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 my Publications section, where I share selected open-access articles exploring key themes in international higher education. My work examines how universities recruit and support international students, the governance of transnational education, and the future sustainability of global engagement.
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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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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 & Global Partnerships
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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. & Ilieva, J. (2020, October 6). Can we measure global engagement in higher education? The PIE News
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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 & the Economics of International Education​
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Raimo, V. (2025, October 4). How will universities respond to the 6 per cent international student levy? Higher Education Policy Institute
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Raimo, V. (2025, September 18). The fragile future of UK international student recruitment. The PIE News
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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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4. Policy, Risk and the Future of Global Higher Education
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Raimo, V. (2025, May 28). Everything Must Change So Everything Can Stay the Same: Internationalisation at a Crossroads. Higher Education Policy Institute.
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Raimo, V. (2025, September 18). The fragile future of UK international student recruitment. The PIE News
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Raimo, V. (2024, February 11). Overseas detox. Research Professional News.
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You can find my complete list of publications, including book chapters and journal articles, on the chronological list of publications page.
media mentions
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The shadow economy behind the international student boom. Financial Times September 22, 2025
China 'no longer quick win' as more British universities move in. Times Higher Education September 19, 2025
International fee levy risks toppling fragile 'house of cards'. Times Higher Education September 18, 2025
Universities Challenged: Tuition Impossible. Radio 4, BBC. First broadcast September 9, 2025
Chinese applicants ‘could increase further’ if UK shows stability Times Higher Education July 26, 2025
Ambivalent response as five more unis join India’s TNE boom The PIE June 20, 2025
Leading Scottish university unveils first-ever plans to open campus in India The Scotsman June 16, 2025
As strikes over HE cuts loom, two reports offer fresh ideas University World News June 06, 2025​
Government cuts time foreign students can stay on to work University World News May 13, 2025​
Students lured to UK universities by 'fake promises' from recruitment agents Financial Times May 11, 2025​
Could India branch campuses bail out struggling Western universities? Times Higher Education February 24, 2025​
Positive signals’ for UK international recruitment in September Times Higher Education February 3, 2025​
​University chiefs partly to blame for funding woes – Experts University World News November 1, 2024​
Review finds no systemic issues in UK’s pathway programmes University World News July 17, 2024​
Chinese pay lion’s share of master’s fees at top UK universities Times Higher Education May 8, 2024​
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​
Black Friday’ pressure-sales tactics in the sector The PIE December 1 2023
ApplyBoard publishes rogue agent blocklist The PIE September 28 2023​
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​
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