Brokers of international student mobility: The roles and processes of education agents in China

Abstract

International student mobility represents a fast-growing component of contemporary tertiary education (Bhandari, 2018). This mobility has been studied from diverse perspectives, such as global student flows, curriculum internationalisation, learning and societal and cultural adaptation challenges, employability issues and

International Medical Students' Financial Security in China: Lessons from an Individual Case Study

“…Nevertheless, reliance on the use of agents can have a negative effect on interests of both students and institutions (Lin & Liu, 2022;Ma et al, 2018;Shi, 2019). Choudaha (2015) points out that the use of commissioned agents to recruit international students remains controversial as the quality, reliability and ethical conduct of agents can differ greatly (Feng & Horta, 2021). Intermediary agencies, which are profitsoriented, ask applicants and universities for intermediary fees, which increases the economic burden of both students and universities (Lin & Liu, 2022).…”

Cyber Divided: How Taiwanese International Students Make Identity Boundaries within Social Network Sites

“…Another group of researchers explains the importance of online spaces by imputing a "broker role approach." These studies define the brokerage role as a function that mediates between different parties, juggles the disparate activities and norms of organizations and individuals, and communicates various forms of knowledge and interests (Bilecen & Faist, 2015;Feng & Horta, 2021;Stovel & Shaw, 2012). Netizens and veteran participants in those online communities play the role of mentors, teaching prospective students how to develop individualized strategies, make practical choices, and evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of their admission documents.…”

Beyond brokering for recruitment: Education agents in Armenia

“…They even register and prepare students for entry exams and essays. These agents' profits come, largely, from the service fees assessed to students; however, they also partner with universities and receive a commission for each student recruited (Feng & Horta, 2021; Harvey et al, 2018; Thieme, 2017). Some agents offer students their ‘services’ for free should they agree to enrol at one of the universities from which they receive a commission (Jayadeva, 2020).…”

“…For example, Robinson‐Pant and Magyar (2018) have noted that, among surveyed undergraduates in the United Kingdom, 35% had used firms. In addition, Feng and Horta (2021) cite the Australian Department of Education's report, which stipulates recruitment or education consultants played a role in 75% of the country's foreign student enrolments; they also cite an industry survey in China (New Oriental & Kantar Millward Brown Group, 2018), which states that 74% of outgoing students hire brokers to assist with their college applications (2021). ‬‬‬…”

“…Beyond the students' experiences, scholars have highlighted the ways in which education agents increase competitiveness of universities by facilitating their internationalisation (Sarkar & Perényi, 2017). Conversely, scholars have also noted the potential unethical practices of many education agents; in addition, they have identified their lack of regulation and the exploitation of prospective international students (Cheng et al, 2017; Feng & Horta, 2021; Kern & Müller‐Böker, 2015; Mazzarol & Hosie, 1996; Tuxen & Robertson, 2019).…”