Welcome to GERSA

International education has reached an inflection point. More than six million students now study outside their home country every year, and forecasts suggest that number could double before 2030. Providers rely on specialist education agents to navigate visas, scholarships and cultural expectations. All services far more nuanced than a commodity sale. Yet patchwork regulation, inconsistent standards and duplicated institutional checks allow forged documents, fee scams and even human trafficking to persist. Compliance costs balloon while confidence wanes, leaving vulnerable students and reputable institutions exposed.

The Global Education Recruitment Standards Authority (GERSA) answers these systemic vulnerabilities. As a not‑for‑profit initiative, we deliver the world’s first independent, enforceable framework for ethical, cross‑border student recruitment—an international benchmark already welcomed by policymakers. With one gold‑standard you can trust, universities, agents and students engage with clarity, accountability and confidence.

“GERSA gives providers, agents and students a shared, enforceable standard that reduces sector‑wide risk and strengthens the reputation of leading study destinations.”

Nick Golding | Founder & Chief Executive Officer

Why
GERSA

The Global Education Recruitment Standards Authority (GERSA) is designed as a non-profit, industry-led body, that convenes institutions, agents, and regulators around a unified, transparent framework to eliminate exploitation. Unlike voluntary codes, GERSA accreditation carries real consequences: agents who fail audits lose the GERSA Quality Mark and their preferred partner status with institutions. Endorsement from leading universities, sector associations, and governments confirms that the timing for proactive self-regulation is now.

Key
Metrics

• 6.4m Students in International Education

• $196bn Market Value as of 2019

• $400bn Expected market value by 2030

• 50% Increase in international schools since 2014