Through risk management, UK universities can enhance their TNE activity, expand their offering, and grow their capacity for widening access to higher education internationally, while ensuring that partnerships are responsible, sustainable and secure. 

A new report outlines that all phases of a TNE partnership, from inception to winding down, must be underpinned by an integrated approach to managing risk across six key areas: financial risk, reputational risk, academic freedom and freedom of speech, security considerations, relationship and personnel management, and cyber, intellectual property (IP) and data management.

Key findings

The joint British Council and Universities UK International study, based on interviews with UK higher education institutions and British Council TNE experts, found that partnerships were more likely to thrive where they define their strategic objectives for TNE before looking for a partner and scoping host countries. 

The study also found that universities continually need to conduct effective due diligence on external actors and third parties to mitigate against risks throughout the course of a partnership. This due diligence must be accompanied by developing and updating exit strategies and guiding principles for partnerships. 

Universities may also wish to consider more closely aligning existing in-house teams for capacity building and strategy alignment, including research compliance, finance, legal, HR and Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) staff; as well as in-country students, teaching staff, and key internal stakeholders.

In terms of research considerations, the report advises universities to consider appointing internal representatives to oversee the university’s TNE activities in order to increase research security management.

Freedom of speech is also highlighted as a risk, with TNE providers advised to concentrate their efforts on two overarching obligations: upholding the principles of academic freedom and freedom of speech, and appropriately managing any unwarranted behaviour or circumstances that work against these freedoms.

Citation

Brown, A., Lee, A. and Westphal, J. (2024). Managing risk and developing responsible transnational education (TNE) partnerships. British Council and UUK International.