Extending and strengthening international connections in higher education
The UK’s higher education sector is one of its greatest assets. Our work in higher education and science aims to strengthen and extend international connections between the UK and other countries, by building relationships and enabling collaboration through student mobility, partnerships and joint research.
Connecting international learners
International students bring a benefit to both the UK and sending countries – by making UK campuses more vibrant, they strengthen the academic experience for all learners, and by using the knowledge and connections gained in the UK, they support positive change in their communities. We work to promote the UK as a top study destination for international learners, as well as providing scholarships and other international opportunities. We also train and support agents and counsellors, so they can offer accurate information to international students, and support the UK Agent Quality Framework to enhance the partnership between the UK education sector and agents and counsellors and to recognise and share best practice.
Connecting international alumni
Successful graduates are not only the best ambassadors for UK higher education, but can continue to work with the UK throughout their professional lives, whether as political leaders, business professionals or advocates and activists for action to address global challenges. Through our Alumni UK platform, we maintain relationships with the alumni of UK institutions after they have graduated and support them to develop networks and progress in their careers through new learning and engagement opportunities.
Connecting institutions
International higher education partnerships not only create more capacity – which is essential to meet growing demand – and improve the quality of education; they also connect people and build understanding and trust across cultures. Partnerships are also the foundation for transnational education, by enabling UK institutions to offer courses and qualifications overseas, through branch campuses, joint degrees and other arrangements. We support institutions in the UK and other countries to work together – either in teaching and learning or in research partnerships – and work alongside other UK higher education sector bodies to get the right regulatory partnership frameworks in place.
Connecting systems
At the system level, we support countries to policymakers in government to remove barriers and enhance international co-operation, paving the way for new partnerships, transnational education and mobility opportunities, and trusted international relationships. Our work has led to bilateral, government-to-government agreements in India, Brazil, Nigeria and Viet Nam, all of which will pave the way for UK education providers to offer transnational education programmes.
Connecting researchers
Over 60 per cent of UK research is done in collaboration with international partners, which helps UK scores so well for quality and impact in international league tables. As well as supporting collaborative research partnerships between the UK and other countries, we also support early-career researchers to build the international networks they need at the early stages of their professional lives.
