Page 12 - StudyTravel Magazine April 2024 Issue

AGENCY Q&A AGENCY OF THE

MONTH

INDUSTRY SPEAKS This month,

HelpCulture
Catherine Altarejose, President of the www.
International Education Consultants Alliance helpculture.
of the Philippines, talks about IECAP’s co.uk in the UK has been
inception and the importance of regulation. recommended by Abbey College
Malvern https://abbeycollege.co.uk/
in the UK. Millad Noor, Recruitment &
Short Course Manager at the school,
explains why.

Millad Noor

“I would love to
recommend Deborah Duncan from
www.iecap.ph HelpCulture. I originally met her at
info@iecap.ph ST Alphe Málaga 2023 and we have
caught up with each other at many
Number of members: 20 fairs ever since and she’s also come
Types of members: Outbound agencies in the Philippines to visit us in Malvern. Deborah is
always so kind and helpful when
she has enquiries for us and most
Firstly, tell us about IECAP and how it was founded. of her enquiries translate into
It was after the pandemic when a group convened and spoke about the bookings. Deborah is always looking
various challenges consultants were facing. We realised the needed to form for new ways to recruit students
an association to represent the industry as a whole and be able to speak with for us and is always very prompt to

different embassies, associations and schools abroad. respond to us.”
What has IECAP been up to in its inaugural year?

We had our first general assembly and oathtaking in August 2023, attended Deborah Duncan

by 17 members, plus representatives of different trade commissions, HelpCulture,
government offices related to studying abroad, press and other stakeholders. UK

The alliance presented the goals and programmes planned for the year. We’ve
organised monthly info sessions with different schools and colleges, as well “We are very pleased that

as scheduled training for members regarding visa applications for Australia, Helpculture has been
Canada and New Zealand. We also held our first education expo in Iloilo. recommended as Agency of the

Month, thanks to our collaboration
Describe the outbound market in the Philippines. with Abbey College in Malvern, and
There has been a huge increase in agencies after the pandemic. However, especially to our collaboration with
most, but not all, are misinformed of processes and requirements. There Millad Noor. In recent years, many
was an increase in visa refusal rates in 2023 for Canada and Australia due to Italian and Spanish students have
misinformation. IECAP needs to be more proactive in advocating for the right been able to experience the beauty
processes and documentation of agencies. As for market trends, Canada and of living in a boarding school in the
Australia grew in 2023. As for 2024, we are seeing a slight decrease in interest UK and understand life alongside
brought by the recent changes in immigration policies and requirements for students of lots of different

visa applications but we are seeing more quality applications. nationalities. Abbey College in
Malvern is located in the beautiful
Read more at: https://studytravel.network/magazine/issues/841 English countryside.”

APRIL 2024 9