Quality agency wins grant to tackle UK TNE growth barriers

The Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA) has been awarded an approximately 20% share of a new British government fund designed to “unlock export opportunities” worth billions of pounds for UK companies and organisations over the next five years.

The QAA will receive £470,000 (US$609,000) from the UK government’s £2.3 million Regulatory Partnership for Growth Fund “to deliver a set of international interventions designed to address barriers to UK higher education” in key international markets.

The announcement was made at the start of a visit by the new Labour government’s Secretary of State for Business and Trade Jonathan Reynolds to Brazil during which he will attend his first G20 trade talks summit.

Sectors like clean energy and life sciences are set to benefit, along with transnational education (TNE).

Work on a range of projects to be delivered during this academic year include: the development of UK transnational education in Kazakhstan; the recognition of UK TNE qualifications in Uzbekistan; recognition of non-standard degrees from UK providers in Qatar; recognition of international qualifications in Vietnam; the recognition of transnational distance learning provision in India; and the recognition of blended learning programmes in China.

Building connections

Vicki Stott, the QAA’s executive director of operations, said: “Through our international work and networks, we see first-hand the role that the higher education sector plays, both economically and reputationally, in building cultural and business connections across the world.

“So, we’re really grateful to the Department of Business and Trade (DBT) for the funding for these projects that aim to break down barriers to the UK's higher education collaboration worldwide.”

Eduardo Ramos, the QAA’s director of international and professional services responsible for accreditation, consultancy and quality evaluation and enhancement of UK TNE activities, led the negotiation of the grant with the DBT.

He posted on LinkedIn that it would “position the UK firmly as a trusted high-quality education partner in key countries”.

Vangelis Tsiligkiris, professor of international education at Nottingham Business School, based at Nottingham Trent University in the UK and founder of the TNE Hub, told University World News: “One of the main obstacles for the development of TNE is the recognition and regulatory constraints and this grant will help UK HE global engagement and particularly TNE activities.

“The work of the UK QAA is highly regarded internationally and there is unique expertise in-house.

“So overall a very positive development that can support the UK HE sector through meaningful interventions in key international markets.”

Strong signal from government

Dr Janet Ilieva, founder and director of the Education Insight international education consultancy, told University World News that the QAA is “trusted by many quality bodies and ministries for education” around the world.

She described the new Labour government’s support for the QAA’s transnational education work in countries rapidly expanding their tertiary education provision as “timely and much needed”.

Ilieva said: “Typically, the liberalisation of domestic higher education is accompanied by the enactment of favourable regulations for transnational education, with India being a notable example.

“Support for high-quality TNE engagement and recognition of awarded degrees is a fantastic development and a strong signal from the government for international cooperation in education.”

Work on these projects will be delivered during this academic year, said the QAA.

“It will draw upon expertise and relationships developed by QAA through its extensive engagements overseas in terms of both its international quality review activities for the formal accreditation of courses and institutions, and its engagement activities with regulators, quality agencies and education authorities through bilateral partnerships and quality assurance networks,” explained a QAA spokesperson.

Boost for UK exports

The new Regulatory Partnership for Growth Fund is designed to boost UK exports by supporting projects that help countries develop UK export-friendly legislation in key international markets by allocating funds from the Department for Business and Trade’s budget to various accreditation and regulatory boards.

Aligning foreign regulations with UK interests is expected to “unlock export opportunities worth nearly £5 billion” for UK companies and organisations over five years, said a DBT spokesperson.

Announcing the new fund, the trade secretary said: “The fund will help UK regulators work with international partners to remove trade barriers and shape markets in various growing sectors.

“In an exciting project in the life sciences sector, this will see UK regulators and expert bodies work closely with Brazil’s ministry of health in sharing best practice around evaluating cancer drugs, supporting them to improve their nation’s health, while making it easier for the industry to access Brazil’s pharmaceutical market.”

Improved accreditation process

“The fund will also support UK regulators who will aim to improve the process for accreditation of UK education programmes, such as university degrees, in countries all over the world, including Malaysia.”

The QAA is an independent body and registered charity, working with governments, agencies and institutions globally to support UK higher education and its international reputation by safeguarding standards and working to improve the quality of UK higher education wherever it is delivered around the world.

It is funded by 98% of UK universities and by providing contracts, consultancy and business development work in the UK and internationally.

According to the latest data from the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA), the number of students studying overseas for UK qualifications rose by 8% in 2022-2023 to 576,705, with 75% of TNE students registered at a UK provider studying by distance learning, at an overseas campus, or via other arrangements such as collaborative provision with partner organisations.

The remaining 25% of TNE students were studying for an award of a UK HE provider while registered at another overseas organisation or via other arrangements.

China, Sri Lanka and Malaysia had the highest numbers of TNE students studying for UK qualifications with these three countries accounting for over 30% of the total between them.

The HESA data shows that 66% of TNE students were studying at undergraduate level and 34% at postgraduate level.

University World News reported last month that the University of Southampton had overcome bureaucratic hurdles relating to foreign universities operating in India and has been granted a licence for an overseas branch campus in Gujarat in what is seen as a landmark development for UK TNE in the country.

Nic Mitchell is a UK-based freelance journalist and PR consultant specialising in European and international higher education. He blogs at www.delacourcommunications.com