Regulating the Recruitment: Addressing Unethical Practices of Education Agents in Canadian Post-Secondary Institutions

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dc.contributor.advisorBalser, Teri C.
dc.contributor.authorNguyen, Alex
dc.date.accessioned2025-01-30T17:28:36Z
dc.date.available2025-01-30T17:28:36Z
dc.date.issued2024-05-29
dc.description.abstractThis capstone examines the critical role and oversight of education agents in recruiting international students to Canadian post-secondary institutions (PSIs). Using the concept of academic capitalism, this study highlights a shift in PSIs’ priorities from educational value to financial gain, predominately driven by decreased government funding and expressed in the overreliance on international student tuition to subsidize an underfunded post-secondary system. Consequently, international students are treated as lucrative commodities, making them vulnerable to exploitation by unscrupulous education agents. Emerging as powerful market facilitators, education agents connect prospective international students with institutions that best align with their academic goals and aspirations. However, a lack of regulation and transparency in these agents' practices has led to significant ethical concerns and the exploitation of international students. This capstone identifies three key factors contributing to unethical practices by education agents: lack of transparency, insufficient regulation and oversight, and inadequate student protection. To address these issues, the capstone proposes a multifaceted approach with three key recommendations: (1) establishing a national code of conduct for active monitoring, (2) increasing transparency through publicized lists of accredited and rogue agents, and (3) enhancing protection through feedback and reporting mechanisms. These measures aim to safeguard the interests of international students and maintain the integrity of Canada’s education system.
dc.identifier.citationNguyen, A. (2024). Regulating the Recruitment: Addressing Unethical Practices of Education Agents in Canadian Post-Secondary Institutions (Unpublished master's project). University of Calgary, Calgary, AB.
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/1880/120661
dc.language.isoen
dc.publisher.departmentSchool of Public Policy
dc.publisher.facultyFaculty of Graduate Studies
dc.publisher.institutionUniversity of Calgary
dc.rightsUniversity of Calgary graduate students retain copyright ownership and moral rights for their thesis. You may use this material in any way that is permitted by the Copyright Act or through licensing that has been assigned to the document. For uses that are not allowable under copyright legislation or licensing, you are required to seek permission.
dc.titleRegulating the Recruitment: Addressing Unethical Practices of Education Agents in Canadian Post-Secondary Institutions
dc.typeReport
thesis.degree.grantorUniversity of Calgary
ucalgary.scholar.levelGraduate
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