UK universities should rethink relationships with international student recruitment agents to ¡°bridge the gap¡± between the concerns of academics and international offices, a study says.

A by two University of East Anglia academics says that managers evaluate agents ¡°largely in relation to recruitment targets¡±. This, say Anna Robinson-Pant and Anna Magyar, has the potential to ¡°marginalize the role of academics¡±, whose concerns centre on admission standards and internationalising the curriculum.

In focusing largely on recruitment and marketing issues, the debate on agents has ¡°contributed to a growing gap between the concerns of academic staff and those colleagues working in university international offices¡±, according to the article.

In interviews, however, the pair found that agents emphasised their counselling role. Most provided ¡°the whole range of services to students¡±, including helping to choose a university, complete the application and craft or translate a personal statement. Several agents said that applicants ¡°expect the agent to do everything¡± and are ¡°too much dependent on us¡±.

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Professor Robinson-Pant and Dr Magyar say that more research is needed into how students¡¯ relationships with agents are changing in a more commercial environment.

As international offices are not involved after offers are converted into places, most staff in these departments know little about what happens after students arrive on courses.

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But if applicants are so reliant on agents, the pair write, this ¡°might later influence the student¡¯s experience and expectations of staff-student relationships in the UK university¡±.

Considering how agents shape student expectations may help to ¡°bridge the gap¡± with academics, Professor Robinson-Pant and Dr Magyar say. ¡°Research into agents¡¯ roles in mediating communication¡­and student expectations could help to facilitate closer interaction between international office staff and academics working with¡­students recruited in this way,¡± the pair conclude.

Professor Robinson-Pant gave a presentation on her research at a SRHE seminar on 29 April.

chris.havergal@tesglobal.com