Transnational Education (TNE) activity has been growing exponentially over the last decade and – particularly due to the current Covid-19 pandemic – is likely to play a significant role in partnerships and higher education in the future. What is TNE? TNE is a broad term which can be used to describe a range of teaching and partnerships models, including but not limited to, joint and dual degree programmes, double awards, blended learning and branch campuses. The number of students studying with Scottish providers has increased over the last 10 years with results from Universities UK International (UUKI) research showing the student headcount being over 42,000 for the academic year 2018-19. Read the report and view the interactive graphs on the UUKI website Why are these partnerships more important than ever now? Since the outbreak of Covid-19, there has been an increased investment in the transition to blended and remote learning. UK NARIC has looked into some of the key challenges and the long-standing complex issues surrounding the recognition of qualifications obtained through distance learning, with a particular focus on China, Hong Kong, India, Malaysia, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Singapore and Sri Lanka, with other countries being focused on in future publications. Universities UK, Independent HE and the Association of Colleges have jointly published principles and guidance for collaborative teaching partnerships during the Covid-19 pandemic. The guidance includes examples of effective practice others may want to replicate or learn from. Universities UK website QAA has published a summary of the impact that Covid-19 has on UK TNE partnerships. The publication 'Effective Practice in UK Transnational Education', released during the Covid-19 Pandemic, provides information and reflective questions for providers to evaluate the changes they’ve made in the light of the pandemic. Effective Practice in UK Transnational Education [PDF] Protecting the UK post-Brexit Another factor supporting the renewed importance of TNE partnerships is the UK’s departure from the European Union. Universities UK recently submitted written evidence concerning the future UK-EU relationship for UK TNE to the House of Lords’ European Union Services Sub-Committee. The article states that TNE services should be protected by a comprehensive agreement to avoid falling back on WTO rules, ensure market access to UK HE providers, protect the recognition of UK qualifications, and enable mobility of professionals. Universities UK’s written evidence [PDF] TNE at the University of Edinburgh Zhejiang University-University of Edinburgh Institute (ZJE) is an innovative TNE collaboration in Biomedical Sciences and Biomedical Informatics. Both universities established the joint research and teaching institute in Zhejiang, which delivers four-year dual-award undergraduate programmes in Integrative Biomedical Science and Biomedical Informatics and a dual-award PhD programme. Other TNE partnerships at the University include collaborations between the Edinburgh College of Art (ECA) and Shanghai International College of Fashion and Innovation (SCF). The partnership includes five-week projects created, delivered, and assessed by academic staff from Interior Design and Fashion at the University of Edinburgh. During their second year of study, students at SCF also have the opportunity to transfer to study their third and fourth years in Fashion or Interior Design at Edinburgh. Profiles of both ZJE and Dongua are on our East Asia Regional website Support from the Edinburgh Global Partnerships Team The University has a range of resources available for staff, and our Partnerships Team can provide support and signposting to help you. The Team's webpages have recently been updated, and there is a store of useful guidance for the University of Edinburgh (the area is EASE protected for staff only). If you’re interested in setting up a partnership or in TNE, please get in touch. We also publish useful information for staff online: Global Partnership - Staff Toolkit TNE in Scotland Universities Scotland have been working to showcase the wide range of TNE opportunities across Scottish universities. This highlights some of the innovative programmes, including Stirling’s Media and Communications links to Vietnam, Heriot-Watt’s campuses in Malaysia and Dubai, and Aberdeen’s Qatar campus. Internationally Scottish publication [PDF] British Council resources The British Council has a range of videos on HE partnerships including Research Collaborations: Beyond the Pandemic: the future of international research collaboration - Watch the video Teaching and Learning: Reimagining Equitable Access – Challenges and opportunities in online teaching and learning - Watch the video Social Innovation: Fostering Societal Impact through social innovation and entrepreneurship across boundaries - Watch the video TNE - Governance Policy and Management in Uncertain Times - Watch the video TNE - Student Experience in a Post-Mobility Environment - Watch the video TNE - Academics and Faculties engagement - Watch the video TNE – Directions of Travel - Watch the video TNE – adapting to and fostering ‘new world’ partnerships - Watch the video This article was published on 2024-06-24
