are safe in
Australia.
72% were not worried about safety issues.
Education agents identify features that distinguish
Australia from competitor countries, including:
critical incident management
family support
global mobility programs
pathway and conversion programs
highly practical and job-oriented VET programs
teaching and learning support,
well-managed student welfare services including
recognition of the needs of diverse groups.
Provider/agent relationships
focus groups 2009
84% of agents agreed that their education providers
always provided current information about programs and
Services.
66% reported that they needed to remind the providers
to supply this material.
Australian International Education Conference 2011
www.aiec.idp.com
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10/19/2011
Professionalism & agent recognition
focus groups 2009
78% of education agents collaborate with other
education agencies with information and advice.
86% of education agents believe agents should be
qualified through the EATC.
98% of education agents believe their work is important
to Australian international education.
65% of education agents across 5 countries felt
insufficiently recognised by the Australian international
education industry.
Visa regime
Workshops/focus groups 2009-2010
87% of focus group participants (across 5 countries)
believed Australia‟s visa regime protects Australia‟s
interests, but most regarded the cost of visas as too
high, and some wanted more personal and
„compassionate‟ responses from visa officers.
Australian International Education Conference 2011
www.aiec.idp.com
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10/19/2011
Survey September 2011
Question
%
If there was an education agents’ association in Australia would you support it as a
member
84.5
Do you think education agents in Australia should be regulated by the Australian
government through a formal register and code of ethics?
89
Should all agents be qualified through EATC?
87
Do you think that completing the EATC has helped you/your agency in your work as 89
an education agent?
Has your agency been affected negatively by the global financial downturn?
59
Has your agency been affected negatively by 2009-2010 changes in the Australian
visa regime?
76
Survey September 2011 – Knight Review
Question
%
Allowing university students to work full time 2 to 4 years after graduation will
make it more desirable to study in Australia.
Agents recruiting students for a provider should be listed on the student record
through PRISMS, so data can be collected on agent and provider performance.
95
The current cost of living amount should be reviewed regularly for visa purposes
based on the CPI or other measures
88
Education agents should be regularly consulted about the student visa program.
95
Implementing the recommendations of the Knight Review will positively change
the perception of Australia as a study destination compared to competitor
countries.
94.5
Australian International Education Conference 2011
www.aiec.idp.com
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10/19/2011
Additional comments
“Knight review is a milestone in Australian international
education industry.”
“We are very much satisfied by the Knight review.”
“Thanks to Michael.”
“I think the Australian govt is intelligent enough to
address this matter promptly and bring reasonable and
fair benefits to overseas students.”
Further information
Professional International Education Services
www.pieronline.org
Education Agent Training Course
www.pieronline.org/eatc
Enquiries about the Education Agent Training Course
Email:
[email protected]
Enquiries about PIER Counsellor Dashboard
Email: [email protected]
Ph: + 61 7 3832 7699
Fax: + 61 7 3832 9850
Australian International Education Conference 2011
www.aiec.idp.com
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