Overview

It is important that all FIC partners and potential students have a sound understanding of the policies relating to the marketing of FIC. An important objective of this marketing policy is to ensure that accurate, ethical and appropriate information is provided to all students and partners.

FIC will ensure the marketing of its education programs and related services is undertaken in a professional manner that maintains the integrity and reputation of FIC, Simon Fraser University, Navitas and the industry.

Principles and Aims

The aim of the Marketing Policy is to ensure:

• marketing activities are conducted with integrity and uphold FIC's reputation in the industry;
• marketing materials reflect a professional image with honesty and accuracy as central tenants. All materials are edited with care and reflect the knowledge and specialisation of FIC, Simon Fraser University and Navitas;
• that FIC's name is clearly displayed on all marketing materials in both written and electronic forms; and

This policy should be read in conjunction with the FIC Education Agent Policy.

Marketing Plan

FIC develops a detailed marketing plan annually. The Marketing Plan forms a component of the overall College planning processes. The Marketing Plan articulates all aspects of sales and marketing activities, including:

• budget, travel, sales and marketing activities by country;
• projected enrolments;
• marketing strategies;
• joint activities with Navitas and Simon Fraser University;
• target markets;
• market intelligence; and
• student trends.

Staff Training

FIC actively encourages all staff to engage in regular training activities to aid compliance with the marketing policy and its underpinning legislation. Training may include attendance at various internal and external programs.

Education Agent Policy

Overview

FIC takes all reasonable measures to appoint and use education agents that have knowledge and understanding of the Canadian education system and the international education industry.  FIC does not support the use of dishonest agents to recruit students.  The purpose of this policy is to ensure that students are well informed by their education agent prior to enrolling with FIC.

Principles and Aims

The purpose of this policy is to ensure that:

• FIC's education agents act in accordance with the terms and conditions of their agreement and adhere to best practices;
• FIC provides all education agents with current, accurate and professional marketing materials that reflect FIC's professional image and are honest and accurate;
• Marketing activities with associated education agents are conducted with integrity to uphold FIC's reputation in the industry;

This policy should be read in conjunction with the FIC Marketing Policy and the Navitas Education Agent Policy.

Written Agreements

FIC is a subsidiary company of Navitas Canada Limited.  Formal written agreements with education agents may be managed by FIC or Navitas:

• FIC Managed Agreements: agents who, due to market forces, would generally only send students to FIC
• Navitas Canada managed agreements: agents who, due to market forces, would generally only send students to FIC and ICM, i.e. Navitas Colleges in Canada
• Navitas Managed Agreements: agents who would send students to any of the Navitas colleges depending on a given student's preference (e.g. franchised/multi-city agents, international agents). 

Navitas Managed Agreements always list FIC, among other Navitas colleges, as parties to the agreement.  It is a way of streamlining agent agreement processing across the group.  All education agent agreements are reviewed annually and span a two year period.  All education agent agreements include the following details:

• the responsibilities of each party
• processes for monitoring the activities of agents; and
• termination conditions.

Monitoring, Marketing & Relationship Building

FIC aims to monitor education agents through marketing and relationship building activities.  A range of strategies are customised to meet the needs of the market and agent:

• annual training sessions which aim to assist agents to avoid giving students incorrect information:
  
  • programs available
  • facilities
  • admissions processes
  • accommodation
  • student support services
  • the city of Vancouver generally
• dissemination of hard copies of brochures, posters and other marketing collateral
• teleconferences and telephone conversations;
• email conversations and electronic flyers;
• availability of websites and other marketing collateral for consultation;
• agent familiarisation visits to the college/s;
• FIC and agents attending educational exhibitions together;
• regular reports from agents;
• surveys of students (and parents) who are recruited by agents (I-Grad);
• performance evaluations conducted according to the performance benchmarks included in agreements; and
• spot checks by FIC.

Dishonest or Unethical Conduct

Dishonest or unethical behaviour may include, but is not limited to:

• a deliberate attempt to recruit a student who has been studying with another provider
• facilitating the recruitment of a student who will not be able to comply with the conditions of his/her visa;
• deliberately providing information to a potential student, or to FIC, which is incorrect or fraudulent;
• acting in a manner which is negligent, careless or incompetent;
• providing unauthorised immigration advice.

Preventative or Corrective Action

Where FIC discovers an agent to have engaged in dishonest or unethical conduct, FIC will take immediate preventative and/or corrective action appropriate to the nature of the conduct.  This could include:

• additional training which highlights FIC's expectations;
• not accepting students recruited by the education agent;
• terminating the agreement with the education agent; and
• alerting relevant Canadian authorities of the situation

Transfer to another institution

Overview

The policy outlines the conditions under which FIC will consider a student request for withdrawal from FIC for transfer to another institution.

Requirements

All students wishing to withdraw from the College must first meet with the Academic Manager.  Following the initial meeting(s) with the Student Advisor, if the student wishes to pursue the withdrawal, then an exit interview is conducted (by appointment) with the College Director for formal withdrawal from the College.  The student is instructed to bring

• Program Withdrawal form
• Course Drop/Add form (if withdrawal is mid-semester)
• LOA from transferring institution OR copy of airline ticket showing date of return to home country
• FIC Student Card

The Academic Manager will initiate the refund process by submitting the Request for Refund form to Finance.

All forms go to the Academic Manager for processing/MAZE updating (except refund form) then returned to College Director for sign off.  Following College Director sign-off, package is submitted to Finance for refund processing.  Note, refunds are not to be processed until withdrawal is complete, i.e., LOA/airline ticket is received