Recruitment Agents in International Higher Education: An Ambivalent Actor

Abstract

This paper examines the ambivalent role of international student recruitment agents in the rapid internationalization of higher education in Georgia. Drawing on national statistics and 34 in-depth interviews with academic staff and administrators from public and private universities, the study analyzes how recruitment agents have become central intermediaries in attracting international students, particularly to private medical programs. While agents facilitate access to higher education by providing linguistic, cultural, and procedural support—especially for students with limited social capital—their commission-based model also introduces significant ethical and academic risks. The Georgian case illustrates how recruitment practices can become highly commercialized in contexts of limited regulation, prioritizing volume and revenue over academic fit and quality assurance. The paper further discusses the implications for emerging education hubs in Central Asia, notably Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, where similar dynamics are unfolding. It argues for nuanced, student-centered governance frameworks that recognize recruitment agents as indispensable yet risky actors in international higher education.