Over the pandemic years, the number of students enrolled on degrees taught outside the UK has continued to grow. According to UUKi’s 2020/21 report, there were over half a million students enrolled in transnational education (TNE) degrees: a 13% increase on the previous year. Around half of provision is located within Asia, with China hosting the largest number by some margin. Seemingly, there is opportunity for further growth in China, as demand from students and government for Sino-foreign degrees continues unabated.
Insofar as it is possible to determine, the UK appears to be head and shoulders above other country systems in the range and scale of its TNE operations. However, whilst many UK universities are engaged in some form of TNE, 50% of total provision is delivered by just 15 institutions. The prevailing approach of UK universities is one of partnership, leading to new and distinctive educational models, which draw on the strengths of each system (such as Xi’an Jiaotong Liverpool University). Contrast this with the prevailing US model, which is to establish branch campuses (such as New York University in Shanghai, Abu Dhabi etc).
Other English-speaking countries are keen to get in on the act: the educational strategies of both the Australian and Canadian governments describe their intent to grow TNE substantially. With Australian ambitions firmly in mind, it is noteworthy that, for the first time in 2019, the UK dropped to third place as a global study destination, with Australia moving into second place behind the USA.
