March 2026
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This conference focused on next steps for UK transnational education, looking at priorities for policy, regulation and quality assurance, and market growth. Delegates discussed approaches for developing partnerships, and building capacity in ways that support both UK providers and their overseas partners, alongside policy ambitions for the UK’s positioning in international higher education and cultural exchange.
It brought stakeholders and policymakers together to consider the Government’s renewed emphasis on TNE as a central pillar of the recently published UK’s International Education Strategy, including ambitions to grow education exports to £40bn by 2030 and expand UK provision overseas.
Delegates assessed the potential impact of removing targets on international student numbers in the UK, and with initiatives such as UK-India Vision 2035, sessions looked at how TNE can best be coordinated with wider developments in industrial and trade policy, and higher education regulation.
Evolving demand, political pressures & international alignment
Delegates considered 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. Strategies for meeting rising global demand for high‑quality education were assessed, including options for widening the UK TNE offer in new and expanding markets, including technical and digital education. Long-term strategies for adaptable TNE models were also considered, and how universities can respond to pressures arising from resource constraints, fluctuating student demand and geopolitical changes.
We expected latest thinking on how institutions can respond to shifting political environments, including the interaction of national policies and institution principles of academic freedom and autonomy. This included navigating new policy expectations around strengthened compliance, reputational assurance and responsible expansion overseas. Areas for discussion also included priorities for protecting student welfare and managing risk in volatile environments, addressing resource pressures - including at the British Council - and forging frameworks for diplomatic, regulatory and sector collaboration that best support stable long-term partnerships.
Delivery, standards & transparency
Sessions examined 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. Potential options for tougher compliance standards for providers - announced in the International Education Strategy - were considered, including implications for oversight, monitoring and risk management as overseas activity grows.
Delegates assessed 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. Sessions also looked at the future for consistency in quality assurance and recognition across international partnerships and how to meet demands for clearer, robust mechanisms to underpin high standards. Areas for discussion included regulation of degree-awarding powers, programme validation and the recognition of qualifications across borders, as well as coordination of oversight nationally and internationally amid growing expectations for transparency as transnational enrolments scale, with over 620,000 students currently registered with UK universities overseas.
Attendees considered what arrangements are needed to give students, partners and sponsors sufficient assurance as partnerships grow in scale and complexity. Options for additional transparency and monitoring mechanisms were considered, alongside the growth of TNE initiatives.
Engagement, policy & market access
Delegates discussed measures designed to reduce barriers to partnership development, looking at their effectiveness and next steps for the broader TNE engagement framework in fostering access to priority markets. This included the role of government and sector bodies in addressing restrictive regulatory conditions that stifle international partnerships. Strategies for reducing barriers to trade and strengthening coordinated support through government and diplomatic networks were considered, as well as key focus areas for the Education Sector Action Group.
Priorities for policy frameworks in supporting the sector’s future growth were also discussed, drawing on latest thinking on how TNE can support universities to address financial concerns, diversify income streams, and strengthen institutional sustainability.
Digital models, workforce capacity & skills
Further sessions assessed digital provision and how it can be deployed to successfully broaden access while also supporting quality, reputation, and institutional integrity. Consideration was given to how providers can support government ambitions to grow digital education exports, AI‑enabled innovation and future skills training to drive international competitiveness. Delegates discussed options to address challenges of strengthening connectivity across borders, particularly in regions with underdeveloped digital infrastructure.
Further opportunities for working around gaps in host-country digital infrastructure were assessed, including priorities for mitigating the impact of licensing restrictions limiting access to learning materials and curriculum delivery.
Variations in digital literacy among students and staff was also an area of focus, looking at balancing domestic and international workload demands. Strategies for developing staff skills for cross-jurisdiction teaching were discussed, and the future for sector-wide approaches - such as the academy model - in supporting the development of workforce capacity to meet the needs of global education delivery.
There was also discussion on how access to licensed teaching resources can be improved and legal, cost and censorship barriers can be tackled.
Research
Delegates also examined strategies for growing transnational research, including investment strategies and alignment of funding with impactful research, priorities for improving financial resilience across transnational education, as well as integrating research activity into TNE provision to support collaborative research efforts, enhance institutional reputation, foster innovation, and support UK and host-country priorities. Discussion considered the role of research collaboration in achieving broader objectives of strengthening the UK’s global soft power and long-term international partnerships
Strategies for improving risk management were also examined, looking at key issues for decision-making in supporting financial resilience, diversification, and sustainable partnership models.
All delegates were able to contribute to the output of the conference, which will be shared with parliamentary, ministerial, departmental and regulatory offices, and more widely. This includes the full proceedings and additional articles submitted by delegates. As well as key stakeholders, those who attended include officials from the Department for Education; Department for Business and Trade; Department for the Economy, NI; Home Office; and the Welsh Government.
