IECA’s First Conference Held Outside U.S. Reflects Our International Growth
by Mark Sklarow, Executive Director, Independent Educational Consultants Association
At the IECA Conference in Toronto
Several times a year I receive letters addressed to the “INTERNATIONAL Educational Consultants Association.” Of course the ‘I’ in our name has stood for “INDEPENDENT” since 1976, and our membership has been overwhelmingly U.S.-based. In fact if I look back at directories a decade ago or more, our international listings were on a single page and comprised mainly of American consultants with second offices in Europe.
Today, as we prepare to open our first conference outside of the United States, our growing influence internationally is unmistakable. Looking at our professional and associate members, we have IECA affiliated consultants not only in North, Central, and South America, but in Europe, Asia, Middle East, and Africa as well.
We have a good representation of educational consultants based in Canada joining us, and conference sponsors include schools in Switzerland, as well as colleges, programs, and universities from the provinces of Ontario, Alberta, and British Columbia. When we announced plans to meet in Canada, some feared there wouldn’t be any members to form a local host committee, but in fact 18 Canadians joined in planning. Scores of schools, colleges, universities, and therapeutic institutions will be joining us from throughout Canada and the world, in addition to our partners in the States.
As those in the membership committee have learned, international applications to join IECA are up dramatically, with China leading the way, but applicants reaching us from every corner of the globe. In many countries, IECA, consulting, and the ethical guidelines we adhere to are all new concepts as agents receiving per-head finders fees was the norm. Today “good match” and “appropriate placements” are being introduced to concerned parents who are beginning to understand how an independent consultant can benefit them. In a bit of irony, we know the IECA name is already being recognized around the world as educational advisors in small cities across Asia race to add “IECA” to their corporate name, and we work to protect the best known and best respected “brand’ in the field.
Meeting in Toronto, while just an hour from the U.S. Border, is symbolic of IECA’s global reach and indicative of where our future lies.
Related posts:
- The Changing Nature of International Students Coming to the U.S. and What it All Means for IECs
- Commissioned Agents and Independent Educational Consultants: Recruiting International Students
- International Consultants to Create Affinity Group
- A Day in the Life of an International Consultant
- A ‘Newbie’ Reflects on Applying for Professional Membership in IECA & Shares a Few Tips
