New UK international education strategy pushes offshore expansion

The UK government is aiming to increase the value of education exports by £7 billion over the next four years as part of a new international education strategy that shies away from setting specific student number targets.

The latest International Education Strategy, published on 20 January, sets out plans to grow education exports to £40 billion per year by 2030, while continuing to “sustainably recruit high-quality international students” to British universities and schools. 

The strategy replaces the 2019 iteration that set a target of recruiting 600,000 international students by 2030 – a goal the country achieved a decade early. 

Now, the government says it is committed to ensuring a “globally competitive offer” for international students, including retaining the Graduate Route – which it shortened to 18 months – and expanding the High Potential Individual visa route.

However, amid pressure to reduce immigration, Labour has stopped short of setting a target or discussing student numbers in the document at all. Instead, policymakers said they will support “strategic” and “responsible” international recruitment.

The strategy says the government will “work with the sector to support institutions in putting the student experience first, including strong support systems, adequate infrastructure and access to local housing”.

“We will encourage institutions to diversify their recruitment, reducing reliance on any single country and strengthening cultural exchange on UK campuses,” it says.

“We will also encourage sector-led initiatives to support the integrity of the UK’s immigration system, such as the Agent Quality Framework (AQF), to help tackle the risk of poor practices, protect students, and drive improved standards in the recruitment of international higher education students.”

There have been growing concerns in recent years about the use of student visas as an immigration route, leading to new restrictions set out in the government’s immigration White Paper published last year.

The latest strategy says the government will take “firm action against those who seek to exploit our immigration routes”. 

Despite the pressures, with education exports worth £32.3 billion to the UK in 2022, the government has set its sights on growth across the entirety of the sector – one it wants to become a “major engine of UK economic growth”.

Transnational education (TNE) is a particular focal point of the strategy, with over half a million students already studying for a UK qualification outside of the country. 

“This presents a major opportunity to deepen our international partnerships and extend the reach of UK education,” the strategy says. 

The government says it will “identify and remove barriers to sustainable TNE growth and support UK institutions to engage with opportunities” as well as continuing to “monitor and ensure that UK institutions deliver the highest quality of TNE provision by raising awareness of the legal, financial and security risks of operating overseas through sector-led action plans”. 

TNE exports were worth £3 billion across all education levels in 2022. Since then, UK universities have ramped up their activities abroad in the face of falling student numbers at home, with several set to open campuses in India. 

The strategy says the UK will continue to prioritise key markets including India, Indonesia, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia and Vietnam, led by the country’s international education champion, Steve Smith. 

In particular, Labour is looking to form strategic partnerships with other governments to help promote the UK’s education sector and boost the country’s position on the world stage. 

“We will increase the UK’s international standing through education and make the UK the global partner of choice at every stage of learning – a system trusted to deliver excellence and opportunity wherever it operates,” the strategy says. 

It also prioritises strengthening international research collaborations, creating more opportunities for young Brits to study abroad – including through a recent deal to rejoin Erasmus+ – and expanding recognition of UK academic and professional qualifications. 

“UK education is one of our most valuable exports and this strategy backs the sector to go even further – underlining our commitment to fuel UK growth,” said education secretary Bridget Phillipson.

“By expanding overseas, our universities, colleges and education providers can diversify income, strengthen global partnerships and give millions more access to a world-class UK education on their doorstep, all whilst boosting growth at home.”

Malcolm Press, president of Universities UK, welcomed the new strategy, saying it “signals a renewed commitment to fostering the global reach, reputation and impact of our universities, and recognises the huge benefits this delivers to our global partners and to communities across the whole of the UK”. 

helen.packer@timeshighereducation.com