Agent Quality Framework strengthened by new course for agencies

The British Council has unveiled a new course designed specifically for international education agencies that support UK education providers in recruiting overseas students. 

This agency management course aims to reinforce the UK Agent Quality Framework (AQF) by equipping senior agency staff with a solid understanding of the framework’s key principles. 

Through the course, the British Council will assess agency leaders and compliance managers on the core pillars of the AQF – which focus on empowering student choice, promoting informed decisions, robust governance, ethical conduct, and a commitment to transparency and accountability – ensuring these standards are embedded in everyday operations. 

The new training complements the existing ‘I am a UK certified counsellor’ course, which has already enabled the British Council to register over 38,000 counsellors across 120 countries. 

Learning resources will be made available on the British Council’s UK agent and counsellor training and engagement hub. The hub also features sector updates and a global calendar of online and in-person events for professionals supporting students who choose the UK for their studies. 

Access to the new course will be offered exclusively to major agencies that hold formal agreements with more than three education providers listed by the UK government list of institutions licensed to sponsor students under the Student and Child Student route. 

BUILA worked closely with the British Council to develop the agency management course alongside other sector partners, the UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA), and members of the AQF Agency Advisory Group such as IDP, StudyIn, AECC, Edvoy, and Applyboard. 

Jacqui Jenkins, Global Programme Lead for International Student Mobility and Marketing at the British Council, said: ‘Since December 2022, we have supported more than 17,000 agents and counsellors in guiding prospective students through vital decisions about their future. We are delighted to expand this support with the launch of the agency management course.’ 

Catriona McCarthy, Global Head of Student Mobility and Internationalisation of UK Education at the British Council, added: ‘The Immigration White Paper has underlined the critical role of the AQF. This new course demonstrates our ongoing commitment to working alongside AQF partners to strengthen the recruitment ecosystem and uphold the UK’s reputation as a leading study destination.’ 

If you meet the eligibility requirements for the course, you can request access on the British Council website.