Recently I read an article published in the Inside Higher Ed, April 30, 2012 edition regarding a new ethics code for agents. What made this article so intriguing to me was the fact that countries other than the United States face some of the same challenges education.

Australia, Britain, Ireland and New Zealand just released a document referred to as the London Statement. This document was finally introduced after two years of discussion among many countries, the United States being one of them. The reason for such a code is to provide reciprocity of protection to foreign students that travel to countries to pursue their education.

The statement outlines how business should be conducted in the educational arena. In reading the article I was amazed that the London Statement mirrored some of the most controversial topics covered by the Program Integrity Rules. The document includes seven principles such as ethical behavior, transparency, providing current and accurate information, consumer protections (especially for minors), act with professionalism and ensure accuracy and integrity of the contract in writing. The principle that really caught my attention was that “Agents and consultants provide current and up-to-date information that enables international students to make informed choices when selecting which agent or consultant to employ.”

The next step for the countries that have endorsed the London Statement is to present the document to other countries that recruit internationally and have them ascribe to the code as well. This is not a going to be a smooth process because there is some controversy surrounding commission based pay for recruitment that will need to be ironed out.

At the end of the day, it is nice to see that “Doing the Right Thing” is a global initiative.

Read more about the London Statement and share your thoughts.