CARE – Canada India Education Council

CIEC & Agints.com Partnership Improves Education Agent transparency via Academic & Student Reviews

May 29, 2014March 27, 2020CIEC Author

The Canada India Education Council (CIEC) and Agints.com today announced a strategic alliance to bring transparency, integrity and accountability to the student recruitment market and enable Canadian colleges & universities, as well as students, to connect with reputable education agents via peer [academic] & student reviews of education agencies.

As part of its CARE Initiative (Canadian Academic Advisors Representing Excellence), CIEC conducts academic reference checks and now publicizes the CARE Agents’ average score in key areas on the CIEC website.  This allows academic institutions across Canada the means to conduct peer-reviews of education agents and solidifies CARE Agents’ commitment to ethical and quality student recruitment.

Agints.com is a new website providing student reviews of education agents as well as a listing of the institutions they represent, the professional bodies they belong to, and the industry qualifications that they hold.

“Both CIEC, through its CARE program, and Agints.com share very similar goals – we want to improve the quality and transparency of the services provided by education agents. It made perfect sense to team up.” said XXX of Agints.com

“By accessing academic and student reviews, education agents and students can accurately gauge CARE agents’ professionalism, ethical standards, and knowledge of the Canadian education system,” CIEC’s CEO Husain Neemuchwala said.

“We are excited about the partnership with Agints.com because it gives our CARE Agents (Agent Members) a way to promote their business and CARE membership more widely. It also benefits our Academic Members and other academic institutions across Canada.”

Visitors to agints.com – whether students or educational institutions – can easily search CARE Agents from the home page. Simply click on Browse by Professional Body, and then CARE. Agints.com, together with its partner sites, has a network of over 2,500 education agents and 1,200 colleges and schools all over the world. Agents, colleges and schools can register a free trial account – click here to get started.

Visitors to CanadaIndiaEducation.com can view a listing of CARE Agents and learn more about the simple & inclusive CARE process (CIEC Agent Membership – Enjoy a free pre-screening). Each agent profile displays the agent’s academic peer review scores and contains a link to their agints.com profile for student review scores, qualifications, and other information. CIEC is an independent national, non-partisan, event-driven organization operating within the Canada-India education corridor. CIEC enhances ties and creates opportunities for academic institutions and learners from both countries.

CIEC Sees Unprecedented Growth in 2013

August 26, 2013April 21, 2015Canada India Education Council (CIEC)

Source: CIEC

CIEC welcomes over 70 Canadian & Indian Associate Members (open to Canadian & Indian Academic Institutions) to CIEC’s membership ranks along with several new Academic Members & 4 new Agent Members (CARE):

Touchstone Educational
Singh Foundation
Western Overseas
Sophiya Consultants

The new Associate Membership Category and simplified, inclusive & budget-friendly CARE Process will allow members to network with each other and showcase themselves and their institutions in this vibrant and burgeoning education corridor by highlighting recent developments & new programs, engaging in dialogue on emerging opportunities, stimulating thought and discussing new initiatives and ideas in our monthly newsletter and live news portal ‘Disha’ which is read by over 19,000 academics and thought leaders from both countries. CIEC’s highly penetrative and potent network reaches academic champions from both countries, high level government representatives and policy makers, besides Colleges & Universities.

CIEC’s is also expanding its reach through the use of various social media outlets. These include:

Linkedin Group: Network of Canada-India Education Leaders and Stakeholders (over 300 Members)
Facebook Group: CIEC’s International Student Forum (over 300 Student Members)
Like us on Facebook (278 Likes)
Follow us on Twitter (256 Followers)
Join Us On LinkedIn (2361 Connections)

CIEC invites you to get involved today! www.CanadaIndiaEducation.com

CARE Now Overseen by the Distinguished Gaurav Verma

May 9, 2013April 21, 2015Canada India Education Council (CIEC)

CIEC welcomes Gaurav Verma, CIEC’s Project Coordinator, to the Executive Team. Gaurav is uniquely qualified to oversee CARE – CIEC’s Agent Membership category – contributing his vast experience of working with international students and in the Indian Agent market as well as valuable, active, working relations with over 40 ACCC colleges in Canada. Accredited to him is a unique method of working with the Sub Associate Network for the Indian Market keeping a student-centric approach to expand, generate, and maximize results. His knowledge of Education Management, International Student Recruitment, and Marketing has proven a valuable contribution to CIEC and will have a lasting effect on serving and assisting Canadian and Indian education stakeholders.

The much-lauded CARE Initiative is designed to bring transparency to the agent sector in India by promoting the CARE Standards. CARE is supported by CIEC’s member institutions, including Canadian Colleges & Universities, and is poised to soon become the benchmark in establishing standards for counselors and agents promoting Canadian education in India. CARE Recognition will be granted by an impartial and knowledgeable Membership Committee, comprised of academic experts representing 3 major Canadian Colleges as well as CIEC staff.

CARE serves as a cost-effective way for education agents to gain exposure, establish their credentials, and distinguish themselves in the exciting Canada-India education corridor. Agents wishing to strategically position themselves in an increasingly fierce and competitive international environment are invited to become an CARE Recognized Member of the Canada India Education Council.

For a full list of CARE benefits, click here.

You can contact Gaurav Verma at [email protected] to request an Application Form.

CIEC accepting CARE applications

December 31, 2012April 21, 2015Canada India Education Council (CIEC)

CARE agents enjoy many benefits. CIEC invites you to visit our website for a detailed overview of the CARE process and benefits.

Benefits include:

Use of the CARE logo, CARE certificate, and goodwill of the CIEC brand
Use of Toronto ‘Rep’ Office
Access to training provided by Department of Foreign Affiars (DFAIT) & attend CIEC webinars
Online exposure on our website & social media outlets and regular mentions in our email campaigns and ‘Disha’ newsletter, distributed to over 19 000 key education stakeholders in both countries
Reduced registration fee to our annual Synergy networking event and one-night FREE stay in Toronto
Student airport pickup (coming soon)
Grow your network while becoming part of an established network & gain recognition amongst Canadian Colleges & Universities
Membership fees range from $1500 to $2500 for a 3 year period and the approval process takes between 4 to 6 months. If you have any questions or comments, please direct them to [email protected].

We look forward to working with you in growing your brand while promoting ethical student recruitment in the burgeoning Canada-India education corridor.

Download the Application Form

Canada to Launch New CARE for Indians

December 5, 2012April 21, 2015Canada India Education Council (CIEC)

Charu Sudan Kasturi, Hindustan Times New Delhi, February 16, 2011

Thousands of Indian students applying to Canadian universities may no longer run the risk of a Tri-Valley University (TVU) repeat under a unique plan aimed at students concerned after recent instances of fraud abroad. The Canada India Education Council (CIEC), which coordinates educational ties between the two countries, plans to launch CARE, an agent certification process, this July ahead of the Fall 2011 academic session. Around 12,000 Indian students are currently studying in Canada.

Senior Canadian government officials have told HT that the Federal government is backing the initiative that it hopes will help Canada emerge an alternate destination for Indian students seeking to study abroad.

“Students in India are worried about studying abroad after the TVU scam and the recent instances of fraud and race attacks in Australia. We believe that if we pitch Canada appropriately, we can show Indian students that our country is a very attractive alternative,” a senior Canadian official said.

The CARE process will allow Indian students keen on studying in Canada to ensure that education agents are certified, CIEC Executive Director Husain F Neemuchwala said.

The CIEC-modeled on the lines of the United States India Education Foundation (USIEF)- is particularly critical for Indo-Canadian ties because Canada does not have a federal education department. Education is managed by each Province. The CIEC is an NGO, but is supported by the Canadian Government.

But Canada is keenly pushing its education as a major source of revenue- to be earned from foreign students. India at present falls behind China, the US, Mexico and a handful of other countries in the number of students it sends to Canada.

Agent certification launched in India: CIEC

November 5, 2012April 21, 2015Canada India Education Council (CIEC)

Source: thepienews.com

The Canada India Education Council (CIEC) has launched a certification programme that recognises quality and ethical practice among education agents involved in Canada-India exchange.

Indian Canadian Advisors Representing Excellence (CARE) is the only bespoke certification system of its kind and aims to establish rules on agent practice; increase accountability; and make it easier for Indian agents to find Canadian universities and colleges appropriate for their students through its membership database.

CEO of CIEC, Husain F. Neemuchwala, said: ”The time couldn’t be better with the tremendous activity back and forth in the Canada-India corridor over the past two or three years. While we have done a lot of good work promoting the corridor, much work still needs to be done to make sure we reach full potential.”

The certification process, aimed to certify agencies working with Canadian institutions, places high emphasis on transparency, requires agents to be upfront about hidden fees and consistent in how they represent themselves to students.

Agents are reported to have reacted positively to the system since launch, with 60 already hoping for certification once pilot tests are finished. However, Neemuchwala emphasises that CIEC is not aiming for rapid growth.

“Quality over quantity is the premise on which CARE was created. If not colleges and universities can Google [search] and look up agents themselves. The whole idea is to create a smaller number of validated and certified agents that we can stand behind,” he said.

CARE also promises institutions a streamlined recruitment process, greater exposure to the best of the Indian agency market, and information on student trends. Neemuchwala said, “As CARE gets more momentum, things will improve not just for specific colleges and university members but the industry in general. There are people who don’t like to use agents but this might change their minds.

“And for people who generally use agents but aren’t happy with their services, this might open doors to other options for them.”

The certification process takes between four to six months to complete and certification lasts two years. In that time agents can use the CARE promotional materials, will be listed on the CIEC website, and will gain greater access to CIEC member universities and colleges among other benefits.

Founded in 2010, CIEC is an event-driven, membership organisation. CARE is open to CIEC agent members at no cost and for a fee to non-members. The extent of non-member access to the comprehensive agent listings is yet to be determined.

Jupiter Study Abroad Consultants

September 17, 2012March 29, 2016Canada India Education Council (CIEC)

jup Jupiter Study Abroad Consultants now one of North India’s reputable international education consultancies. Jupiter Study Abroad Consultants has been helping Indian students to study abroad for over 13 years. Since 2001 we have established ourselves as reliable providers of education and career counseling services, while placing several hundred students in accredited colleges and universities around the world. We have PIER qualified counselors in our office. We offer students the choice of Universities, TAFE colleges and private college throughout Australia. Jupiter Study Abroad Consultants are a member of The Association of Australian Government making Jupiter Study Abroad Consultants one of the few agents in India who has e-Visa lodgment authority in the past.