Perceptions of value: assessing the agent/commission model of UK higher education recruitment in Africa

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Periodical article

Title:	Perceptions of value: assessing the agent/commission model of UK higher education recruitment in Africa
Editor:	Thomson, Alex
Year:	2014
Periodical:	Africa Review: Journal of African Studies Association of India (ISSN 0974-4061)
Volume:	6
Issue:	2
Pages:	105-120
Language:	English
Geographic terms:	United Kingdom Africa
Subjects:	foreign students universities brokers
External link:	https://doi.org/10.1080/09744053.2014.914638
Abstract:	The UK's higher education relationship with Africa has changed in recent years. Past associations of developmental cooperation have been superseded by market-based student recruitment seeking income for UK universities. This article is about assessing a form of recruitment that helps underpin this new relationship: the agent/commission model. It identifies the nature of this approach to recruitment, and the processes involved. The article also asks who benefits from the agent/commission model. The research captured a 'snapshot' of opinion within a case study UK university, seeking the views of agents themselves and their service users. It was found that all these actors considered the work of agents to be of value. There are certainly flaws in the agent/commission model, and wider societal implications for African states and economies, but it is suggested that agents should be given more credit for the work that they do than is reflected in the current literature. Bibliogr., sum. [Journal abstract]