Stop the Use of Student Agents!

Norwegian public schools receive financial support from the government based on the number of passed exam credits taken by students. This policy creates a strong incentive for the schools to recruit international students through student intermediaries/agents.

There are currently 15 Chinese students at Molde University College (www.himolde.no) who come from Chinese institutions that have no bilateral agreement with Molde University College. All of these students used agents when they applied to Molde University College.

Molde University College only accepts applications from non-bilateral Chinese students who use agents. Non-bilateral Chinese students who do not use agents and who try to apply directly to Molde University College are rejected/ignored and implicitly/explicitly forced by Molde University College to use the schools appointed illegal agents.

These illegal agents are Wang Yikai, a Molde University College ex-quota student, and Zhou Yi from "Lin Qin" company in Shanghai. Both agents have a close relationship with certain staff members at Molde University College.

Each of these non-bilateral Chinese students must pay the illegal agents on average NOK 30 000a four-to-five year salary of a Chinese worker. If we compare this amount to the Norwegian standard, it is approximately equal to NOK 1 000 000.

Legally, application to Norwegian public schools is free, and applicants are not required to use agents. Therefore, we find the non-bilateral Chinese student admission policy at Molde University College very discriminative, exploitative, illegal, unacceptable, and unethical.

(1) We demand that Norwegian authorities conduct an immediate and full investigation into this case. All Molde University College staff members involved in this questionable and corrupt practice must be held accountable.

(2) We demand that Molde University College and its agents pay back the money the students have paid to the agents. Legally, it is free to apply to Molde University College. Thus, the students deserve the money back.

(3) We demand that Molde University College stops recruiting students via agents and applies an equal opportunity and non-discriminatory admission policy to all applicants.

(4) We demand that Molde University College provides a transparent, accurate, and honest disclosure of its admission policy to the public.

(5) We demand that the Norwegian government only pays Norwegian public schools based on the number of passed exam credits taken by students who do not use agents. Norwegian public schools must not receive money from the government (taxpayers) for students who use agents.



Cc:
The Norwegian Ministry of Education and Research
The Norwegian Ministry of Justice and the Police