FORGED TRANSCRIPTS AND FAKE ESSAYS: HOW UNSCRUPULOUS AGENTS GET CHINESE STUDENTS INTO U.S. SCHOOLS
Because many Chinese students have only basic knowledge of foreign universities and have trouble making sense of complicated applications, a huge industry of education agents has arisen in the country to help guide them and, in some cases, to do whatever it takes to get them accepted. This has created a thorny ethical dilemma in the U.S. While many American schools are elated by the influx of Chinese students as they’ve scrimped and saved to make ends meet in the economic downturn, some educators worry that the reliance of Chinese students on agents has led to some unintended and troubling consequences.
Source: Time
URL: http://world.time.com/2012/07/26/forged-transcripts-and-fake-essays-how-unscrupulous-agents-get-chinese-students-into-u-s-schools/?iid=tsmodule#ixzz21ipX9Mqi
Editor’s Note: Few Chinese families are willing to make the extremely important decision to send their child to an education institution based only on online materials or brochures – this is especially true for education institutions who do not have a top tier, widely trusted brand. Studies suggest that eighty percent of Chinese families sending their child abroad need a personal connection with an advisor who can help them understand their options and who can help them complete all of the required paperwork. As a result, for many international education institutions, agencies are an unavoidable element in the recruitment ecosystem in China. However, strong agency management practices can not only augment agency productivity but also somewhat diminish the risk of fraud. Toward the end of this year, GrokChina will be releasing a report on agency management best practices.
