Global Network
Engagement and Student Recruitment
Navitas will develop a customized marketing strategy for U of A to showcase the University’s unique strengths, brand, and market proposition. We will highlight the University’s:
- academic excellence
- program offerings
- research reputation
- graduate study opportunities
- employment outcomes.
A customized, targeted marketing approach ensures a distinct and safeguarded pipeline for U of A and minimizes competition between our other partners.
Navitas has 18 years of successful operations in Canada. It is the sole affiliated foundation program provider and has supported 25,000 students to achieve their higher education goals.
Our Recruitment Approach and Practice:
- we emphasize recruiting genuine, high-quality, and high-retention students
- we foster close relationships with agents, monitor individual performance, and gather and analyze market intelligence
- we implement evidence-based processes that include employing specific strategies that concentrate on target markets based on foundation program specifics (i.e. ranking, entry requirement, price point, etc.)
- we utilize systems solutions to enhance strategic enrolment management including StudyLink and Salesforce CRM to
- track visa applications and outcomes
- identify real-time market trends
- conduct risk assessments
- provide accurate reports on market intelligence.
Our Recruitment Operations
- we will implement a trained, dedicated on-campus recruitment team to drive the value proposition, key features, and program specifics of the foundation program
- our recruitment strategy is finely aligned to U of A’s strategic priorities to promote, incentivize, and amplify key programs with consideration of market-specific strategies that are developed with Key Success Parameters (KSPs) and adjusted to reflect market conditions and demands
- we provide an efficient, seamless recruitment process and continue to support our students through every stage of their learning journey.
- our in-house marketing services team will collaborate with U of A’s marketing team to align with the University’s strategic priorities and represent U of A as a world top 100 university.
- we have a global network of over 300 staff in 32 offices across 23 countries, with in-market recruitment staff dedicated to servicing Canada and regional teams that focus on their key markets
- we have a global reach and access to multiple student recruitment channels including
- educational counsellors
- high school relationships
- direct articulation agreements
- government sponsored students in some regions
- independent applicants
- digital lead generation.
Our on-campus recruitment team works collaboratively with our in-market recruitment staff, to:
- oversee branding and messaging related to the U of A foundation program
- provide regular virtual and in-person support and training
- attend recruitment events hosted by agents
- conduct virtual student seminars and student programming.
Our in-market recruitment staff and regional teams, provide:
- a physical presence in all key markets for meetings and conversion activities that enhances the on-the-ground reach of our recruitment teams
- in-depth understanding of their local region from a global perspective
- in-depth understanding and knowledge of local education systems
- keen awareness of changes in international government policies, currency fluctuations, shifts in student interest, attitudes and decision-making factors which enables them to advise on opportunities or risks in the market.
Navitas recruitment teams, both on-campus and in-market, participate in numerous events and fairs to maximize exposure, build brand awareness, gain leads and support our agent and high school partners. Events are virtual and in-person, around the world, and include agent-run fairs such as the Global IDP and EduCanada fairs.
Please see Recruitment – Ways of Working
Robust Network of Quality Agents
Navitas partners with more than 2,300 agents, over 600 of those send students to Canada across 125 countries. Navitas’ approach to agent-management is designed to drive both performance and quality in student recruitment.
The effective management and engagement of agents can be complex and challenging. We follow a strict centralized Education Agent Management and Quality System across all Navitas operations globally that exceed the requirements of provincial legislation, federal policy, and internationally accepted best practices. The Navitas benchmark for quality assurance is our jurisdiction with the strictest legislative requirements – the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA), Australia. As part of our quality assurance processes, we ensure:
- agents are monitored, trained, and evaluated by our dedicated centralized agent management team, in-market recruitment staff, and on-campus teams
- agents are vetted and must undergo an extensive application process that includes reviews and recommendations from the in-market regional management team; references from three academic institutions; a review of the company’s training, insurance, relevant licenses and applicant visa success rate.
- agent contracts are reviewed annually, and if the performance expectation is not met, they are terminated.
The right mix and distribution of in-market representatives will ensure that marketing activities for the U of A foundation program will:
- build rapport and gain trust in the local market, fostering positive relationships
- enhance the communication loop and collection of market intelligence
- train and equip agents efficiently with the most up-to-date information, as well as continuously evaluate agent performance
- manage social media, f2f exhibitions, and conversion activities in the local language and time zones.
Navitas ensures all university partnership marketing and recruitment activities comply with IRCC requirements.
Continuous Training and Support
Our on-campus recruitment team is in frequent communication with all agents. We offer ongoing training across the agent pool on broad topics such as new program launches or changes to IRCC regulations. We also offer training hosted by Regulated International Student Immigration Advisors on how to complete visitor visa and study permit applications.
Navitas facilitates refresher training delivered by the university partner marketing teams to agents, annually. This training focuses on developing new staff knowledge and understanding and enhancing the expertise of long-standing staff. Training also provides an important opportunity to highlight new program features and any additional/refined strategic priorities that may have been introduced over the year.
Navitas agents are given either a one- or three-year contract. They undergo a thorough performance review process before they are renewed. This process reinforces the need for agent partners to maintain current knowledge and ensure that they are participating in regular training from the institutions they represent.
Quality Assurance and Compliance
With the latest regulatory changes for compliance and study permit application processes, Navitas ensures agents are well informed and changes are communicated across all recruitment channels to minimize any potential impacts to our global recruitment market. We ensure 100% compliance with IRCC requirements so U of A can be assured that we are maximizing our recruitment efforts.
Independent Applicant Channel (Students without Agents)
Navitas also has a Global Inside Sales (GIS) team to cater to students who choose not to engage with education agents.
The GIS team is proactive in:
- generating interest through digital marketing channels
- introducing improvements in lead pre-qualification
- refining referral processes
- providing pipeline optimization, quality control measures, and regionalization of GIS staff.
The GIS team consists of over 25 staff globally, operates in the local time zone, and speaks the local language to support students with their applications outside of agents or high school partners to:
- ensure a seamless recruitment experience
- screen students for suitability and assist them through the application process
- work closely with our on-campus recruitment team to provide an immediate and personalized service that moves students from interest to application to enrolment
- support students through the visa and study permit application process.
The Ambassador Program
- Each of our colleges participate in the TAP ambassador program
- the program is run via an app on the website where interested students can communicate directly with current student ambassadors via a chat box
- ambassador students provide potential students with information about the college, their personal experience, and encourage students to consider joining
- ambassadors are highly trained to interact with potential students and engage with administration and marketing teams to support potential students in questions beyond topics of student experience
- ambassadors may also act as orientation leaders, tour leaders, and participate in recruitment webinars, conversion, enrolment, and orientation events virtually and in person.
Beyond Agency Recruitment – Additional Student Recruitment Sources
Beyond agency recruitment, Navitas engages in digital campaigns managed by our in-house marketing services team across various platforms such as Google, Facebook, Instagram, Spotify, and TikTok.
- in 2023, we ran over 35 campaigns which had an outreach of 20,000+ views on our landing pages
- our marketing services team oversees a high school channel, which involves tracking data, identifying potential feeder high schools, developing and collaborating with high school partners, building the brand, and creating an affinity for Navitas programs worldwide.
High School and Other Channels
- we have a dedicated high-school recruitment channel with a database of over 16,000 schools
- the high school channel team operates in Kenya, Mexico, India, and Turkey
- we have developed materials suited to the needs of students and counsellors in these schools and have representatives in key locations to support and advise school students (https://Schools.Navitas.com)
- we engage with top tier high schools through a dedicated school recruitment program, and exclusively partner with high-quality agents to facilitate opportunities typically reserved for highly ranked universities. This includes participation in esteemed international scholarship programs like those offered by the Emirati government and IFARHU in Panama.
With Navitas as a partner, U of A will benefit from this expanded reach to top students at the high school level. Other high ranked schools with whom we were engaged with include Ryan International, Delhi Public School, GD Goenka, La Martiniere Girls’ College, Millenium School, and Ahmedabad International School.
Word-of-Mouth
Students who have a positive experience in their foundation program often refer, directly or indirectly, friends and relatives to our programs, building a highly influential independent applicant recruitment network.
For a significant new product launch like U of A, Navitas will adopt a tailored approach in the initial years, combining a marketing campaign across specific target markets, as well as strategic incentives for students recruited in the inaugural intake(s) – students who will then promote the program via word-of-mouth.
Navitas’ on-campus recruitment team will closely collaborate with U of A to understand U of A’s program recruitment priorities and align with your diversity goals in both nationality and programming.
- our on-campus recruitment team, working in tandem with our in-house marketing services and in-market teams, will develop tailored and targeted strategies to meet U of A’s goals
- leveraging the expertise of our Regional Directors and their teams, who are experienced and well-versed in their respective markets’ needs and demands, we will support our on-campus recruitment team in developing customized and targeted recruitment plan for the U of A foundation program by utilizing state-of-the art tools, channels, and services to attract the right students
We recognize there is a delicate balance between U of A’s diversity goals and market demands. This collaborative effort aims to balance the needs of the students and the University through ensuring the most suitable programs are offered to generate increased volume and interest.
Our commitment to diversity is underscored by a strategic deployment of incentive strategies, an extensive international outreach strategy, vigilant monitoring of student demographics, and collaborative efforts with partner universities to efficiently broaden diversity markets. This will ensure a vibrant and diverse student cohort, addressing both nationality and academic program diversity.
Diversity in Nationality
- our expansive international reach goes above the limits of high-volume markets. Actively seeking out quality students from diverse regions, nationalities, and backgrounds
- we leverage digital campaigns strategically tailored for target markets or specific programs to ensure maximum exposure, impact, and resonance
- as an organization, we work to maintain a diversity mix within our programs that meet a 30/30/40 distribution. Recognizing that Greater China, North Asia, and South Asia are the dominant markets, we work to ensure that the mix of students we recruit are balanced against each major market and remainder of the world makes up a slightly higher balance at 40%. We expect that at U of A, our distribution, over time, will be close to 25% South Asia, 25% China, 20% South East Asia, 10% Latin America, 15% Middle East, and 5% Africa.
Diversity in Programming
Our commitment to program diversity is achieved through a thoughtful blend of program design and targeted marketing efforts. Drawing on our extensive experience, we recognize that 60% of international students often shift their program of study during their degree program. To address this dynamic, we emphasize the importance of identifying core classes in the first semester, ensuring maximum flexibility for students to transfer seamlessly across a variety of majors. This approach also facilitates smaller programs in engaging foundation year students, irrespective of scale, by offering foundational courses.
Recruitment Process Highlights:
- Targeted Scholarships: Tailored financial incentives for key programs
- Strategic Travel: Specific Dean/Professor-led travels to key locations
- Alumni Events: Creating opportunities for alumni interaction
- Industry Seminars: Engaging students in relevant industry discussions
- Research Lab Tours: Showcasing cutting-edge research facilities
- Agent Training: Ensuring agents are well-versed in program offerings
- Familiarization Tours: Targeted tours to familiarize stakeholders
- Counsellor Incentives: Implementing incentives for guidance counselors.
Post-Arrival Engagement:
Our commitment to program diversity extends beyond recruitment to the post-arrival phase. Departments and programs across the university are encouraged to actively share information about less-known programs during the foundation year. These informative sessions involve key stakeholders such as alumni, professors, research assistants, industry experts, and peers, fostering a comprehensive understanding of the diverse academic landscape available to students.
Our Global Network at your Service
Over 30 years, Navitas has built an extensive global recruitment network to support our portfolio of university partners worldwide. We have operations in key markets and offer additional services that will assist direct recruitment into U of A’s programs. Our regional office can deliver a variety of activities for U of A, including:
- identifying new partnership opportunities
- conducting parent/student seminars and school visits
- leading educational agent training sessions
- providing advice and support in managing government relations and regulatory compliance
- supporting university staff travelling in-region for academic or other purposes including logistical support.
Our regional offices are staffed with local language speakers that can support U of A in:
- managing important overseas relationships
- establishing and supporting regional alumni association activity
- nurturing key institutions and/or government contacts.
Agent Management
Our regional offices can manage agent contracts entirely for the U of A. This service includes vetting and oversight of educational counsellors and ensuring that agents are monitored, trained, and evaluated on a continuous basis.
Hosting Services
Our regional offices can host university employees who are based in various regions or who travel to the region for academic initiatives in teaching, research, and service. Our regional staff can assist locally based and visiting university employees with the following:
- education counsellor training
- brand development
- institutional engagement
- student services such as English testing, pre-departure support, post-departure family support recruitment mission planning
- engagement with local communities
- post-mission follow-up.
Please see Hosting Services Brochure
Logistics
Our regional offices can facilitate logistics activities including translation, printing and distribution of services with affordable options through reputable and reliable local service providers.
Pre-Departure Activities
Our regional recruitment staff provide a range of pre-departure supports, including:
- pre-departure sessions in large markets such as Hong Kong, China, India, and Bangladesh
- Assistance with completion of applications to study, in their native language, where required
Continuing Student and Alumni Support
Navitas provides students with access to its networks throughout their whole learning journey through to graduation from the university partner. We offer continued support for the following:
- emergency visa support for family
- critical incident response support
- family/relative/local emergency services outreach
- In-country alumni events.
Application, Admission, and Enrolments Processes
Our Admissions Philosophy and Principles
Our purpose is to foster international student success through effective, high-quality admissions processes.
Our admissions team will work very closely with the U of A to:
- develop a shared application and admissions procedures
- identify and agree on the appropriate admissions gap for the foundation program, reviewed biannually to adjust to prevailing trends and make necessary changes to admissions standards, if deemed appropriate
- collaboratively review and agree diversity, equity and inclusivity requirements create a joint Letter of Offer (LOO) with agreed branding, messaging and tone
- establish a streamlined admissions process with a 48 hour turnaround time from the submission of a new application to the issuance of the initial joint LOO
- maintain a 72-hour response time for all communications, including inquiries and deferral and program changes requests
- provide insights into trends within diverse educational curricula across major continents
- respond to evolving global trends, particularly in times of change
- maintain regular and transparent communication between our admissions team and U of A’s admissions team
- refer students who meet the criteria for direct entry to U of A
- provide accessible admissions to our programs for student disability and medical needs.
Our Admissions Structure
- Our admissions teams are distributed across the globe in Canada, Bangladesh, India, and China to enable us to provide continuous service hours and operate throughout the week.
- Our admissions team include staff from diverse backgrounds who have expertise in international curriculum assessment and a capacity to keep pace with global education trends. We use the sophisticated, automated online application platform, StudyLink. StudyLink is designed for ease of navigation and application processing and provides separate portals for students and agents. StudyLink integrates automated tools to notify students with incomplete applications, optimizing the application completion rate and maintaining a streamlined recruitment pipeline.
Management of General Inquiries:
- Our regional recruitment teams act as the first point of contact to assist agents, students, and parents. They triage general inquiries to the most appropriate teams: centralized admissions, on-campus recruitment, and/or GIS teams located both in-market and in Canada.
- Independent applicants receive additional support through our GIS Teams, from the beginning of the admissions process until their arrival on campus. This team also connects students with appropriate visa application resources and agencies to ensure a successful visa application submission.
Admissions Process and Assessment
- Application: Navitas does not charge application fees. Prospective students or agents begin by submitting their applications online via StudyLink. In cases of incomplete applications, the admission team proactively engages with agents or students to collect any necessary documentation to finalize application requirements.
- Admissions Assessment – Our admissions team reviews and assesses the applications, validates English-language requirements, and ensure all required documentation submitted are appropriately verified.
- Issuance of Letter of Offer/Rejection – Once a student is deemed conditionally admissible, a joint LOO is sent to student via StudyLink. In instances where students do not receive an offer, the Navitas admissions team will explore other avenues to either the University or another Navitas college, determined by the credentials presented in the application.
- Tuition Deposit – Upon receiving a joint LOO, students can secure their place in a course by paying a deposit, generally an amount equal to the first semester’s tuition. Some exceptions to deposit payments apply, depending on region and recruitment strategy.
- Issuance of Letter of Acceptance – After the deposit is received, a Letter of Acceptance (LOA) is issued, and students must apply for a study permit and fulfill any outstanding conditions before finalizing their enrolment.
- Conversion from Offer to Enrolment: our teams guide students through the transition from offer acceptance to enrolment. This includes ongoing support, such as course planning, to ensure a smooth transition towards a successful enrolment.
Student Enrolment Process:
- New students receive priority access to course registration.
- Guided tutorials and workshops are provided to assist students in navigating the enrolment process.
Real-time assistance through live chat and personalized support via on-demand Zoom is available for immediate support during enrolment. Before enrolment, Navitas provides students with comprehensive enrolment instructions and recommended courses tailored to their intended program.
LOA Verification and IRCC Reporting
In adherence to new IRCC policy regarding LOA verification, Navitas admissions will verify each student’s enrolment status in the foundation program. In instances where a student fails to attend the institute post-enrolment, Navitas will initiate follow-up communication. If students remain unresponsive, Navitas will report the situation to IRCC in compliance with the established procedures.
Ensuring Quality Students
Navitas promotes engagement with genuine students through strategic and targeted marketing, recruitment admissions and enrolment processes. Likewise, our tuition deposit structure provides an additional level of assurance that students intend to commence studies.
Teaching Course Content and Delivery
Navitas has deep experience in the delivery of wholly embedded foundation programs in this model:
- students are granted the same rights, rules, and responsibilities and access to resources as all other university students
- students benefit from the enhanced services, support, and attention provided by Navitas
- trust and transparency between Navitas and the university partner is essential
Course moderation
Robust course moderation processes ensures consistency and rigor in evaluating academic performance, and reliability of assessment outcomes. Course moderation processes include:
- Foundation program instructors regularly liaising with designated Course Coordinators about course content, assessments, grading schemes, marking and feedback, and examinations.
- Course Coordinator sign off on final grade distribution and the moderation activities. credential.
- Course Evaluations done by Course Coordinator
Please see Course Moderation Process.
Instructor Management
- Any instructor within the Navitas network, regardless of affiliation or employment status is welcome to join our learning and teaching events either as a participant or presenter.
- Instructors can attend divisional learning and teaching conferences hosted by Navitas staff, enabling teaching staff to engage in ongoing teaching and learning scholarship.
- Navitas ensures any additional support is complementary to that offered by the partner university via an opt-in process.
Navitas has excelled in integrating our programs into the fabric of university partner communities. Working closely with various departments, including academic, administrative, and student affairs, we ensure that foundation students fully immerse themselves in the essence of the university. We intentionally integrate foundation students alongside domestic peers in scholarly and student life, student development, and career opportunities.
Navitas collaborates with designated university groups to conduct process mapping, ensuring alignment between the hiring, onboarding, and support of instructors with the identified university policies and procedures.
Please see Teaching and Learning Expectations and Requirements.
Student Services
Recognizing that education extends beyond the classroom, collaboration between student affairs professionals and instructors enhances the holistic development of students.
Our student affairs teams are well-positioned to address non-academic aspects of student life, providing essential support in areas such as mental health, personal development, and career guidance. We foster open communication channels between student affairs and instructors to promote integration between academic and non-academic support.
Instructors who are equipped with a deeper understanding of students’ diverse needs can tailor their teaching methods and provide targeted academic assistance. This empowers students to navigate challenges, maximize their academic potential, and achieve success in their post-secondary journey.
The Navitas TEN program supports instructors in their pedagogical approaches to curriculum delivery and wellness in the classroom.
Please see TEN Digital Brochure.
University relationship
Through close collaboration with university partners, we ensure effective and efficient administrative, logistical, and support processes. We are committed to delivering a superior educational environment and the Academic Advisory Committee specifically focuses on this area in the partnership governance structure.
Enrolment Targets
The following table sets out the proposed enrolment targets for the undergraduate foundation program for the first five years of the initial contract term:
Year of Operation International Foundation Students
- Year One (1) 100
- Year Two (2) 300
- Year Three (3) 500
- Year Four (4) 500
- Year Five (5) 500
Navitas is confident in our ability to meet the enrolment targets for the undergraduate foundation program as outlined in the scope of services. Drawing on our experience successfully operating in Canada for over 18 years and maintaining close engagement to government officials across Canada, Navitas has demonstrated capability, capacity and insight in the Canadian context, to run the U of A foundation program. Navitas is the only partner that has extensive experience in meeting international student enrolment targets for its university partners in Canada.
Continuous Review and Transparency
- We maintain a proactive approach to enrolment targets through consistent monitoring of market opportunities and challenges. Any unexpected outcomes identified through our reviews will be communicated to the U of A in a transparent and timely manner. In such situations, we will work closely with U of A to pivot and implement necessary adjustments and engage the expertise of our: international business analytics team, including utilizing 20 years of historical Canadian student data
- expansive agent network
- global government relations team
Data-Driven Predictions and Adaptation
As a data-driven company, Navitas leverages predictive analytics to track and anticipate student enrolment patterns and outcomes. This enables us to evaluate performance early in the recruitment cycle and adjust throughout recruitment to maximize success; an example of this is tracking visa processing dates. When it was clear that visa processing would take longer than in previous years, we adapted by enhancing our online and hybrid options and introducing a later start date .
Please see Navitas Insights for more information about the data and research we collect.
Proactive Growth Strategies
Navitas employs a range of proactive measures to maximize growth. This includes introducing program adjustments, agent agreements, financial incentives to agents and students, branding campaigns, new product launches, and marketing collateral enhancements. These strategies are deployed to adapt to market demands and promote continuous enrolment growth.
Additionally, by leveraging comprehensive data analysis of global student flows using our proprietary model segmented by country, we can discern lucrative opportunities, detect shifting trends, and strategically pinpoint high-potential markets for investment of time and resources.
Please see Navitas Deep Dive Sample – Vietnam.
Key Perfomance Indicators (KPIs)
Navitas collects data to measure outcomes against predetermined Key Performance Indicators (KPIs). We ensure that all data collection methods are compliant with Alberta’s privacy laws, such as the Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA), to safeguard individuals’ personal information. Additionally, transparency and consent mechanisms are prioritized to uphold ethical standards and privacy and data protection rights.
Data to measure the success of the foundation program will be obtained from a broad range of stakeholders at regular intervals. Methods of collection will include:
- anonymous surveys
- pulse check surveys
- feedback forms
- committee processes
- focus groups
- externally managed benchmarking surveys
- data mining
- analytical review
- internal review processes
- external review processes
- quality assurance process mapping with audit processes
- audits
- data-sharing agreements with audit processes.
The following measures are recommended for our partnership with U of A:
Diversity of Cohort (Degree Progression and Region)
- comprehensive semester report presented at all governance committees codesigned by the partnership. Includes sections covering the current semester plus previous three semesters’ data: new student nationality, returning student nationality, new student program, returning student program, active recruitment strategies, semester on semester retention, predicted progression rates by program.
- annual report for the University senate including a summary of the semester report information.
- tracer studies provided by the University to Navitas to assess student success upon progression to year 2.
Recruitment Metrics
- conversion rates: assessing the conversion rates from inquiries or applications to enroled students, indicating the effectiveness of recruitment strategies.
- retention rates of recruited students: monitoring the retention rates of students recruited through specific marketing and recruitment initiatives, ensuring long-term success.
Quality of Delivery (Compliance and Standards)
- academic Advisory Committee Semester Report – pass rates per course plus three semesters of historical data, instructor feedback/student feedback, course coordinator feedback, top performing students by region and program, academic integrity, semester retention.
- engagement with advising – number of appointments, ratio of students who saw an advisor, thematic content of appointments, length of appointments, geopolitical impact trends.
- engagement activities across social, wellness and academic themes and attendance at activities.
- wellness team reporting to operations committee – on caseload numbers, risk levels, themes, cases requiring complex care or behavioural team intervention.
- comprehensive shared conduct mapping with information sharing agreements, where necessary.
Teaching and Course Quality, Student Satisfaction Measures
- report to Academic Advisory Committee
- participation in external benchmarking surveys such as CBIE, NSSE, Igrad
- course moderation process: assessment, grade structure, teaching materials and final grade assignment by the University
- tracking attendance and completion of optional Pro-D courses to support teaching vulnerable populations: the Navitas TEN program
- academic probation students: nationality, high school curriculum, language level, length of time on probation, GPA trends
- academic excellence: honour roll, highest achieving by program, outcomes of targeted scholarship strategies
- comprehensive student satisfaction surveys
- pulse checks with students
- focus groups with students and instructors
- townhalls with instructors
- alumni satisfaction surveys
- instructor satisfaction survey.
Progression from Foundation Program Commencement to Second Year and Subsequent Retention
- predication of progression numbers by faculty one fiscal year in advance
- semester by semester retention reported at governance committees
- retention by faculty within the university (faculty retention) until graduation
- expected length of progression vs actual length of progression
- attendance at transition service events
- attendance at advising appointments during first semester of progression
- alumni engagement within the foundation year.
Tracer Studies: Equivalency of Student Performance (program student compared to general entry student, and students from other entry points such as college transfer, local high school, international high school)
- graduation rates
- average semester course load
- academic status
- student participation in work integrated learning, exchange programs, scholarships, research grant, student government.
Standards of Administration, Planning and Reporting (Timely, Quality, Reliable, Valid)
- program and partnership reviews every 3 to 5 years, alternating internal review panel and external review panel
- financial audit statements
- development of shared annual strategic plan
- implementation of administrative standards in the TOR’s for governance committees.
- tracking the training of staff and reporting at the Operations Committee, including suicide prevention, mental health first aid, disclosure training, conduct and investigations.
Performance and Behaviour In-Line with Agreed Marketing and Recruitment Plans
- operations committee terms of reference
- travel planning meetings
- student arrival satisfaction survey
- quality assurance process and framework for implementing marketing and recruitment plans.
In addition to the KPIs laid out in the scope of services (attachment 2) above, we recommend adding the following KPIs to ensure we measure the success of the program and partnership holistically:
Student Wellness via Operations Committee
- caseloads
- risk levels
- recurring themes
- cases requiring complex care or behavioural team intervention.
Student Engagement via Operations Committee
- number of advising appointments
- number of students who saw an advisor
- thematic content of appointments
- length of appointments
- geopolitical impact trends
- utilization of campus resources beyond advising services
- diversity and inclusion metrics in advising appointments
- analysis of course enrollment patterns and progress
Academic Excellence via Academic Advisory Committee
- honour roll recognition
- program-specific achievements
- effectiveness of targeted scholarship strategies
Implementation Plan
Navitas is the pioneer in establishing pathway programs and has successfully established over 35 pathway programs for its university partners around the world since 1994. Over the last 18 years, Navitas has proven itself to be a valuable partner through a series of accomplishments and exceptionally positive outcomes related to establishing and implementing pathway programs in Canada.
If Navitas is the successful proponent for this RFP, the most urgent priority for a successful first intake of the foundation program for September 2024, is going out to market quickly and receiving applications, given visa approval turnaround times. To do this, Navitas will need to set up a direct link and webpage for the foundation program on the U of A website immediately to enable a pipeline of applications while a more permanent website is created.
With the proposed foundation program launch targeted for September 2024, the timeline to prepare for admissions and recruitment launch is tight. Typically, international recruitment requires a much longer lead-time than domestic recruitment, however, our experienced team of Canadian staff already on the ground will make this timeline possible.
Information Requirements
Navitas will arrange an intensive week of workgroups with representation from all staff involved to visit the U of A campus, collaborate with relevant University teams, and learn how best to integrate and develop the foundation program from U of A’s current practices for international students. This includes sharing of U of A operations, policies and procedures.
Collaboration and Partnership
- establishment of workgroups between U of A/Navitas (PMO, academic, student services, admissions, marketing, communications, student recruitment, finance, IT, facilities) to collaboratively build all required processes and services for the foundation program
- establishment of robust governance structures (Academic Advisory Committee that includes the Board of Studies, Joint Management and Governance Committee, Operations Committee and a Strategic Enrolment Management Committee) to ensure academic integrity, strategic decision-making and overall efficient operations of the foundation program.
Communication and Stakeholder Engagement
- Navitas Canada’s Head of Communications and Public Affairs will work closely with U of A counterparts to establish joint communications plan to announce and introduce the new foundation program to both internal and external audiences
- through an intensive week of workgroup meetings, introductions will be made to all relevant U of A stakeholders who will work collaboratively in the development of the foundation program. All stakeholders will be advised of their involvement required outputs and the goals and principles of the partnership and program
- all workgroups will report back to the PMO.
Assumptions
Both parties understand the sense of urgency to go out to market as soon as possible (and thus urgency to make and implement all the necessary decisions to achieve this) as international student recruitment timeframes must consider visa application turnaround times. Both parties agree and confirm on the following:
- admissions criteria and processes – Navitas admissions teams can independently admit students to the foundation program in accordance with agreed service-level standards
- programs offered – student recruiters know what they are selling
- website development – students know what they are signing up for and how to apply
- progression requirements – students understand the requirement for guaranteed progression to year two
- teaching arrangements – Navitas can make the necessary arrangements in preparation for the first intake
- IT development for U of A/Navitas systems integration
- the foundation program students are on U of A’s DLI
- U of A will approve a joint LOO by the end March
- visa processing time is 14 weeks
- U of A can meet the proposed aggressive timelines.
Work Plan and Schedule
The link below is a high-level workplan of activities for the launch of the foundation program. It shows start and end dates, dependencies, milestones, and deliverables and assumes the contract will be signed in April 2024 with a teaching start date in September 2024. This workplan would be used as a basis for project meetings and would be shared with all workgroup leads during launch.
The workplan is a snapshot of an internal workplan that includes over 250 individual tasks under the headings Phase I – Recruitment and Admissions Launch Preparation; Phase II – Program Launch (post Market Launch to First day of Class); and Phase III – College Operations (Post first day of class). It will be used to assign each task to our workgroup lead, and to keep a record task status.
Please see U of A Foundation Program Work Plan.
Resources, Roles, and Responsibilities
Specific workgroups are established to lead the distinct functions of admissions, progression and compliance, marketing, communications, student recruitment planning, academic, student services, facilities, IT, and finance. There is some overlap across members for these working groups, however, a workgroup Lead is also established for each one to ensure formal communications with the PMO work group.
Please see Workgroup Profiles for roles and responsibilities of each proposed workgroup, our proposed membership for each workgroup and the estimated intensity of workload for the launch by month. The profiles outline the high-level goals and objectives of the implementation workgroups. These responsibilities are outlined broadly, and more detailed information will be provided prior to implementation. Due to the short lead time for a September launch and the collaborative nature of the partnership, there will be a generally high level of work intensity from April until the first intake for all workgroups.
Third-Party Resource Requirements
Third-party involvement of the foundation program includes the following, but is not limited to:
- Guard.Me
- housing providers
- interfaith providers
- food services vendors
- community partners for health or cultural support
- transportation services.
Challenges/Risks & Opportunities
Challenge/Risk | Probability | Impact | Mitigation Actions |
Study Permit Processing: PAL stoppage, processing times, approval rates | High | High | Robust government relationships and engagements (federal and provincial); Analysis, advocacy, and awareness-raising; Operational adaptability |
On-Campus Hearts and Minds: Overcoming internal structural and attitudinal barriers | Medium | Medium | Concerted engagement strategy at all levels; High-level liaison and mechanism to resolve matters early |
Further Federal Policy Moves: RIF, housing requirements, and agent oversight | High | Low | Advocacy and engagement on development of the RIF; Coordination of housing policy and responses; Leverage the high degree of oversight in place |
Provincial Policy Framework: Evolving international education policies and DLI designation | Medium | Low | Continued outreach to and support of provincial government policy development; Increase comfort and reliability as a credible actor |
Geopolitical and Macroeconomic Environment: Bilateral relations, economic drivers, and extraterritorial conflicts | High | Medium | Diversity plan in recruitment; Onshore recruitment strategies; Arrivals coordination to support arrival; On shore support for students, staff, and faculty |
Foundation programs are core to the Navitas university partnership model, but we are more than just a partner to deliver your foundation program; we offer a wide array of services. With expertise in direct recruitment, delivery of graduate studies, transnational education, and specialization in ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) and IRCC (Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada) policies and regulations, and Canadian government relations – we extend our support far beyond the basics.
Graduate Studies
Policy changes regarding international students at the undergraduate level present an opportunity for us to expand into graduate studies. With policies becoming more favorable for international students at the graduate level, this can lead to:
- an increase in the pool of potential applicants
- diversification of the pool of students and further enrichment U of A’s programming and student experience
- augment U of A’s international reputation and competitiveness in attracting top talent
- an additional stream of revenue that can significantly contribute to the local economy through tuition fees and living expenses
- additional research collaboration opportunities for graduate research activities with global and interdisciplinary reach.
Transnational Education
U of A has an opportunity to expand its overall market by tapping into the demand in non-traditional markets, increasing brand presence and mitigating risks. We have a proprietary methodology for country identification and development of a proposition and offer that is tailored to the country and location, based on market needs. We work with university partners in market exploration and assessment, to case development, regulatory approvals and on to campus launch and program delivery. We have successfully established and operated eight managed campuses for our partners in Singapore, Sri Lanka, Germany, and Dubai and are development new campuses in countries across the world.
ESG
Navitas has a global Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) strategy that embeds 12 principles aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals. It includes a commitment to upholding human rights; preventing modern slavery; supporting Indigenous rights, justice, and reconciliation; fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion; and protecting data privacy. Navitas produces annual IMPACT reports and actions plans for initiatives and robust practices to ensure compliance. It would work closely with U of A to align these activities with those of the university.
Regulatory Compliance
Navitas is at the forefront of shaping Canada as a premier international study destination. Since 2006, we have adhered to rules and regulations and supported the international education strategies of federal and provincial entities.
With a deep understanding of the Canadian regulatory landscape, Navitas distinguishes itself as the sole pathway provider with a proven capacity to grasp and fulfill all criteria set by the federal and provincial governments for obtaining and sustaining a DLI status. Navitas colleges consistently deliver exemplary student support services, ensuring rigorous academic oversight, top-tier quality, and high student satisfaction levels. Universities can be confident that Navitas is primed to address all requisites, secure necessary documentation, meet evaluation benchmarks—including site visits, interviews, and academic oversight reviews—and uphold ongoing reporting standards.
In British Columbia, Manitoba, and Alberta, Navitas was the first to attain Designated Learning Institution (DLI) status for public and private institutional collaborations.
There is an opportunity for Navitas to obtain a separate DLI to U of A for delivery of a pathway program that allows Navitas to bear even more of the risks to international student recruitment.