Preparing Students for Studying Abroad: A Comprehensive Checklist for Education Agents and Counsellors
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The journey of an international student is a complex one, filled with many influences and key players that shape their experience from start to finish. Although international students are the primary stakeholders at the heart of this journey, their decisions are directly or indirectly influenced by various others as depicted below.
As someone new to the industry, gaining a strong understanding of all stakeholders and their interconnected roles will help you to offer the best possible support to students and improve recruitment outcomes.
The student’s home institution is the school, college, or university where they are enrolled before they decide to study abroad. The home institution may be able to offer crucial guidance and support services and help with credit transfer to facilitate the student’s studies abroad.
Host institutions are the schools, colleges, or universities that accept and host students who have applied to their programmes, and which provide support services and campus facilities abroad. Within host institutions, students directly or indirectly interact with several important departments.
Marketing and Recruitment:
The marketing and recruitment department is usually a student’s first point of contact with the host institution if the student is not going through an agent. Their main role is to highlight the unique selling points of the institution, its academic programmes, and the life within its campus. Their responsibility is to attract and retain international students in the marketing pipeline through various recruitment channels including targeted social media campaigns, digital marketing strategies, partnerships with education agents, and participation in international education fairs.
Admissions:
Prospective students first interact with the admissions team during the application process and continue to be in contact with them until they arrive at the institution. The admissions office processes student applications, assesses the student’s suitability for entry by evaluating academic credentials and relevant documents, and selects the incoming class.
While the admissions team may have a general understanding of visa requirements, they do not directly handle the visa application process for international students; instead, they refer students to the university’s international office.
Financial Aid:
Students may directly contact the financial aid office during the application stage to inquire about available scholarships, grants, and other forms of financial aid. Students may continue to work with the financial aid office even after admission to review their package, understand the details, and complete additional paperwork if needed.
It’s important to note that not all universities offer financial assistance, and even those that do may have strict requirements.
International Offices:
International students often reach out to the institution’s international office during the initial, exploratory stage, before they have firmly decided on their study destination and programme. The responsibilities of the international office include assisting students with visa enquiries such as extensions or deadlines, coordinating exchange programmes, and organising orientation days for new international students.
Alumni and Student Body:
Current students and alumni can offer valuable insights and guidance from their experience at the institution. They help new students understand what it’s like to study at the institution, and what resources are available to them as international students.
If you work within an institution’s international offices, admissions, student support, accommodations or marketing departments, ICEF Academy’s Introduction to International Education Course will provide you with further insights into the international student journey and stakeholders involved at every stage.
Before and during the application process, a student’s family and friends offer reassurance, encouragement, and additional insights to help students make decisions about their plans to study abroad. They also play a key role in helping the student secure financial resources, such as loans or personal savings, to fund the student’s education.
However, after a student has arrived at their desired study destination, family members may not be able to help their children deal with the challenges of adjusting to a new environment. As a result, many students could benefit from having a local guardian, relative, or close friend to offer immediate support and stability, especially during periods of homesickness.
Although students are not required to work with an agent or counsellor, many choose to do so, typically during the initial research and exploration phase, to benefit from their specialised knowledge and support during the study abroad process.
Agents and counsellors, both freelancers and those who work for agencies, help students choose and apply for suitable academic programmes, study destinations, and educational institutions while acting as local representatives for those institutions.
If you are an agent or counsellor looking to understand the functional dynamics of dealing with students, education institutions, and governments, enrol in ICEF Academy’s ICEF Agent Training Course.
Government bodies and policymakers establish policies, laws, and regulations including guidelines for visa requirements, work rights, and other immigration-related matters. These policies directly affect how attractive a study destination is for students.
Service Providers is a collective term that refers to organisations that offer specialised services to international education stakeholders, complementing those offered by the host institution or education agency. While the goal of these services is often to help students smoothly transition to their new surroundings, its scope can be much broader.
Accommodation Services: Accommodation service providers maintain an extensive database of off-campus student housing options, such as apartments and homestays, and guide students through the accommodation selection and booking process. They may also offer advice on the local housing market, tenant rights, and other housing-related matters.
Insurance Companies: Insurance companies provide specialised health and travel insurance plans tailored for international students. An agent or counsellor may recommend these insurance plans to students, or students may directly contact these service providers.
Organisers of Recruitment Fairs: Recruitment fairs allow students to explore study abroad opportunities, gather information about various destinations, institutions and programmes, and interact directly with the representatives of prospective host institutions.
Tourism and Transportation Offices: They assist international students with flight and hotel bookings and arrange transportation and airport transfers.
EdTech Tools: Host institutions may leverage EdTech tools to streamline communication between them and students through virtual campus tours, student portals, and chatbots.
As you continue to engage with international students, it is important to leverage your understanding of these stakeholders to create a more meaningful impact on the international student experience, ensuring their journey is as enriching as possible, while also enhancing collaboration with these key players.