iCARE Standards
To apply to become an Agent Member, please contact us to request an Application Form or download one here.
iCARE Standards are standards set up to promote ethical and quality recruitment services for students and educational institutions across Canada. They serve as guidelines to measure a Candidate Agency’s eligibility for CIEC Membership. CIEC Personnel and Quality Assurance Reviewers may use materials submitted to CIEC, assessments, public and internal records, and staff, student and third party interviews as well as any other means available to them to gauge an agency’s compliance with the following iCARE Standards.
iCARE Candidates must either demonstrate that they abide by these standards or that they, while lacking in some regards, have dedicated themselves to complying with the iCARE Standards and are willing to make the necessary efforts.
Agencies that consider themselves deficient or would like to improve the quality of their services will find it beneficial to undergo the in-depth iCARE Process, gain access to CIEC resources such as training and share their experiences and pitfalls with CIEC and other iCARE Agents.
iCARE Standards will be reviewed on a periodic basis by the iCARE Executive Team and Membership Committee and may be modified to improve the iCARE Process and iCARE/CIEC brand.
iCARE Standards
Organization
- Mission is reflected in all Candidate Agency’s recruitment activities. It provides a framework for planning and management.
- Governance and Ownership is transparent and any changes are immediately reported to CIEC.
- Management is effective, as proven through the implementation of policies, procedures, and organizational structures that assist the recruitment agency in accomplishing its goals. Human Resources management is guided by principles of competency, reputation and ethics.
- Financial resources are optimized to provide quality services and meet goals.
Quality & Integrity
- Candidate Agency demonstrates thorough familiarity with the Canadian education system. Students are consistently provided current information regarding:
- Academic institutions, program offerings, academic prerequisites and admissions requirements such as language proficiency
- Scholarships and awards
- Tuition and fees
- Information regarding study permits and temporary visas & (non) immigration laws
- Estimate cost of health insurance, accommodation, travel and personal expenses
- Information on National, Provincial and institutional support services available for international students
- Rate of graduation, market demand by field and employment prospects
- Other matters of concern to international students such as transferability/portability.
- Marketing and advertising initiatives do not misrepresent the agency’s capabilities and past performance.
- History of conducting business in a transparent and unbiased manner with students, organizations, and academic institutions. It is unacceptable for an agency to claim a special relationship with immigration services, represent their services as mandatory or provide false information about academic institutions, national systems of education or immigration and other recruiting agencies.
- Candidate Agency accepts full responsibility for any actions of its staff and takes a proactive approach to preventing conflicts of interest. An effective and fair complaints processing mechanism ensures deficiencies can be isolated and corrected.
- Student services fees are transparent and fair. The recruitment agency has a transparent and publicized refund policy.
- Care is taken to make timely membership payments to CIEC and to avoid unauthorized use of CIEC/iCARE material or any College/Universities collateral.
Engagement with Students and Families
- Candidate Agency secures a written legal agreement with a potential student and their family regarding services expected and all fees. No unsupported guarantees or promises will be made.
- Student records and information is kept confidential unless written consent is obtained from the student, who has attained the age of majority.
- Parents will be included in all communications in cases where the student is a minor in that State or Provincial jurisdiction.
Engagement with Academic Institutions
- Candidate Agency will provide its services to accredited Canadian institutions, securing a written legal agreement encompassing roles and responsibilities as well as methods for assuring quality and contractual obligations.
- Relationship between the recruitment agency and institution will be characterized by transparency, regular communications, a high degree of professionalism, respect for confidentiality and attention to accuracy.