How we’re going to do it

International recruitment will only regain full trust when every actor is held to the same transparent, enforceable rules. GERSA’s plan starts by turning today’s patchwork of guidelines into a single global benchmark that is both rigorous and practical. Our approach blends policy alignment with leading study-destination governments, hands-on input from universities and agents, and formal representation for students, so the framework works in the real world from day one.

The engine is a tiered accreditation system supported by a secure digital registry. Agencies submit corporate and counsellor data through our portal, where automated screening checks licences, sanctions lists and language-test records. Specialist auditors then review student files, interview staff and, when required, carry out onsite inspections. Results feed straight into the registry, giving institutions a live, verifiable status for every accredited agent while alert triggers flag emerging risks in near-real time.

We will roll out in three phases: a controlled pilot with a charter group of universities and agencies, a sector-wide expansion that layers in data-sharing with regulators, and finally, full integration into admissions and visa workflows worldwide. Each phase includes published performance metrics and open consultation windows, ensuring the standard stays responsive and evidence-led. By coupling this phased launch with continuous monitoring and independent governance, we will embed GERSA accreditation as the everyday shorthand for ethical, low-risk student recruitment.

Collaborative
Governance

multi-stakeholder oversight keeps the bar high and politics low

Unified Code
of Practice

aligned with frameworks such as the UK Agent Quality Framework

Gold-standard
due diligence

advanced data validation plus expert human review

Ongoing quality
assurance

independent audits and a live breach-reporting channel

“Our recurring audits operationalise frameworks like the UK’s AQF, giving universities hard evidence that their agents meet—and keep exceeding—the promised standard. That protects students, cuts sector-wide risk and saves millions in duplicated compliance costs.”

Birgit Hirst | Chief Commercial Officer

GERSA sets itself apart through genuine enforcement, removing accreditation from non-compliant agents. The global registry enables seamless integration into institutional workflows, simplifying compliance checks. The forward looking approach includes advanced security measures, such as biometric verification, to tackle document fraud proactively. Crucially, GERSA amplifies the indispensable role of professional agents rather than replacing them.