Institutional Perspectives on Partnering with U.S. Higher Education Programs and Institutions

David Anderson, Vice President / ELS

Educational Services John Deupree, Executive Director / AIRC

Who are we? (And who are you?)

Introduction

Practical Tips / Context

• US universities are not-for-profit (not entrepreneurial).

• Think in terms of years, not months. • Collaboration can start slow and build. • Very few forms of collaboration move ahead

on “auto pilot” – they need constant pushing. • International education is seen as way of

enhancing the experience for US students

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Size and complexity – US higher education

• Over 4,000 post-secondary options • Decentralized; oversight is not from US

federal government. • Public vs. Private institutions • Research universities vs. “teaching”

universities/colleges • Role(s) of community colleges

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How universities in N. America are organized (international education)

• International education office • “Senior International Officer” • International admissions / recruitment • (Post) graduate admissions – done by

departments • Academic departments

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Agency collaboration with US universities – Context

• Most universities do not pay commissions - agents charge

fees. • US higher education does not depend on agents to the same

degree as UK or Australia. • Direct relationships with agents are relatively new. • NACAC debate about ethics of working with agents • US higher education system is large and with many kinds of

institutions. • Prestigious universities are not looking to grow numbers but

enhance the quality of their applicants. • Slow and complicated admissions processes • (Post) Graduate admissions are handled by individual

departments and policies and standards vary between them at same university.

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Most common types of collaboration with U.S. universities (Institutions / bilateral agreements)

• Joint degree pathways (2 + 2, 4+1 etc.) • Study abroad exchanges (outbound from

USA, in-bound from your country) – semester or longer

• Study abroad exchanges – short-term • Professor exchanges • Research projects (usually led by professors)

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Key questions to consider (agreements between institutions)

• What are your institution’s goals/priorities for collaboration?

(“HOW do you want to internationalize?”) • Do you have enough bandwidth to push collaboration forward? • Do you have enough STUDENTS who are/ may be interested? • What institutional barriers do you have? • Who is paying for what? (Sister university model: students pay

their own institution) • Do your students have the English level required to perform at a

US university? • What’s your language of instruction (for outbound USA

students)? • Is the US institution located somewhere that your students are

willing to live? (USA concept of “college town”)

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Joint degree programs - Notes

• These can be a selling point for your university

• Is your institution concerned about losing some tuition revenue?

• Curriculum analysis – time and patience required

• Can your institution deliver enough “volume” to make collaboration worthwhile?

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What US universities seek from agents

• Confidence in ethics and use of university’s brand name (no bad publicity) in all aspect’s of the agent’s business

• Qualified and appropriate applicants – do you understand the university’s profile and motivation?

• Volume of applications • Efficient use of time and resources (recruiting trips) • Knowledge of the “how” and “why” to apply to the

university • Programs / departments to promote more than others • Communication as the relationship grows

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How / Where to connect with U.S. counterparts

(universities or agents)

• NAFSA (end of May) • EAIE (September) • AIRC conference (November/December) • Other professional / academic conferences • Agent workshops such as ICEF events • Visiting campus • International student fairs • Through your network of personal contacts / referrals • Study abroad / recruiting consortia

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Questions and thanks