What Does It Mean To Get Poached By An Onshore Agent?

Before understanding what it means to get poached by an onshore agent, it is important to know how an onshore agent assumes this role. This typically involves an international student transferring to a different institution for the same or a similar program of study. 

The engagement of the onshore agent with the student is straightforward; it requires filling out an application form and emailing it to the institution. There are no accommodation services, no document verification, etc.

The problems, as some agents, consultants, and educators see it, start when students are “unethically” poached from one institution to another by rogue agents. 

Students in their initial arrival at any university are very vulnerable, as some take time to settle in. During this transition period, it is easy to mislead a student into changing their initial institution by luring them and paying part of the commission received by the onshore agent. 

The easy and flexible attendance lures some students to low-quality education providers. Others are drawn by the quality of education or even the environment, a scenario that does not always work out in the students’ best interest. Essentially, losing talented students from a reputable university.

Onshore agents poach students from recognized universities and transfer them to lesser colleges using less workload, “affordable courses”, and even flexibility. 

If a student wants to change institutions for genuine reasons, such as completing their current course and seeking a higher-level program, or they wish to leave a difficult or expensive course for a more affordable, less demanding option. In these cases, students can explore other options. Any institution, especially the low-cost, low-quality private institutions, will happily provide all the services and help make the change.

The reasons are several, and one of the growing ones now is that certain onshore education/migration agents also pass on part of the commissions, and some of the low-quality institutions are doing most of the international recruitment through onshore poaching from other providers. 

Movement is mostly away from universities. Elements like low cost, multiple installments, flexible classes, and cash-back through onshore agents attract international students, steering them away from their previous course. Statistically, students are typically poached within the first year of the study. 

If a student is pursuing a master’s degree in cybersecurity at a university with an annual tuition fee of 50,000 AUD and wants to transfer to a college or institute that offers a similar course with flexible attendance for half the price. International students, on the advice of onshore agents, are drawn to the fee payment structure of smaller colleges that provide the option to pay in multiple instalments.

There are also instances of onshore agents going around and associating with students from different university colleges, asking groups of people if they would like to switch their college/school.

International students need to be cautious of such poaching practices, as they can impact the validity and status of their student visa or raise concerns with Australian immigration.