For over 30 years ICEF has been vetting student recruitment agencies to establish and maintain an international benchmark of professionalism. Our formal recognition programme, ICEF Agency Status (IAS), was launched in 2010 and is the industry’s recognised standard for agent quality.  

To achieve accreditation, each agency must undergo a comprehensive vetting process involving reference checks, interviews and a review of business operations. To date, over 5,000 IAS credentials have been awarded to student recruitment professionals around the world.

ICEF is now proudly updating the IAS service with a new ICEF ID initiative. 

We have invested in next-generation blockchain technology, employing OpenCerts technology, developed by the Singapore Government (GovTech), for the provision of unique digital credentials.

Each ICEF ID badge can be easily shared by an agency with students, parents and potential partner institutions. By simply scanning the featured QR code with an app, the agency’s IAS can immediately, and securely, be validated. 

“As more schools look for IAS when seeking new partners, it’s great to be able to support our thousands of accredited agencies by providing a secure digital credential that allows them to prove their status to potential partner institutions, as well as to parents and students.  There are so many ways that blockchain technology can improve our industry. We’re proud to be taking the first step”

Ross Holmes, Executive Director - Digital Services, ICEF