The Observatory on Borderless Higher Education, The agent question: insights from students, universities and agents, The Observatory on Borderless Higher Education, 2014. Pages: 44

This report aims at tackling the agent debate with an evidence-based analysis, in the wave of the harsh debate between the widespread use of agents by prospective students and institutions, and the criticisms of abusive practices. Data on the characteristics and views of agents, and on the use and evaluation of agents by prospective students and education institutions – mainly universities and colleges – show that agents are a logical response to the dramatic rise in demand for higher education around the world, and for cross-border higher education in particular. It has been estimated that there are approximately 23,000 student recruitment agencies globally, ranging from single person businesses to multinational companies and the most of them are active in international recruitment, closing the geographical and cultural gap between students and institutions.