insights
Welcome to the Insights section, where I provide links to resources and thought leadership on international education strategies. Here, you will find a collection of self-assessment tools, key publications, and media engagements, all reflecting my work and expertise in higher education consultancy. Whether you're looking to evaluate your institution's recruitment practices, explore thought-provoking research, or see recent contributions to media discussions, these insights are designed to support and inform your strategies.
guides
Use this self-assessment tool to evaluate your university’s performance against key success factors for international student recruitment. Based on sector best practice, it helps identify strengths and gaps to inform more sustainable and effective recruitment strategies.
Use this checklist to review your university’s alignment with the Agent Quality Framework (AQF). It supports stronger, more transparent agent management practices and helps ensure compliance with sector expectations around ethics and accountability.
This tool supports decision-making around international recruitment strategies that generate lower net revenue per student. Use it to explore when such approaches may be strategically sound—whether to meet diversity goals, build new markets, or maintain critical mass in under-recruited programmes.
Use this self-assessment tool to evaluate your university’s performance against key success factors for international student recruitment. Based on sector best practice, it helps identify strengths and gaps to inform more sustainable and effective recruitment strategies.
This framework helps universities identify their dominant international student recruitment strategy and assess its alignment with institutional priorities. Use it to evaluate financial sustainability, understand the risks and rewards of your current approach, and explore more strategic alternatives.
Have a challenge you’re trying to solve in international recruitment or global engagement? Let us know what kind of tool you'd like to see next
Welcome to the Guides section, where I share practical tools and resources to support international education professionals. Over the years, I have developed a range of frameworks and self-assessment tools to help institutions navigate international student recruitment, agent management, transnational education, and global strategy. These guides are grounded in sector experience and designed to encourage thoughtful, evidence-informed decision-making.
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Below is a curated selection of downloadable tools and scorecards, each developed to support strategic planning and operational effectiveness in international education.
publications
Welcome to the Publications section, where I share a selection of my work on key themes in international education. Over the years, I have explored international student recruitment strategies, the evolving role of recruitment agents, governance in transnational education, and the broader impacts of global engagement. My research and commentary emphasise ethical standards, best practices, and sustainable models for the sector.
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Below is a curated selection of open-access articles, grouped by theme. For a full chronological list of my publications, click here.
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1. International Student Recruitment Agents
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Raimo, V. (2024, May 28). If you’ve signed up to the agent quality framework, now is the time to comply. WonkHE.
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Nikula, P.-T., Raimo, V. & West, E. (2023, September 30). Do recruitment agents offer universities value for money? University World News.
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Raimo, V., Nikula, P.-T., & West, E. (2023, July 11). Clamping down on unscrupulous student recruitment agents. WonkHE.
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West, E., Raimo, V., Nikula, P., & Huang, I.Y. (2021, May 29). International recruitment agents can build back better. University World News.
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Raimo, V. & Huang, I. (2020, November 17). Why do many UK universities keep their work with international student recruitment agents secret? Higher Education Policy Institute
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2. Transnational Education (TNE)
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Raimo, V. (2024, September 23). Assessing Opportunities and Mitigating Risks in Transnational Education: Introducing the TNE Success Scorecard. Higher Education Policy Institute.
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Raimo, V. (2019, July 5). Yes, branch campuses are still worth it. The Times Higher Education.​
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3. Sustainability, Strategy & Risk in International Education
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(i) Strategic Approaches to Internationalisation
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Raimo, V. & Ilieva, J. (2024, October 31). Building Sustainable Futures: Rethinking International Student Recruitment in the UK. Higher Education Policy Institute.
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Raimo, V. (2024, May 21). Beyond the Balance Sheet: Tracing the Evolution of UK Universities’ Internationalisation Over 40 Years. Higher Education Policy Institute.​
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(ii) International Student Recruitment & Risk Management
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Raimo, V. (2025, April 14). Beyond the Margin: When might low net revenue in international student recruitment be justified? Higher Education Policy Institute.
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Raimo, V (2025, March 11). Is international student recruitment really worth it? The PIE News
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Raimo, V. (2024, April 10). Navigating the Waves: Key Strategies for International Student Recruitment Success. Higher Education Policy Institute.
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Raimo, V. (2024, February 11). Overseas detox. Research Professional News.​
(iii) Global Engagement & Policy Considerations
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Raimo, V., & Ilieva, J. (2022, April 23). International students: There will be winners and losers. University World News.
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Raimo, V. (2019, October 14). Future of Global Engagement Strategies. Higher Education Policy Institute.
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Raimo, V. (2013, August 27). Going global: UK universities must do more than talk the international talk. The Guardian​.
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media mentions
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Could India branch campuses bail out struggling Western universities? Times Higher Education February 24, 2025
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Positive signals’ for UK international recruitment in September Times Higher Education February 3, 2025
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​University chiefs partly to blame for funding woes – Experts University World News November 1, 2024
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Review finds no systemic issues in UK’s pathway programmes University World News July 17, 2024
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Chinese pay lion’s share of master’s fees at top UK universities Times Higher Education May 8, 2024
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UK universities’ Chinese student recruitment ‘getting harder’ Times Higher Education February 19, 2024​
Uproar over foreign students admitted with lower grades University World News February 09, 2024
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Black Friday’ pressure-sales tactics in the sector The PIE December 1 2023
ApplyBoard publishes rogue agent blocklist The PIE September 28 2023
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Inside the murkey and ‘unchecked’ £500m industry changing the shape of UK universities Big Issue September 20, 2023
Universities and students recalibrate after A-level results University World News August 19, 2023
International students ‘less satisfied’ in branch campuses University World News October 19, 2022
Shady agents, forged documents and disappearing acts: The business of serving Indian students bound for Europe NZZ June 14, 2022
Inside the university recruitment machine Financial Times March 11, 2021
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UK universities ‘increasingly reliant’ on agents for EU enrolment Times Higher Education March 4, 2021
Will international recruitment survive Covid19? Times Higher Education March 4, 2021
Flexible admissions could mitigate Covid-19 impact Times Higher Education March 18, 2020