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Educational agents and international student recruitment: a UKVI compliance perspective
π·οΈ From Β£90
π§ Admissions, deputies, bursars, senior leaders
π Online
π₯ Watch live or on catch
β
Included in BSA CPD Pass
Course outline:
OverviewΒ
The use of educational agents is wellΒ establishedΒ within the internationalΒ schoolsΒ sector and continues to playΒ an important roleΒ in supporting student recruitment. However, UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) has increased its focus on the oversight of agent relationships andΒ remainsΒ clear that Student sponsor licence holdersΒ retainΒ full responsibility for compliance with their sponsor duties, regardless of any delegated recruitment activity.Β
As scrutiny of international recruitment practices continues to evolve, schools must be able toΒ demonstrateΒ effective governance, due diligence, and ongoing monitoring of agent relationships. ThisΒ webinarΒ will explore UKVI’s current expectations, recent developments affecting Student sponsors, and the practical steps schools can take to mitigate compliance risks whileΒ maintainingΒ productive recruitment partnerships.Β
Drawing on real-life examples and emerging areas of concern, the session willΒ provideΒ practical guidance onΒ identifyingΒ potential red flags,Β evidencingΒ appropriate oversight, and preparing for UKVI compliance activity.Β
Learning outcomesΒ
By the end of thisΒ webinar, delegates will be able to:Β
- Understand UKVI’s expectations regarding the use and oversight of educational agents
- Identify key compliance risks associated with agent relationships
- Implement effective due diligence, monitoring, and record-keeping practices Β
- Demonstrate appropriate oversight of agent activities to meet sponsor dutiesΒ Β
- Prepare for UKVI scrutiny of agent relationships during compliance activity.Β Β
Topics coveredΒ
- Sponsor responsibility and accountabilityΒ Β
- UKVI’s current position and areas of focusΒ Β
- The Agent Quality Framework (AQF)Β Β
- Agent due diligence and monitoringΒ Β
- Governance, oversight, and record-keepingΒ Β
- Common compliance concerns and red flagsΒ Β
- Preparing for UKVI compliance visits.Β
Who should attend?Β
- Admissions and international recruitment staffΒ
- Compliance and visa sponsorship leadsΒ
- Heads, deputy heads, and senior leadersΒ
- Bursars and business managersΒ
- Existing Student sponsor licence key personnelΒ
- Governors with responsibility for international strategy, risk, or compliance.
This event will be held jointly with:
Speaker:
Kate Hollyer, Director of BSA Legal
Kate advises independent day and boarding schools on the immigration law governing their international student recruitment. She leads the legal function across Abitas Group, heads its SRA-regulated practice BSA Legal, and has practised in UK immigration law for over 15 years.
Her work covers Student sponsor licence compliance at senior leadership and governance level, and she acts for schools facing UKVI enforcement action. For schools sponsoring under-18s, immigration compliance is safeguarding, and much of her practice sits where sponsor duties and safeguarding frameworks meet. She has lived in boarding schools throughout her career.
Kate represents the school sector on the Home Office’s Future Border and Immigration System (FBIS) Education Advisory Group and the UK Agent Quality Framework Steering Group, and the boarding sector at the All-Party Parliamentary Group for International Students. She is a qualified solicitor and a member of ILPA.
