New report demonstrates strength and value of UK Universities’ transnational education partnerships but urges Government to do more

A new report Universities and International Higher Education Partnerships: Making a Difference published today tracks the extent and scope of the international partnerships of 28 of the UK’s universities. The report from the university think-tank million+ and Kingston University is the first to track the scale of the international activities of universities.

UK universities have developed a wide variety of international links and collaborative arrangements with overseas partners in terms of teaching, research and knowledge transfer which have until now, been underestimated and undervalued.

million+ urges the Government to develop a coordinated strategy to allow the UK to build on the experience and success of the Universities which have become world-leaders in international higher education partnerships. The report puts forward a number of recommendations and a platform for action for Universities, Government and the range of agencies that are involved to different degrees in delivering these partnerships.

Professor Les Ebdon CBE Chair of million+ and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Bedfordshire said, “The debate about international higher education has been dominated by international student numbers. The international partnership activities of UK Universities which have led in this field are of strategic importance to the UK. They also meet the requirements of the Prime Minister’s Initiative because this report confirms that they offer mutual benefits to students, partner institutions and countries.”

Pam Tatlow, Chief Executive of million+ said, “In comparison to Australia, the UK still lacks a comprehensive approach to international HE. This has resulted in a default position which has reinforced presumptions and hierarchies. Government departments, sector agencies and universities need to develop a coordinated strategy if the UK is to build-on the successful international activities which these Universities have developed’

The report futher finds that:

• Partnerships are led by these Universities in over 70 countries (developed and developing) and have been developed in particular in countries in Asia, the Middle East and Africa which the UK Government has prioritised as being strategically important.
• These partnerships are not confirmed to teaching but include research and knowledge transfer.
• Partnerships are of mutual benefits to students, institutions and governments including the UK with many of the Universities using their UK expertise in extending opportunities to access HE to inform their international activities.
• The 28 Universities are partners of choice of overseas institutions including those with global reputations.
• Cities, regions and local companies in the UK are being helped to do business overseas and the international agendas of these universities account for at least £0.6bn of inward investment into the UK.
• £47m is generated by non UK students studying on HE level award programmes outside of the UK.
• Policy-makers relied on their knowledge of research intensive universities and government departments and decision-makers had little knowledge of the extent and scope of the international activities of these Universities even though their international partnerships have been developed for more than a decade.
• There was a lack of coordination and information sharing between government departments, related agencies and universities.

Notes to editors:

1. million+ is a leading university think-tank, working to solve the complex problems in higher education.
2. million+ has 28 subscribing universities which were surveyed for this report.
3. The report will be launched at a major conference today (Tuesday 27 January) which is being supported by DIUS, UKTI, Research Councils UK, the British Council, The Observatory on Borderless Higher Education and UUK’s international Unit.
4. Speakers include:David Willetts MP, Shadow Secretary of State for DIUS, Dr Madeleine Green, Vice-President International from the American Council on Education, Professor Sir Drummond Bone (author of an international strategy report for John Denham MP, Secretary of State, Professor Ian Diamond, Chief Executive Research Councils UK, Professor Robin Middlehurst from the research team at Kingston University, Pat Killingley, Director Higher Education, British Council, Pam Tatlow Chief Executive million+.
5. This report was compiled by a research team from Kingston University: Steve Woodfield and Robin Middlehurst (with Heather Forland) in partnership with John Fielden from CHEMS Consulting.
6. The summary report is attached to this release which includes a number of recommendations and a platform for action for universities, Government and the range of agencies that are involved to different degrees in delivering these partnerships
7. The conference programme can be found at http://www.neilstewartassociates.com/jb262 and is supported by DIUS, UKTI, Research Councils UK, the British Council, the UUK international Unit and the Observatory on Borderless Higher Education.
8. For more information please contact Gemma Tumelty, Public Affairs Officer on 0207 7171657 or 07900277819