Introduction of Hobsons' Direct Student Recruitment Services, International Student Service Center, and International Counselor Network
May 27, 2009
NAFSA: Association of International Educators is pleased to expand its long-standing and unique relationship with Hobsons on the publication of their USA Education Guides into a new and complementary area with the announcement of the Hobsons Direct Student Recruitment Services, International Student Service Center and International Counselor Network. As the leading professional association in the field of international education, NAFSA views Hobsons' Direct Student Recruitment Services as a comprehensive model that can complement other international student recruitment strategies already being used by U.S. higher education institutions.
Hobsons' work consistently reflects its strong commitment to supporting the field of international education and exchange with excellent products and services, and NAFSA is confident that Hobsons will continue to offer valuable resources to international educators that are grounded in a commitment to serving the needs of students.
NAFSA is delighted to share the following information about Hobsons' new services:
In many countries, students rely on third parties to assist them in preparing to study overseas. Hobsons has chosen to engage and professionalize this market with the introduction of its International Counselor Network and seeks to guarantee that students' decisions to study in the United States are well-informed and their application experiences positive. Hobsons' unique approach to third-party recruitment requires counselors selected to participate in the program to honor comprehensive standards and provides access to ongoing training and support provided by Hobsons. An advisory board, selected by Hobsons and comprised of NAFSA members who are expert in international student recruitment, will provide input into standards and training. Hobsons believes this International Counselor Network will offer unequaled, comprehensive counseling to students - free of charge to them - and is excited about this opportunity to support the needs of more students than ever before.
In addition to reaching students through a variety of channels, Hobsons believes that actively connecting with students throughout the recruitment and application process and providing them with all of the tools necessary to select the right university is vital to increasing the international student population in the United States. Through the International Student Service Center, Hobsons will manage international student inquiries on behalf of its college and university customers to qualified applicants and drive enrollments. Students will receive accurate, timely responses to questions, which will improve their inquiry and application experience while freeing up college and university resources to focus on higher touch student interaction, international education strategy, and engagement with current students and alumni.
Resources made available to students and counselors through both the International Counselor Network and the International Student Service Center will be reviewed by the Hobsons Advisory Board to ensure that they adhere to the highest standards of quality and excellence and best practices in international student recruitment. Through the introduction of these services, Hobsons is building on the valuable resources it already provides to international students seeking to study in the United States and leveraging new methods of engaging internationally mobile students. These services provide practical and accurate information and, importantly, generate excitement about opportunities for study in the United States. Hobsons and NAFSA hope that products and services like this will encourage more globally mobile students around the world to choose to study in the United States and will expand opportunities for all students to gain the skills and experiences that are so valuable to global citizenship in today's interconnected world.
