Association of Colleges
Overseas student recruitment
AoC delegation to Brazil - 25 June 2012
We are pleased to confirm the details of the delegation.
Brazil is the sixth largest economy in the world. With its growing education and training needs, Brazil has the potential to be a highly lucrative market for UK Colleges. There are opportunities for Colleges to engage with both the private and public sectors in a variety of ways including student recruitment, partnerships between education institutions and training program development for industry. The high esteem with which UK education is held in Brazil and the prioritisation of education on the Brazilian political and industrial agendas makes this an ideal time for Colleges to consider engagement with Brazil.
This mission will be valuable to Colleges that are interested in entering the Brazilian market and are in the early stages of exploration. It will provide an overview of the opportunities available to you as well as introductions to key contacts. The delegation will be of interest to Principals, Deputy and Vice Principals with responsibility for international or business development, International Directors and Managers.
Martin Doel (AoC’s Chief Executive) will lead the delegation with support from Ayesha Williams (AoC's International Charter and Policy Officer).
Please refer to the attached itinerary for details of the meetings organised. The itinerary may be subject to minor changes but this will not affect your travel and accommodation arrangements. We may organise additional meetings depending on the number of Colleges that participate and the areas of interest of these Colleges. Please also find the pre visit report attached for more information.
Itinerary for AoC College delegation to Brazil
In order to provide the most valuable experience for members, there are a maximum of 30 places on the delegation. Therefore, if you have not already done so, we suggest that you contact us as soon as possible to confirm your place. Please email both Ayesha Williams and Michelle Pozniak at AoC.
HTS Survey
Please find a summary of the results from the most recent AoC survey on Colleges' experience as Tier 4 sponsors. We are very grateful to all of you who found time to respond. The replies we received clearly capture Colleges concerns as they try to work with UKBA as T4 sponsors. The results will greatly help to inform and shape AoC's lobbying of UKBA and our work with Colleges in this area. If you want to any advice or support with immigration issues or if you have any further comments on the issues raised in the survey please contact John Mountford.
HTS Survey Summary
Skills Sector International Activity – A study of current UK engagement
Through PMI2 legacy funding, AoC in partnership with the British Council has commissioned research into the Skills Sector’s international activity. The report attached was launched this week at Ealing, Hammersmith and West London College and captures the breadth and depth of the sector’s international work. The research includes data on; the types of international activity Colleges and other Skills providers are engaged in, key markets, Curriculum focus, models, scale, drivers and constraints. The research will help all providers get a better feel for the sector’s international activity and where they can most effectively focus their overseas work. The research will also provide invaluable market intelligence to help inform our ongoing work with the UK VET International strategy. If you would like further information about the report please contact John Mountford or Marguerite Hogg.
Skills Sector International Activity - A study of current UK engagement, Research Report June 2012
UK Vocational Education and Training (VET) – Towards a Comprehensive Strategy for International Development
John Hayes addresses this week’s AoC International Conference, the core theme of his speech was his vision for a more strategic joined up approach for the FE sector’s international work. This coincides with the publication of the AoC led report; ‘UK Vocational Education and Training (VET) Towards a Comprehensive Strategy for International Development’ which sets out the components of a successful international strategy and the issues that need to be addressed as we go forward. The Minister spoke of the importance of the FE sector taking a joined up approach to international work that takes account of the whole breadth of the sector. He emphasised the need for international leadership and better co-ordinated action from government whilst learning lessons from competitors and HE in terms of supporting the sector over the long term. The report recognises that many organisations, public and private, have achieved substantial success in exporting goods and services and in providing excellent opportunities for international students in the UK but that this success has been uneven and that the ambition of an over-arching strategy will greatly add value to FE sector providers’ international activities. The primary means of achieving this aim is the development of a central support organisation for the full range of UK VET’s international work which will help support UK VET’s international ambitions and a brand under which UK suppliers and providers usually offer international services.
As we progress the strategy will be looking for further input from the sector and if you would like to comment on the report and next steps please contact John Mountford.
International Partnership Guide
AoC, in partnership with Eversheds, have produced a major new resource for Colleges in the form of a guide for International partnership work; ‘International Operations – A legal guide for Colleges’. The aim of this guide is to help inform the development of international strategy and to act as a route map for Colleges seeking to establish sustainable international partnerships that will help to maximise the benefits from international engagement whilst minimising the risks. Key themes of the guide include; international partnerships, the importance of international strategy, assessing risks and opportunities, responsibilities and structures. The chapters include; Planning an international project, Due diligence, Documenting the project, Staff and Student issues, Managing the project, What to do if things go wrong and Ending the partnership and beginning again. Appendices include a model due diligence questionnaire and country guides for some key international markets. The guide looks to cover all areas of Colleges’ international work including; student recruitment, overseas delivery, institutional partnerships and exchange programmes.
This is a free resource for Colleges which we hope will provide useful support as you grow and develop your international work. I’d like to thank the hard work of the steering group who gave invaluable insights which helped focus and inform the guide. I would also welcome any comments you would like to make to help us update and ensure the relevance of the guide.
UKIERI update and training workshops
British Council India recently put out a fresh call for proposals and travel grants through UKIERI to help UK and Indian institutions establish partnerships.
To support and promote the programme the British Council are currently running a series of pre-bid workshops around the country, more information is available on the UKIERI website.
These will be a good opportunity for all Colleges looking to develop links in India and learn more about the UKIERI process. If you want to learn more about UKIERI or India, please contact John Mountford.
Overseas student recruitment
The UK Border Agency (UKBA) implemented the Points Based System (PBS) for Tier 4 (student visas) on 1 April 2009, electronic offers in February 2010 and Highly Truster Sponsors status in April 2010. Colleges wishing to recruit students from outside the EU onto L3, 4 or 5 courses will need to obtain a sponsorship licence and Highly Trusted Sponsor status before they will be able to issue elctronic offers, known as Confirmations of Acceptance to Study.
You should apply to the UK Border Agency to obtain your sponsorship licence a soon as possible if you have not done so already. The UK Border Agency will aim to process applications within eight weeks.
Guidance on Tier 4 of the Points Based System is available on the UK Border Agency website. Guidance is subject to change as this area is under review.
Please read the paper below on recruitment of overseas students and workers for more details. Please get in touch with Robert Russell if you have any questions about the rules relating to visas and immigration.
AoC survey of Colleges and the recruitment of overseas students
AoC Overseas recruitment survey results
For rules on recruitment of overseas students and workers, please see the UKBA website.
British Council guidance on international recruitment
| First steps A pre-departure guide for international students | First steps A guide for educational institutions |
| Safety first |
