The ICEF Latin America Workshop São Paulo 2015 ICEF AGENT SERVICES: ICEF AGENT TRAINING COURSES AND THE ICEF AGENCY RECOGNITION PROGRAMME Tiffany Egler Director, Agent Relations ICEF Germany September 24-26, 2015 São Paulo
Agenda Agent Training Purpose Development and status The ICEF Agent Training Course (IATC) Canada Course for Education Agents (CEAC) The USA Agent Training Course (USATC) Who can take theses course? Practical information and benefits for agents ICEF Agency Status & Recognition General information Conditions of recognition Benefits and usage Duration and renewal 2
ICEF Agent Training Practical training courses for agency student counsellors Delivered online and free of charge in a self-paced format Objectives: Support excellence and professional standards in international education Providing student counsellors with essential business skills and knowledge for working in international education, i.e. - An understanding of the international/regional education markets - The dynamics of dealing with students, education institutions and government - The skills and research parameters to analyze destination countries, their education products and processes, and compatibility to the students needs 3
The ICEF Agent Training Course (IATC) Course Development Represent you on a year round basis Provide you with reliable local market information Developed Distributewith your the promotional input of 769 material agents in regularly 113 countries and 437 education institutions in 78 countries An Advertise international targeted advisory local board media reviewed and gave input to final course material (30 agent / educator members in 19 countries) Enthusiastic Representreaction you at local worldwide fairs and since college launch days in 2010, especially from agents wishing to take the course To date, over 9146 student counsellors are studying the course and 856 (in 100 countries) have already successfully passed the test 4
IATC - Content Unit A: The Context of International Education Main Destination Countries Education Systems Regulatory Systems Legal Requirements Student Visas Unit B: People in International Education Student Client Management Student Care Issues Student Documents Unit C: Promoting International Education Working Effectively Marketing Information Ethics 5
IATC Course Content Each lesson starts with an overview of its content Focus Questions at the beginning of each lesson prepare the student for the information contained in it Pages provide the learning material Extension Questions assist in applying the knowledge gained Activities at the end of each page are learning tools Destination countries are part of the course content, however due to a constantly changing environment are not part of the official testing 6
The Canada Course for Education Agents (CCEA) Launched in October 2012 at ICEF Berlin Workshop, the Canada Course was created to support educational agencies in providing the best possible advice to international students planning to study abroad in Canada. The Canada Course for Education Agents (CCEA) was created by the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Canada (DFATD) in cooperation with ICEF and the Canadian Consortium for International Education Marketing (CCIEM). The course supports professional development for agents specialising in Canada. The Canada Course is committed to updating the Canada Course on a regular basis in order to provide valid information to trusted partners. The Canada Course has recently been updated to include new information on: The university, college, language, and K-12 sectors New data on student numbers and on studying on Canada An updated cost of study section Information on updated visa policies
The Canada Course Objectives Ensure that students choosing an agent have access to informed, ethical professionals who have the most current and accurate information on Canadian education institutions and programmes Support Canadian educational institutions spend less time training agencies on Canada and more on institution s programmes; work with agencies that invest in best practices and are committed to Canada; and, use internally for training staff. Agents will: Know why Canada is one of the top study destinations in the world Acquire comprehensive knowledge of the study options and credentials available in Canada in all areas of education Get tips about how to best prepare for living and studying in Canada Demonstrate Canada knowledge and commitment to students and parents as well as to Canadian education institutions.
Canada Course Content Introduction Section A: About Canada Section B: Canada s Systems of Education Section C: Elementary and Secondary School (K-12) Education Section D: Language Programmes Section E: Universities Section F: Colleges, Cégeps and Polytechnics Section G: Costs of Studying in Canada and Scholarships Section H: Applying to Work, Study and Stay in Canada Section I: Living in Canada Section J: Promoting Canada
Canada Course Graduates (CCGs) Since testing launch May 2013, there are 248 Canada Course Graduates from 49 countries: Albania, Australia, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Croatia, Czech Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, Germany, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Ivory Coast, Japan, Kazakhstan, Lebanon, Libya, Lithuania, Macau, Macedonia, Mauritius, Mexico, Myanmar, Nepal, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Slovak Republic, Spain, Thailand, Turkey, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, Venezuela, Vietnam 69 agents from 30 countries are presently registered for testing (Australia, Bangladesh, Brazil, Cameroon, Canada, Chile, China, France, Ghana, Hong Kong SAR, India, Kenya, Kuwait, Mexico, Mongolia, Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Spain, Sri Lanka, Tajikistan, Thailand, Ukraine, UAE, United Kingdom, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, and Vietnam) In total, 4836 people from 89 countries have registered for the course Are YOU one of them?
The US Agent Training Course (USATC) The US Agent Training Course (USATC) is designed for international education agents working with American schools, universities, and colleges to recruit international students, and is aimed at increasing agents knowledge and standards of practice in their work with both institutions and students. Ensure that education agents worldwide have accurate, up-to-date information about the US education system. Enable US institutions to work with agents who have demonstrated commitment to the US market by taking the course and passing the test. The US Agent Training Course (USATC) was launched in spring 2015 and presently has 11 graduates from 8 different countries.
Advisory Board Members based in the US International Advisory Board Members
USATC Content Section 1: About the US Section 2: The US Education System Section 3: K-12 Schools in the US Section 4: Intensive English Programs (IEPs) and Pathway (Bridge) Programs Section 5: US Professional Education and Training (PET) Schools Section 6: Community (Two-Year) Colleges Section 7: Four-Year Colleges and Universities Section 8: Graduate Schools and Specialized Programs Section 9: The Culture of American Schools Section 10: Living in the US Practical Considerations Section 11: Student Visa Information Section 12: Working in the US Section 13: Ethical Behavior in Recruiting Section 14: Resources and Appendices
USATC Objectives & Benefits Ensure that education agents worldwide have accurate, up-to-date information about the US education system. Equip agents with information to help students select a US institution most appropriate for their academic, career, and personal goals. Enable US institutions to work with agents who have demonstrated commitment to the US market by taking the course and passing the test. Provide students and their families with the assurance that the agent they are talking to is specialized in the US. Lower US institutions burden of agent training, allowing them to focus it on explaining programs and specific course offerings (also useful for internal staff training). Acquire comprehensive knowledge of the study options and credentials available in the US, in all areas and levels of education. Get tips about how to best prepare students for living and studying in the US.
Who can take ICEF Agent Training courses? New agency staff members: excellent training tools for new student counsellors at agencies, for international or regional destination focus Practising student counsellors: all courses provide up-to-date information about international education principles and processes Agency managers / owners are also welcome to take the course Educators interested in understanding the fundamental principles of a working agent relationship An English proficiency equivalent to an IELTS score of 5.0 (or TOEFL PBT 500 / TOEFL ibt 61) is advisable 15
Practical Information Delivered online in a self-paced modular format (approx. 50 hours of study are recommended) Courses are free of charge, formal exam at cost Exams: open book (i.e. on- and offline resources may be consulted) and candidates with a minimum of 80% correct answers pass the test Worldwide testing at all ICEF Workshops, plus ability to do online at any time with a webcam Test format: multiple choice questions in 80 minutes (IATC: destination country information not tested) Highly recommended to do (and pass!) the Self-Assessment before requesting a testing opportunity Candidates successfully passing the formal exam will receive a Certificate of Recognition and immediate listing on ICEF Agent training 16
Recognition of ICEF Trained Agent Counsellors and Agency Finder 13
Agency Profiles Agent, Agency name, ITAC/CCG/ USCG #, qualification date, agency profile & contact information are featured in an online listing on www.icef.com/agent-training/ Agency Profile 18
ICEF Agency Status (IAS) ICEF s industry-leading quality assurance processes are recognised worldwide as an important qualification for agencies who have been successfully vetted, and participated in, ICEF Workshops In 2010, ICEF launched a recognition programme, acknowledging agents who have met ICEF's strict standard of quality Currently we have 3079 recognized IAS agents 19
IAS Conditions of Recognition and Renewal Screened agencies that attend one or more ICEF Workshops successfully, automatically qualify Agencies who have received ICEF Agency recognition are evaluated every two years to ensure ongoing compliance with ICEF s standards 20
IAS Benefits and Usage Use your ICEF Agency Status logo as a sign of quality and professionalism on marketing materials: Brochures, business cards, e-mail & URL Webpage Email signature 21
Thank you! Any questions? See www.icef.com for more detailed information Please leave your card if you want a copy of this presentation also available on myicef after the Workshop Questions regarding Agent training please email: training@icef.com Questions regarding ICEF s agency recognition program? Please email: tegler@icef.com 22