The end of transnational education? The view from the UK

ABSTRACT

The growth of transnational education has been a major focus of attention for the UK sector since 2010. During a period when international student recruitment has stagnated, transnational education (TNE) has been widely seen as an alternative way of diversifying revenue and building international profile for universities. The UK presently dominates the global TNE market. In 2017/2018, approximately 700,000 students were studying for UK higher education qualifications in their own country – more than twice the number of international (non-European Union) students who travelled to the UK to study. Despite the interest in TNE and the growth in offshore enrolments, there has been growing scepticism about the net economic benefits of TNE and the sustainability of TNE models. This article reviews the drivers of TNE activity and concludes the high-tide mark for UK universities has been passed and that TNE may be entering a period of decline.

KEYWORDS:

• Transnational education
• borderless education
• crossborder education
• internationalisation of higher education

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Notes on contributor

Professor Nigel Martin Healey is vice-chancellor of Fiji National University. Prior to taking up his appointment in 2016, he held senior academic positions at Nottingham Trent University, the University of Canterbury and Manchester Metropolitan University, as well as a teaching position at the University of Leicester. His current research interests are in the internationalisation of higher education, transnational education and higher education policy and management.

Notes

1 https://www.universitiesuk.ac.uk/International/heglobal