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Education agents as competitiveness enhancers of Australian universities by internationalisation facilitation

Author

Listed:
  • Anirban Sarkar

    (The Centre of Excellence, Geelong, Australia)

  • Áron Perényi

    (Swinburne University of Technology, Australia)

Abstract

Objective: The objective of this paper is to explore the role of education agents as drivers of competitiveness of Australian Universities by facilitating internationalisation. Research Design & Methods: The paper presents an analysis of semi structured interviews from two international officers of Universities, an education officer with Victorian Government and an education agent with decades of experience. This set of primary data and a comprehensive literature review served as a stimulus for the investigating the role of education agent in the internationalisation of higher education. Findings: It is evident that the agents play an extremely vital role in the internationalisation process and the four key themes that are identified from the interviews are Market Knowledge, Network Facilitators, Financial Interest and Reliance and Trust factor. This is further supported from the analysis of the extant literature. Implications & Recommendations: The paper proposes several key concepts/themes that could be used to frame future investigations into the role of education agents in the internationalisation of higher education. The higher education providers should not neglect the importance of the knowledge that the education agent may offer for recruiting international students or even to establish an offshore operation. Contribution & Value Added: The originality of this work lies in finding the various themes which are essential to be looked at by the higher education providers in order to further utilise the potential of education agents in the internationalisation process.

Suggested Citation

  • Anirban Sarkar & Áron Perényi, 2017. "Education agents as competitiveness enhancers of Australian universities by internationalisation facilitation," Entrepreneurial Business and Economics Review, Centre for Strategic and International Entrepreneurship at the Cracow University of Economics., vol. 5(4), pages 61-89.
    • Handle: RePEc:krk:eberjl:v:5:y:2017:i:4:p:61-89
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Intermediary; education agents; higher education; internationalization; education export; international competitiveness; recruiting international students;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • Q56 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Environment and Development; Environment and Trade; Sustainability; Environmental Accounts and Accounting; Environmental Equity; Population Growth
    • Q20 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Renewable Resources and Conservation - - - General
    • Q32 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Nonrenewable Resources and Conservation - - - Exhaustible Resources and Economic Development

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