THE Student is pleased to today announce the launch of the THE Student Supplier Directory, a unique one-stop-shop for international students to discover and select companies that provide vital services and support as they prepare to study abroad.
Featuring a list of 2,000+ suppliers carefully curated by THE Student, the Supplier Directory covers 30+ different services, from consultants and agents to visa applications and language learning. Students using the directory can select and engage with suppliers whenever they need support across their journey into international study, with no commitment.
The THE Student Supplier Directory launch follows the release of a recent survey demonstrating a clear need for greater transparency and information when it comes to making choices about using education agents. Published in May 2021, the THE Student International Student Recruitment Survey of 3,039 prospective students around the world found that among respondents who had at least some knowledge of education agents and what they offer, just 44% stated they would know how to find out which agents have good reputations, with 57% believing agents may be biased towards certain universities and 52% believing agents are primarily interested in making money for themselves. In total, 85% of prospective students did not know much about agents or would not be able to find out those that had a good reputation.
All suppliers selected by THE Student feature in the directory for free, and benefit from exposure to THE’s annual audience of over 15 million prospective international students. For suppliers looking to enhance their profile in the directory, there are a range of benefits as well as additional exposure – including exclusive insights from THE Student’s “Student Pulse” community panel, newsletters, VIP invitations to THE events and exclusive industry webinars.
Patrick Hayes, Chief Development Officer with responsibility for THE Student commented:
“All too often prospective international students tell us that they discover study abroad suppliers by word of mouth, and we know from our extensive research with our student community panel that they do not know where best to find out about suppliers’ accreditations or compare them side-by-side with others.
“The THE Student Supplier Directory is our attempt to respond to the needs of students, by compiling an extensive list of suppliers from the prospective student ecosystem around the world and providing a transparent database for those looking to get support for their journey into international study. We have created it to help those on the road to studying abroad make informed, clear and sensible choices for one of the most important decisions of their lives.
Rachel Burgon, Co-founder of Student Central, an innovative new platform to simplify the UK university application process for international students and listed on the THE Student Suppliers Directory, said:
“We are delighted to be a part of this exciting new initiative from THE Student. Both our brands are driven by a shared drive to empower international students by promoting transparency and student choice.
“Studying abroad is a big decision but it can feel overwhelming as there are so many sources of information. The THE Student Supplier Directory is an important step in helping simplify the process, empowering students when it comes to finding the right university options and providing support throughout the student journey.”
To enquire about how to feature in the THE Student Supplier Directory, visit: https://www.timeshighereducation.com/student/suppliers-directory-entry or speak to THE’s Student Suppliers Manager, Robert Harries: robert.harries@timeshighereducation.com
***ENDS***
NOTES FOR EDITORS:
ABOUT THE STUDENT
THE Student is a dynamic new digital platform connecting millions of prospective international students and parents to the universities, data and services they need to make one of the biggest decisions of their lives – who to trust with their education. Part of Times Higher Education (THE), THE Student is a vital resource from initial search to first day on campus and beyond, providing a lively mix of engaging content, virtual events and festivals, essential tools and useful tips. www.timeshighereducation.com/student
ABOUT THE THE STUDENT INTERNATIONAL STUDENT RECRUITMENT SURVEY
Published in May 2021 the THE Student International Student Recruitment Survey asked 3,039 prospective students for their views on the impact of Covid-19 on their study decisions, online learning, education agents and where they look for information to inform their decisions. The breakdown of respondents by region was as follows:
|
Continent |
Student ‘Home Continent’ |
Student Intended Study Destination |
|
Asia |
38% |
9% |
|
Africa |
20% |
1% |
|
Europe |
17% |
44% |
|
North America |
9% |
35% |
|
South America |
4% |
0.5% |
|
Oceania |
3% |
6% |
The survey was undertaken by THE Student utilising THE Student Pulse, their new in-house global research panel of international students, with data collected in April 2021.
ABOUT THE
THE is the trusted global data partner for higher education. With five decades of expertise in the sector, 30 million unique website users in 2020 and more institutions participating in our flagship university rankings than any other major provider, we draw on millions of individual data points to offer deeper and richer insight into global university performance than anyone else. From powerful data-driven insights and strategic consultancy support to agenda-setting events and hiring solutions, our products and services enable everyone in higher education to make smarter, more informed decisions.
www.timeshighereducation.com
MEDIA ENQUIRIES
Harry Huskisson
Head of Communications
THE (Times Higher Education)
T: +44 (0) 7471 355 250
E: communications@timeshighereducation.com