ICEF Berlin Workshop 2018 ICEF AGENT SERVICES: ICEF AGENT TRAINING COURSES THE ICEF AGENCY RECOGNITION PROGRAMME Fabiola Martínez Mata Agent Relations Manager, ICEF November 4 6, 2018
Agenda Agent Training Purpose Development and status The ICEF Agent Training Course (IATC) The China Education Agent Course (CEAC) Canada Course for Education Agents (CCEA) The US Agent Training Course (USATC) The Irish Education Agents Course (IEAC) 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
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 - 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
ICEF Professional Courses
ICEF Destination Courses
The ICEF Agent Training Course (IATC) Course Development Represent you on a year round basis Provide you with reliable local market information Developed with the input of 769 agents in 113 countries and 437 education institutions in 78 countries Distribute your promotional material regularly An international advisory board reviewed and gave input to final course material Advertise (30 agent in targeted / educator local media members in 19 countries) Enthusiastic reaction worldwide since launch in 2010, especially from agents wishing Represent to take you the at course local fairs and college days To date, over 14034 student counsellors are studying the course and 1271 (in 111 countries) have already successfully passed the test The China Education Agent Course (CEAC) is a Chinese version of the IATC specifically for Chinese agents in the education market In cooperation with BOSSA, who hosts testing opportunities, we recognize 436 CITACs (Chinese ICEF Trained Agent Counselors)
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
IATC Course Content Each lesson starts with an overview of the unit 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
The Canada Course for Education Agents (CCEA) Launched in October 2012 at ICEF Berlin Workshop, and 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 supports professional development for agents specializing in Canada as a study destination. Originally produced by Foreign Affairs and International Trade, (Canada) in collaboration with ICEF, the course is now jointly owned by ICEF, Languages Canada and the Canadian Association of Public Schools International (CAPS-i), with the support of the CCIE. 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 Since testing launch May 2013, there are 689 Canada Course Graduates from 71 countries In total, 11665 people from 90 countries have registered for the course
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
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. Provide students and their families with the assurance that the agent they are talking to is specialized in the US. Enable US institutions to work with agents who have demonstrated commitment to the US market by taking the course and passing the test. 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). The US Agent Training Course (USATC) was launched in the fall of 2015 and presently has 213 graduates from 41 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
NEW ICEF - ICEF Destination Destination Courses Course First of its kind recognizing the growing interest in Ireland as a destination for students
IEAC Advisory Board Members In Ireland Lucia Reynolds, Brand Manager Education in Ireland Enterprise Ireland Celestine Rowland, Director Galway Business School Declan Millar, Managing Director High Schools International Debbie Flynn, Founder Irish Education Partners Sinead Lucey, International Education Manager Irish Universities Association David O'Grady, CEO Marketing English Ireland (MEI) Miriam Ryan, Head of International Education Technological Higher Education Association Outside Ireland Victor Hugo Baseggio, Director CI, Brazil Fernando Lanzagorta Diaz, Marketing and Sales Director Estudia en Irlanda, Mexico Onur Yaldizkaya, Founder Idealist, Turkey Noriko Okada, Marketing Director Ireland Celtic Travel, Japan Oscar Porras, Director Midleton School, Spain Dr. Osamah Majeed Qureshi, Director Student Counseling Services, Pakistan icef.com 15
IEAC Course Contents (12 Sections) Section A: About Ireland Section B: The Irish Education System Section C: Secondary Schooling in Ireland Section D: English Language Learning Section E: Institutes of Technology Section F: Universities Section G: Internships Section H: The Higher Education Environment Section I: Living In Ireland Section J: Student Visas Section K: Working in Ireland Section L: Promoting Ireland icef.com 16
Why the Irish Agent Training Course? Provide agents with the most current, accurate information about education in Ireland Respond to increased interest in Ireland as a study destination amongst agents worldwide Enable Irish educators to work with agents committed to Ireland as a study destination Assure students and their families that they are talking to an Eire specialist Lower Irish educators agent training burden, allowing them to focus on their USP & courses Assist Irish education providers internal staff training Create a comprehensive reference tool on Ireland for the international education community icef.com 17
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
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
Recognition: ICEF Trained Agent Counsellors and Agency List 13
Agency Profiles Agent, Agency name, ITAC/CCG/ USCG/CITAC/ICG #, qualification date, country, agency profile & contact information featured in an online listing: www.icef.com/agent-training/ Agency Profile
Resources: Online App - QEA Free tool for educator marketing professionals to help them find qualified agencies by name or location (near me now) Now listing over 9200 qualified agent counsellors worldwide (ICEF, PIER, British Council) from 125 countries Over 6 700 downloads to date Search for Qualified Education Agents in Google Play or the App Store Download your free copy now!
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 over 4200 recognized IAS agents
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
IAS Benefits and Usage Webpage Use your ICEF Agency Status logo as a sign of quality and professionalism on marketing materials: Brochures, business cards, e-mail & URL Email signature
Thank you! See www.icef.com for more detailed information Questions regarding Agent training please email: training@icef.com Questions regarding ICEF s Agency recognition program? Please email: agent@icef.com