Transnational education | British Council

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As demand for higher education outstrips supply globally, transnational education is growing rapidly. Delivered through a wide variety of programmes and platforms (distance learning programmes, teaching partnerships, off-shore campuses and, recently, MOOCs), what are the pros and cons of these? What is the geographical spread of TNE and its impact?

In this section

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Scale of higher education transnational education 2020-21

November 2022: This report provides a snapshot analysis of where, at what level, and through what type of provision TNE students studied during the 2020−21 academic year.

The Value of Transnational Education Partnerships

October 2022: Spanning over 12 geographies and including a series of case studies, this report showcases the variety of value and impact TNE can have across and within countries.

Environment for Transnational Education Partnerships and UK Qualifications: Challenges and Opportunities

October 2022: Focusing on 16 countries, this research explores the explicit and implicit challenges to greater collaboration in HE, with strategic recommendations for key stakeholders.

Local impact of transnational education: a pilot study in selected European countries

April 2021: This report explores the impacts of UK transnational education programmes on partner institutions and students in a number of European countries.

Transnational routes to on-shore UK higher education

October 2020: This report is a review and update on the work carried out by HEFCE in 2014 and 2015 on TNE pathways to higher education in England.

International programme and provider mobility in selected African countries

May 2019: Mapping study of IPPM national policies, regulations and activities in selected African countries.

The Landscape for Transnational Education in the Nigerian Higher Education System

November 2018: Based on the analysis of 42 Nigerian universities and 12 institutions, this report focuses on the current level of openness to transnational education.

Report: Transnational education data collection systems

May 2017: Research on the existence and characteristics of TNE data collection systems in host countries and the capacity to produce robust data on TNE programmes and enrolment rates.

Report: The Scale and Scope of UK HE Transnational Education

June 2016: this report showcases the great breadth and variety of models and partnerships in the UK’s outgoing HE transnational education.

Report: A guide for creating UK-Thailand TNE partnerships

March 2016: easy-step-guide for UK and Thai universities interested in developing TNE programmes in Thailand.

Report: TNE - A guide for creating partnerships in India

December 2015: report offering an overview of the current UKIndia transnational partnerships and guidance on how to establish new transnational education partnerships with India.

Report: Impacts of transnational education on host countries

April 2014: This study is the first in-depth look at the impact of transnational education (TNE) on countries where it is delivered, from their own perspective.

Report: Exploring the impacts of TNE on host countries

2014: This report summarises the results of a pilot study we undertook to explore the impacts of transnational education on ten host countries.

Report: UK-China E-learning Roundtable

October 2013: Roundtable discussion between the UK and China about the future of online education.

Report: Vision 2020

International education is an economic sector that is extremely attractive to the UK: it is knowledge-intensive, high value-added and offers long-term benefits.

Report: The shape of things to come 2

March 2013: Going Global 2013 saw the launch of a piece of work which maps the evolution of transnational education (TNE) globally, with a particular focus on the impact on host countries.