New publication offers perspectives on transnational education during COVID-19

QAA has today published a summary of the impact of COVID-19 on UK transnational education (TNE), providing 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 during the COVID-19 Pandemic summarises the key issues for UK TNE providers as they continue to adapt their provision.   

Areas for consideration include the implications of a move to digital delivery, including full online provision, blended learning and a range of other changes to delivery mode for TNE; changes in regulation; measures to monitor and evaluate adaptations; students expectations; challenges around place and mode of delivery, communication and assessment; staff development implications; and the issue of in-country recognition of online learning.

Dr Alison Felce, Head of Accreditation & International Services, said: 'UK TNE providers have already made rapid transitions to adapt their delivery across the globe. They now need to consider these adaptions not only in relation to provision for the next academic year, but also in terms of permanent change. This latest guidance offers key summary information for reflection and evaluation, and we’ll be following this up with more information and analysis, including country specific spotlights, over the next few weeks.'

The full document is publicly available on the QAA website.

Later in the year, alongside UUK and GuildHE, QAA will publish the results of its joint consultation to help inform the future of UK TNE: Future Approaches to the External Quality Enhancement of UK Higher Education Transnational Education.

TNE is a significant export for the UK: four out of five universities offer overseas higher education programmes in 225 locations worldwide, delivering UK higher education to over 690,000 students, and contributing more than £600 million to the UK economy.