Due Diligence: International Student Recruitment

• Date: March 24, 2025
• Time: 14:00 – 15:00
• Cost: BSA Member Rate: £90, BSA Additional Full Member Fee: £45, Non-member Rate: £180*
• Audience: All BSA member schools in the UK who recruit international students
• Platform: Zoom (online) – webinar

Course outline:

Our members who recruit international students understand the enormous benefits of doing so, but what about the risks?

Schools may inadvertently breach sanctions regulations and become exposed to significant reputational risks where the source of international funds is not being adequately reviewed. Such risks have already been highlighted since October 2020 by the National Crime Agency via an Amber warning to independent schools. Student sponsor schools also have a duty to ensure they are recruiting genuine international students, mitigating against the risk of exploitation and trafficking.

How can schools be sure the source of their international fee income is from lawful means? How can admissions staff conduct due diligence on their international parents and other school fee payers?

This webinar will explore the key risk areas permeating international student recruitment and steps all schools should take to manage associated risks.

Our expert speakers are Kate Hollyer, Director of Legal and Public Affairs, BSA Group and Mark Taylor of Verisio Ltd.  The session will be chaired by Caroline Nixon, International & Membership Director, BSA Group, and there will be time to ask questions at the end of the webinar.

Learning outcomes:

• Appreciation of the risks schools are exposed to through international student recruitment.
• Understanding of ‘red flags’ to look out for in the recruitment process.
• Awareness of key areas of weakness in the recruitment process and best practice tips.
• Insight of UKVI student sponsor licence responsibilities and risks of non-compliance.
• Understanding of the BSA/Verisio Due Diligence service and how to mitigate risks.

BOOK NOW

Speaker:

Kate Hollyer, Executive Director, Legal & Public Affairs & Partner, BSA Legal Services Ltd

Kate is Legal and Public Affairs Director of BSA Group and Director of BSA Group Legal Services Ltd, BSA Group’s SRA-regulated law firm. As a qualified solicitor of England and Wales with more than 12 years’ experience advising clients on UK immigration and nationality law, Kate supports members with all UK immigration matters including UKVI sponsor licence compliance. Kate is a member of the Home Office Education Advisory Group and is the boarding sector representative for this group. Prior to joining BSA in 2022 Kate was Partner and Head of Department at a leading full-service UK law firm. Having resided in state, preparatory and senior school boarding houses since 2014 with her Housemaster husband, Kate has a unique perspective of boarding life.

Mark Taylor, Legal consultant, BSAG Legal Services

In a previous reincarnation Mark founded The Taylor Partnership – supporting U.K. independent schools in meeting the compliance demands of their UKVI sponsor licences and training many school staff. Mark was previously a Trustee of AEGIS and, during the pandemic, assisted independent schools in creating Covid management plans and organised testing. More recently, after travelling the world, Mark has identified the increased risk to independent schools as a result of the need for greater probity and due diligence in financial awareness of school suppliers, parents and agents. Mark’s interest in this field was first sparked in 2016-17 when he supported a number of schools following the disappearance of students from Vietnam. Mark is working in partnership with Verisio, a specialist organisation concentrating on integrity and due diligence checks on corporations and individuals.