Morning, Wednesday, 18th March 2026
Online
This conference will consider next steps for UK transnational education, including priorities for policy, regulation and market growth, the development of partnerships, and building capacity in ways that support both UK providers and their overseas partners.
It will bring stakeholders and policymakers together to discuss priorities ahead of the forthcoming International Education Strategy, announced in the Post-16 Education and Skills White Paper, and to consider the coordination of TNE with wider developments in industrial and trade policy, and higher education regulation.
Evolving demand & international alignment
Delegates will assess options for expanding TNE in ways that balance ambitions for market growth with support for skills pipelines in host countries, and for leveraging TNE to contribute to wider UK aims relating to global research, trade and diplomatic engagement. Implications for universities and their partners will be considered, including approaches to managing pressures arising from changing demand, political expectations and resource constraints. Delegates will also consider the role of TNE in supporting universities to address funding concerns.
Delivery, standards & transparency
Planned sessions will examine the place of TNE within the quality regulation framework, and potential implications of divergence from the European Standards and Guidelines when they undergo anticipated revision in 2027. Discussion will look at how providers can demonstrate comparability of academic standards and student experiences across different sites, including in joint and dual degrees and in overseas delivery contracts.
Attendees will consider what arrangements are needed to give students, partners and sponsors sufficient assurance as partnerships grow in scale and complexity. Further discussion is expected on options for additional transparency and monitoring mechanisms. We expect this to include questions around degree-awarding powers, programme validation and the recognition of qualifications across borders, as well as co-ordination of oversight across borders and the UK nations.
Engagement & market access
Delegates will assess the effectiveness of programmes designed to reduce barriers to partnership development, and the broader TNE engagement framework, in fostering access to priority markets and implications for models of delivery. This includes settings where restrictive conditions can raise issues for student welfare, institutional independence and wider ethical considerations.
We expect latest thinking on how institutions can respond to shifting political environments - and resource pressures, including at the British Council - considering frameworks for diplomatic, regulatory and sector collaborations that might best support stable long-term partnerships.
Digital models, workforce capacity & skills
Further planned sessions are expected to look at digital provision, how it can broaden access while maintaining quality and reputation, and workforce capacity. Delegates will consider priorities for strengthening connectivity across borders and developing staff skills for cross-jurisdiction teaching, as well as assessing sector proposals for an academy model to support capability.
Research
Delegates will also examine strategies for growing transnational research. Areas for discussion include priorities for investment and the use of decision metrics that can support financial resilience and diversification across regions.
Overall areas for discussion
- international strategy:
- TNE within the forthcoming International Education Strategy review - links to trade policy opportunities
- implications of shifting aid and immigration approaches for long-term sector planning
- assurance and recognition:
- recognition for UK degrees delivered abroad - safeguarding consistent learning outcomes across jurisdictions - implications for graduate mobility and employability in priority regions
- market access:
- new partnership guidelines in countries such as Nigeria and India - navigating restrictive regulatory environments - managing risks associated with concentrated market exposure
- ethical practice:
- academic freedom in host countries - safeguarding student welfare in varied cultural and regulatory settings - maintaining institutional autonomy where political pressures are high
- diplomatic capacity:
- pressures on British Council resources and its ability to support TNE activity - reliance on alternative diplomatic and regulatory channels
- implications for sustaining the UK’s cultural and educational presence overseas
- digital delivery:
- gaps in host-country digital infrastructure - licensing restrictions affecting access to learning materials - addressing variation in digital competence among staff and students
- workforce capability:
- staffing requirements for international delivery - developing and sharing expertise across institutions - managing capacity across domestic and overseas commitments
- financial resilience:
- assessing exposure associated with large-scale international ventures - the role of scorecards and decision metrics in guiding investment
- opportunities linked to regional diversification and collaborative transnational research partnerships
