The fifth Deep Dialogues event will take place in Cairo, Egypt from 20-22 January 2026, with attendees including tertiary education providers, sector experts and government representatives.
This event is happening at a time when countries across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region are investing in higher education reform as part of broader national development visions, with a shared recognition that the economies of the future will be knowledge-driven. International partnerships are often seen as an important part of national efforts to strengthen system quality, improve graduate outcomes, expand research collaboration, and create regional education hubs. Specifically, ambitions to increase transnational education (TNE) feature in national strategies across the region, with the establishment of high-profile branch campuses a particular focus as governments expand infrastructure, streamline regulation and develop plans both for domestic enrolments and for recruitment of a growing number of international students.
The theme of the January 2026 Deep Dialogues event is 'The role of transnational education in advancing higher education strategies in the Middle East and North Africa'. It aims to create a space to discuss the diverse transnational education models within MENA – from franchises and dual degrees to collaborative provision, including digitally-enabled partnerships, and branch campuses – and to reflect on how successfully these models are responding to the priorities of national governments, institutions and students. There will be a particular focus on effective strategies to leverage the benefits of TNE collaboration, how TNE interacts with and supports wider institutional priorities, and the outcomes that are delivered for students. The dialogue will consider both regional and UK perspectives and will facilitate the sharing of practical experience among TNE practitioners and policy makers.