QA Higher Education pledges to support the Agent Quality Framework

QA Higher Education has pledged to follow the UK Higher Education Sector’s commitment to the UK Quality Framework (AQF), which was launched in 2023 together with the National Code of Ethical Practice, a charter that has been designed to promote shared best practice in agent management including robust training and standardised processes.

This comprises of free agent and counsellor training together with resources to help and support our Education Agents to better understand the UK education system and the UK as an international study destination. This recognises the important role that agents and counsellors play in attracting and supporting international students wishing to study in the UK.

Mona Jakhu, our Head of Shared Services and Agency Management explains “We acknowledge and appreciate how hard Education Agents work to recruit and support students to come to the UK to study. The AQF builds on the training and support we provide agents to ensure that our activities are aligned with the sector. This AQF is welcomed to ensure we have a consistent student-centred approach with our agency partners.”

We caught up with Nick Miller, our Chief Commercial Officer and Catriona McCarthy, Director for Global Engagement at Ulster University and Chair of BUILA, at the PIE Live event in London for their thoughts. Nick explains “Our agent network are key partners for growth at QA and our University partners. We are pleased to align with the sector, working with UK universities and BUILA by pledging to support the UK Agent Quality Framework. This underscores a collaborative effort to maintain standards and enhance best practices in student recruitment and reflects a proactive stance towards transparency, integrity, and excellence in higher education.”

Catriona McCarthy adds “I’m delighted to welcome QA Higher Education to the growing community of UK Education institutions who have pledged commitment to the AQF. As an organisation with substantial global reach, their contribution to ensuring the protection of quality and standards will be invaluable.”

You can read more about the framework and codes of practice through the below links:

• The National Code of Ethical Practice for UK Education Agents
• The Good Practice Guide for UK Education Agents Partnering for Quality
• Student Guide to Choosing an Education Agent