Fighting back Fraud: Ensuring Integrity in Internationalization

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Fighting back Fraud Ensuring Integrity in
Internationalization

• NAFSA Baltimore 2004
• Friday, May 28
• (930am 1045am)

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Presentation copies available at
Fighting back Fraud Insuring Integrity in
Internationalization

• www.higher-edge.com/presentations.htm

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Fighting back Fraud Insuring Integrity in
Internationalization

• Mel Broitman, Higher-Edge, Dubai, UAE
• Rubeena Hoodbhoy, RMT, Pakistan
• Kim Moore, University of Windsor, Canada
• Robert Romano, Citizenship and Immigration Canada
  (CIC), New York, USA

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Mel Broitman (Managing Director, Higher-Edge,
Dubai, UAE)
Fighting back Fraud Insuring Integrity in
Internationalization

• Leading Intl education strategists.
• Publications (www.higher-edge.com)
• 100 trips to Asia.
• South Asia specialist.
• Published in South Asia 100 times.
• Regular meetings/consultations with institutions
  govt officials.

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Rubeena Hoodbhoy (CEO, RMT, Pakistan)
Fighting back Fraud Insuring Integrity in
Internationalization

• Education Consultant since 1986.
• RMT most respected brand in Pakistan.
• Leader in academic/financial document
  verification.
• Associations with 25 institutions in Australia,
  U.K. and Canada.

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Kim Moore (Asst to Vice-Provost/RegistrarUnivers
ity of Windsor, Canada)
Fighting back Fraud Insuring Integrity in
Internationalization

• International education specialist since 1998.
• Expert in academic assessment for dozen plus
  Asian countries.
• University of Windsor has leading Canadian intake
  of intl students from South Asia.

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Robert Romano (Citizenship and Immigration
Canada, CIC)
Fighting back Fraud Insuring Integrity in
Internationalization

• Currently Immigration Consul at Canadian
  Consulate in New York city.
• Worked abroad for 35 years.
• Postings include India, Kenya, Philippines,
  Yugoslavia, United Kingdom, Trinidad, Mexico and
  the United States.
• Keenly familiar with Student Visa application
  process.

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Student Visa fraudwhat is it ?
Fighting back Fraud Insuring Integrity in
Internationalization

• Misrepresentation.
• Illegal entry.
• Abuse of educational access mechanisms.

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Student Visa fraud.WHY ???
Fighting back Fraud Insuring Integrity in
Internationalization

• Obtain entry illegally when legal means are more
  difficult or unlikely.
• Its easy to attempt.
• It costs little.
• Academic institutions are often easy marks.

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Intl Education Commercialism
Fighting back Fraud Insuring Integrity in
Internationalization

• Intl students Money, Revenues.
• Floating entry standards.
• Programs to fit market niches.
• Private providers of education.

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Universities, Colleges, SchoolsResponsibilities
???
Fighting back Fraud Insuring Integrity in
Internationalization

• Invitation ?
• Awareness ?
• Sophistication ?
• Due Diligence ?
• Verification ?
• Follow up ?

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Role of Agents
Fighting back Fraud Insuring Integrity in
Internationalization

• Explosion in numbers due to opportunity to feed
  the growing demand.
• Questionable standards for accurate
  representations.
• Capture institution clients looking for easy
  access to intl student monies.
• Represent student clients looking to do whats
  necessary.
• Motivated to bend representations to collect
  service fees.

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Visa OfficeConcerns
Fighting back Fraud Insuring Integrity in
Internationalization

• Representations of applicant.
• Motivations of applicant.
• Potential abuses by applicant.
• Motivations of institution.
• Sophistication of institution.
• Role of agent.

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The Challenge
Fighting back Fraud Insuring Integrity in
Internationalization

• Ensure access to bona-fide students.
• Focus resources on legitimate candidates.
• Maintain integrity of admissions.
• Avoid being an easy mark.
• Recruit responsibly.

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Importance of Integrity
Fighting back Fraud Insuring Integrity in
Internationalization

• Fairness.
• Legal implications.
• Moral responsibility.
• Reputation.

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PAKISTANIntl Education Environment
Fighting back Fraud Insuring Integrity in
Internationalization

• World-class education opportunities at home are
  limited.
• Acceptance of foreign education/opportunities.
• U.K. overwhelmingly leading destination for
  study-abroad.

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PAKISTANThe marketplace
Fighting back Fraud Insuring Integrity in
Internationalization

• U.K. dominated. Reportedly 7,000 visas in 2003.
• U.S. continues to slide as destination.

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PAKISTANStudent motivations
Fighting back Fraud Insuring Integrity in
Internationalization

• Superior education opportunities.
• Work during/after studies.
• For returning students foreign degree results
  in better job prospects.
• Establish residency abroad.
• Underground

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PAKISTANAgent Reliability
Fighting back Fraud Insuring Integrity in
Internationalization

• Dozens of agencies.
• Erratic professional standards.
• Source of fraudulent documents.
• Exploitation.

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PAKISTANFraud issues and examples
Fighting back Fraud Insuring Integrity in
Internationalization

• Academic document fraud.
• Language testing fraud.
• Financial document fraud.
• Agents from jail to back to business.
• Work experience misrepresentation.

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PAKISTANBeating back abuse. What to do.
Fighting back Fraud Insuring Integrity in
Internationalization

• Due diligence on relationships.
• Check documents.
• Follow up with students.
• No refund policies (in home country).
• Realistic approach to the market.
• Awareness of visa policies.

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University of WindsorInternationalization with
Integrity
Fighting back Fraud Insuring Integrity in
Internationalization

• 14,000 students. 1,600 international. Among
  highest percentage (approx 12) in Canada, and
  likely highest who originate from outside North
  America.
• Leaders in Canada for students from India,
  Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nigeria.

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University of WindsorApproach to intl
recruitment
Fighting back Fraud Insuring Integrity in
Internationalization

• Constant overseas presence.
• Interview all applicants.
• Verify documentation.
• Total buy-in. No end-arounds.

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University of WindsorResponsible Recruitment
Fighting back Fraud Insuring Integrity in
Internationalization

• No representatives engaged outside the
  Universitys own Outreach Office initiative.
• Regular travel and presence abroad.
• Follow-up, tracking mechanisms.
• Only a handful of no-shows/refugee claimants of
  2,000 new intl students since 1998.

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University of WindsorUniversity Buy-in
Fighting back Fraud Insuring Integrity in
Internationalization

• President, Vice-Presidents, Registrar.
• Joint Vision.
• Commitment to necessary resources.
• Allow experts to handle requests.
• Non-interference.

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University of WindsorScreening/Filtering
mechanisms
Fighting back Fraud Insuring Integrity in
Internationalization

• All inquiries forwarded to central office for
  follow up.
• All follow ups done in person.
• Non bona-fides are self-filtering, or filtered
  out by in-person screening.

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University of WindsorProtecting students
Fighting back Fraud Insuring Integrity in
Internationalization

• Identifying bona fide strengthens applicant pool.
• Build confidence with visa offices.
• Protect academic integrity.

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University of WindsorInsuring long-term
Internationalization
Fighting back Fraud Insuring Integrity in
Internationalization

• Established in-house expertise.
• Feel-good factor among university community.
• International seen as positive.
• University seen as role model/example.

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RECOGNIZING REALITYGovt perspective
Fighting back Fraud Insuring Integrity in
Internationalization

• Intl education is positive (ideas, shared
  experiences, developing understanding, revenues,
  trade)
• Application/admissions to overseas institutions
  is a route to legal (and illegal) entry.
• Illegal attempts depend upon the source country
  and circumstances.

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VISA OFFICEChallenges
Fighting back Fraud Insuring Integrity in
Internationalization

• Volume.
• Pressures.
• Tactics.
• Support from institutions.

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AT STAKE
Fighting back Fraud Insuring Integrity in
Internationalization

• Education opportunities.
• Revenues, trade, future ties.
• Security

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GOVT INSTITUTIONSWorking together
Fighting back Fraud Insuring Integrity in
Internationalization

• Recognizing each others realities.
• Recognizing on-the-ground realities.
• Assisting mutual understanding.
• Follow-up, tracking, feedback, reporting.
• Share information.

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Presentation copies available at
Fighting back Fraud Insuring Integrity in
Internationalization

• www.higher-edge.com/presentations.htm

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Higher-Edge publications
Fighting back Fraud Insuring Integrity in
Internationalization

• Not-So-Foreign
• Overseas, Overwhelmed
• Eye-On Media Service
• (China, India, West Africa)
• Insight, On-site
• (China India)

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