The new code of conduct for Cape Breton University, which goes into effect this month, aims to enhance both the university’s procedures for recruiting international students and their overall experience.
As part of the new procedure, all recruiting agents who collaborate with the university will need to read over and accept the new guidelines. They will also need to take part in ongoing training for the duration of their agent agreements.
David C. Dingwall, president and vice-chancellor of Cape Breton University, stated, “As a university, we want to offer our students the best possible experience throughout their entire student journey, and the first point of contact for many international students is their agent.”
“This agent code of conduct was created to serve as a component of our expanding accountability framework and to provide the best possible service and care in a student-focused environment.”
Integrity, objectivity, transparency, and professional behavior are among the fundamental values the organization expects its agents to uphold, and they are outlined in the code of conduct.
It also describes the moral standards that agents must meet. This entails assisting students in selecting programs that are appropriate for them by providing information that is easily accessible, such as details on English language skills, opportunities for part-time employment, and the kinds and prices of housing that are available.
There are 9,100 students enrolled at CBU at the moment, of whom more than three-quarters are international and most of them are from India. By 2023, foreign students will have an annual economic impact on the area of more than $300 million.
Notwithstanding the increase in enrollment, there have been certain difficulties, such as the community’s and the nation’s ongoing struggle with housing scarcity. As a result, in December 2022, the university released a statement telling prospective students to postpone their enrollment if they did not yet have a place to live.
Discussions on Canada’s next international education strategy, which is scheduled to launch in April 2024, started in 2023. It is anticipated that this version will review the agent’s role. In the meantime, agents who violate the CBU code of conduct will be subject to “correction actions,” as stated in a statement issued by the school.
The university has stated that it will “continue to monitor all agent activities on a regular basis and reserves the right to conduct random audits virtually or during on-site visits” in addition to the recently put into effect code of conduct.
In order to give prospective students all the information they need to make an informed decision before applying to the university, audits will be conducted to make sure that information about CBU is accurate and current.
The university said in a statement that it will continue to be in charge of looking into any complaints about agents acting on the university’s behalf and that it will take appropriate corrective action when needed.