INTERNATIONAL ENROLLMENt management
Starts at AIRC
Our Members
AIRC (pronounced "air-sea") is a dynamic network of accredited educational institutions, service providers, and student recruitment agencies that seek to promote standards-based international
student recruitment and enrollment practices.
#wearehereforyou
AIRC PROMOTES ETHICAL, STANDARDS-BASED INTERNATIONAL enrollment strategies.
As a leader in the field of international enrollment management, AIRC develops and provides essential resources, services, and programs for its 400+ members to advance their recruitment goals and adhere to standards. AIRC is a 501(c)(3) membership association and a Standards Development Organization (SDO) registered with the U.S. Department of Justice and the Federal Trade Commission.
OUR EXPERTISE
- Professional Development
- International Enrollment Management Resources
- Educational Agency Certification
- Conferences and Events
- Advocacy for the Sector
- Networking and Partnerships
Current & Upcoming Events
Latest News
International student recruitment has changed dramatically over the past decade. Institutions are facing increasing enrollment pressures, heightened global competition, and a student journey that has become more complex than ever. At the same time, education agents have evolved from simple recruitment channels to trusted advisors who often influence some of the most important decisions a student and their family will make. As a result, institutions are rethinking how they engage with and manage their agent networks. The conversation is no longer just about finding agents. It's about building strategic, transparent partnerships that drive quality outcomes for students and institutions alike. Agents Are More Than Recruiters For many students, an education agent is their first point of contact with international higher education. Agents help students navigate unfamiliar admission requirements, compare institutions, understand credential requirements, and confidently pursue study opportunities abroad. For institutions, agents provide valuable local expertise and market presence that would otherwise require significant time and investment to develop. This growing reliance on agents is reflected across the sector. More institutions are embracing agent partnerships as an essential part of their international recruitment strategy, recognizing that agents provide access to markets, relationships, and insights that can be difficult to replicate through institutional efforts alone. But as agent networks expand, so does the need for effective management. Managing Risk Is Now Part of the Job As agent utilization continues to grow, institutional leaders are facing increased expectations around oversight and accountability. Students, families, regulators, and institutions all expect greater transparency in how recruitment partnerships operate. That means institutions must have visibility into agent performance, recruitment practices, training completion, and compliance activities. Simply signing a contract and hoping for the best is no longer enough. Today's institutions need structured processes that allow them to evaluate partnerships regularly, identify opportunities for improvement, and ensure agents are representing their institution accurately and ethically. Technology Is Changing the Way Institutions Manage Agents As agent networks become larger and more geographically dispersed, spreadsheets and email chains are no longer sufficient for managing relationships effectively. Platforms such as The JADE App are helping institutions centralize agent onboarding, training, due diligence, contracts, engagement, and performance monitoring within a single environment. The platform was designed to provide institutions with greater visibility and oversight while helping agents access training, resources, documentation, and partnership information more efficiently. Recognizing the growing need for connected systems across international recruitment and admissions, Educational Credential Evaluators (ECE) recently partnered with JADE: The Agent Operating System for Higher Education. The partnership is built on a shared belief that recruitment, admissions, credential evaluation, agent engagement, compliance, and student support have become increasingly interconnected, yet are often managed through fragmented processes and systems. Through this collaboration, ECE and JADE are exploring ways to help institutions, agents, and admissions teams work together through more structured digital infrastructure. By bringing credential evaluation and agent management into a more connected ecosystem, institutions can create greater efficiency, improve collaboration, and deliver a more seamless experience for both students and recruitment partners. The Future of Agent Management The institutions seeing the greatest success with education agents share one common trait: they view agents as long-term partners, not transactional vendors. They establish clear expectations. They monitor performance. And they leverage technology to scale relationships without sacrificing oversight. As international student mobility continues to evolve, agent management will become an increasingly important differentiator between institutions that simply recruit internationally and those that build sustainable, high-performing global enrollment strategies. Because in today's recruitment landscape, success isn't determined by the size of your agent network. It's determined by how well you manage it. By Kimberly Hajec, Client Solutions Director Educational Credential Evaluators
A new benchmarking report provides timely insights into how U.S. institutions are evolving international recruitment partnerships amid growing market pressures. DENVER, CO, July 28, 2026 – AIRC: The Association of International Enrollment Management recently announced the release of its Institutional Survey on Agency Commission Models, a benchmarking report examining how U.S. secondary schools, colleges, universities, and English language programs structure and manage commission agreements with international student recruitment agencies. Based on responses from 61 institutions across 26 states, the survey offers an in-depth look at the policies, practices, and emerging trends shaping agency partnerships during a period of significant change in global student mobility. As institutions face increased competition for international students, budget constraints, and evolving enrollment strategies, the survey provides valuable data to help international enrollment leaders evaluate their agency relationships, benchmark commission practices, and strengthen transparent, ethical recruitment partnerships. "The international enrollment landscape continues to evolve rapidly, making it more important than ever for institutions to make informed, strategic decisions about their agency partnerships," said Clay Harmon, Executive Director at AIRC. "This report gives the field meaningful benchmarking data while highlighting the growing sophistication of agency management practices across U.S. education." Among the report's key findings: Most institutions use a standardized commission model, often incorporating tiered or escalator structures tied to agency performance. Commission management is typically centralized within international admissions and finance offices. Fixed-fee and net-tuition commission models are replacing traditional gross-tuition percentage models, with the most common structures being 15% of net tuition or fixed payments between $2,000 and $3,500 per enrolled student. Institutions are investing more heavily in agent communication, training, and relationship management, while continuing to prioritize in-country engagement with recruitment partners. Despite growing operational complexity, many institutions continue to manage agency partnerships with relatively limited staffing and resources. The survey also identifies several important challenges facing institutions, including uncertainty around competitive commission rates, increased use of performance-based incentives, and the need to balance financial sustainability with maintaining strong recruitment partnerships. Survey respondents represented a broad cross-section of the U.S. education sector, including four-year colleges and universities, secondary schools, postgraduate institutions, community colleges, and intensive English programs. Nearly 60% of participating institutions enroll fewer than 5,000 full-time equivalent students, reflecting the experiences of the small- and mid-sized institutions that make up much of the international education landscape. Sixty-two percent of respondents were current AIRC members, indicating a strong emphasis on governance, compliance, and quality assurance. AIRC’s Institutional Survey on Agency Commission Models is intended to serve as a practical resource for international enrollment management professionals seeking to benchmark their practices, strengthen agency relationships, and support ethical, student-centered recruitment. To learn more about the survey and access the full report, visit https://www.airc-education.org/research-and-reports. About AIRC: The Association of International Enrollment Management AIRC: The Association of International Enrollment Management is a 501(c)(3) non-profit membership association recognized by the U.S. Department of Justice and the Federal Trade Commission as a Standards Development Organization (SDO). AIRC champions the interests of international students, educational institutions, and educational agencies through the development of professional standards and partnerships that advance effective and strategic practices in international enrollment management. Contact: Clay Harmon, Executive Director AIRC: The Association of International Enrollment Management +1 240-547-6400 Clay.Harmon@airc-education.org
International student recruitment is evolving rapidly. Across major destination countries, policy updates, visa reforms, compliance expectations, and shifting student priorities are reshaping how institutions engage with prospective students around the world. For universities and colleges, these changes present both challenges and opportunities. Success increasingly depends on working with trusted recruitment partners that understand local markets, embrace technology, and prioritize student success. At Study Info Centre , we have seen these changes firsthand. Since our establishment in 2019, we have worked with students, recruitment partners, and institutions across South Asia and emerging international markets. Through this experience, one thing has become clear: sustainable international recruitment is no longer about volume alone. It is about quality, transparency, and long term outcomes. The New Reality of International Recruitment Students today are better informed than ever before. They research institutions extensively, compare study destinations, evaluate graduate outcomes, and seek clear information about costs, career opportunities, and student support services. At the same time, governments and education providers have increased their focus on compliance, student suitability, and the integrity of international education programs. As a result, institutions are placing greater importance on recruitment partners that can help identify suitable students, maintain high ethical standards, and provide accurate guidance throughout the student journey. Why Quality Matters More Than Ever The most successful recruitment strategies focus on attracting students who are academically prepared, financially capable, and genuinely committed to their educational goals. At Study Info Centre , our approach emphasizes careful student assessment, document verification, compliance reviews, and ongoing student support. By focusing on quality from the beginning of the recruitment process, institutions can improve student outcomes while reducing unnecessary risks. This approach benefits everyone involved, including students, institutions, and recruitment partners. The Growing Role of Technology Technology is becoming an increasingly important part of international student recruitment. Recognizing this shift, Study Info Centre has invested significantly in building its own technology infrastructure. Our in house IT team develops and manages proprietary systems designed to improve efficiency, communication, and transparency throughout the recruitment process. Our partner portal helps streamline application management, document tracking, and institutional communication. We have also developed an AI powered interview preparation platform that helps students better understand their chosen course, institution, and study destination while preparing for university credibility interviews and visa assessments. These tools are not designed to replace human guidance. Instead, they enhance the support provided by counselors and admissions teams, helping students become better informed and better prepared. South Asia Continues to Present Strong Opportunities South Asia remains one of the most important regions for international student recruitment. Through our operations in Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Kenya, and the Philippines, we continue to see strong demand for internationally recognized qualifications, industry relevant programs, and institutions that provide clear pathways to career development. At the same time, student expectations are changing. Students increasingly seek practical learning experiences, employability outcomes, industry engagement, and strong support services throughout their studies. For institutions seeking long term growth, understanding these evolving expectations is essential. As Study Info Centre continues its expansion into India and Southeast Asia, we see significant opportunities for institutions looking to diversify their recruitment markets while maintaining a strong focus on quality and compliance. Building Sustainable Partnerships Strong recruitment outcomes are built on strong partnerships. Institutions benefit most when recruitment agencies operate as genuine strategic partners rather than simply application generators. Open communication, shared goals, transparent processes, and a commitment to student success create a foundation for long term growth. At Study Info Centre, we view every institutional partnership as a long term relationship. Our objective is not only to support enrollment growth but also to contribute to positive student experiences and successful educational outcomes. Looking Ahead The international education sector will continue to evolve, and regulatory environments will undoubtedly change. However, the principles that underpin successful recruitment remain constant: integrity, transparency, innovation, and student success. By combining market expertise, technology driven solutions, and a commitment to ethical recruitment practices, institutions and recruitment partners can continue to create meaningful opportunities for students around the world. At Study Info Centre , we remain committed to supporting institutions as they navigate this changing landscape and build sustainable international recruitment strategies for the future.
