Transnational education

From remote campuses to joint degree programmes, advice for teaching within, developing and optimising transnational education (TNE) for universities who serve students in different countries.

Mixed group of medical students around instructor holding 3D model of the heart

Good medicine: tackling global health inequalities with cross-border student research

North/south collaborations teach the intercultural communication and joint working skills essential for addressing the challenges of a complex world. Here are key principles to help get such projects going

Nephtali Marina-Gonzalez, Peter Snow, Olutayo Ifedayo Ajayi

UCL, University of Global Health Equity

Chinese students working together at a laptop

From silence to engagement in Sino-foreign education

Don’t just view silence as a problem to solve, recognise its implications and support students to develop the confidence to participate at their own pace, say Zhou Ge and Irina Shcheglova. Here’s how

Zhou Ge, Irina Shcheglova

Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University

Group of international students in a lecture all

Why ethical internationalisation starts with listening

If the UK higher education sector wants its transnational education partnerships to be socially responsible, academically rigorous and politically resilient, universities must prioritise co-creation and cultural literacy, writes Valentina Cardo

Valentina Cardo

University of Southampton

A group of students at a desk working on a project

A ‘smart’ way to get students working together

Reduce the tendency to ‘divide and write’ with a five-step process that draws on individual strengths, promotes constructive communication and ensures equal participation

Ya Zhang, Shuhao Zhang, Yu Liu

Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University

How to build inclusion into a transnational campus from day one

While robust EDI policies are essential, equity, diversity and inclusion efforts become truly meaningful when visible representation and everyday interactions are prioritised across the institution

Anupama Saini

University of Southampton

Male South Asian student in university library

When a university TNE library is as much diplomat as database

On a transnational university campus, the library can be a space that encourages intellectual risk-taking, engagement with equality, diversity and inclusion objectives, and collaboration on global challenges such as the climate crisis

Anupama Saini

University of Southampton

Campus Talks: What lies behind the success – or failure – of international branch campuses?

Find out what underpins success when setting up and developing a branch campus overseas and why financial returns are not a good motivation, from an academic who helped establish and later lead one such project

Christine Ennew, Miranda Prynne

Campus

How to deliver value for international students

When international students have their pick of institutions all over the world when choosing where to study, how do universities stay competitive?

Campus contributors, Eliza Compton

Campus

Young university student in online meeting

Use early engagement to build belonging for international students

Connecting with international students well before they arrive on campus – and maintaining contact across joint and transnational programmes – helps universities to transform anxious newcomers into confident global citizens

Jennifer Clevenger

Virginia Tech

Developing a Kantian transnational clinical legal education programme

Enabling students to engage in supervised cross-border legal work bridges theory and practice while equipping them for a globalised landscape. Omar Madhloom and Martin Sticker outline the benefits, challenges and pathways forward

Omar Madhloom, Martin Sticker

University of Southampton, The University of Bristol

Connectivity graphic showing different devices

Digital assumptions versus global realities in transnational education

Connectivity and access remain key challenges as universities in the Global North extend provision beyond their borders. Reflective questions about the experience of TNE students and staff can help ensure courses remain relevant and inclusive

Tabetha Newman, Elizabeth Newall

Jisc

A hashtag with students sitting studying on it

The business of online education

Guidance on how to successfully develop and market higher education teaching and learning online to deliver value to students and drive revenue for your institution

Campus contributors

Campus

How to navigate the digital challenges of transnational education

As UK transnational education grows, universities must tackle the digital barriers facing global learners. Here are five practical strategies to help you deliver equitable, high-quality provision worldwide

Patrice Seuwou

University of Northampton

Two language students reading a physical document

Content is king in EAP teaching

Content-based instruction is reshaping English for academic purposes teaching by making subject matter central to language learning. Garth Elzerman and Catherine Sari share four strategies for creating deeper, more purposeful engagement in the classroom

Garth Elzerman, Catherine Sari

Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University

East Asian students crowding around a laptop in class

Build rapport to encourage Chinese students to speak up

Faced with students’ shyness and culture shock, how can English for academic purposes teachers on international branch campuses help them gain confidence in speaking English?

Ritchie Bowen

Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University

Spotlight guide Teaching and researching across international borders

Teaching and researching across international borders

How to support a global higher education system in which international students and academics work and learn alongside peers from all over the world

Campus contributors

Campus

Create an online learning environment international students feel comfortable in

For international students, navigating online learning is just another challenge among the many they’re already facing. Rajeev Kamineni offers advice based on his own learning journey

Rajeev Kamineni

Adelaide University

Campus Talks: Two vice-chancellors on maintaining quality and financial stability within a university

Hear Anton Muscatelli of the University of Glasgow and Alex Zelinsky of the University of Newcastle, Australia, discuss the complexities of successfully running a university

Anton Muscatelli, Alex Zelinsky

University of Glasgow, The University of Newcastle, Australia

East asian students in a library working together

Transnational education in China: challenges and keys to success

When branching out to the Chinese market, it is important to understand student motivation, hire the right staff and form collaborative partnerships, as Zhen Zhang explains

Zhen Zhang

University of La Verne

Crossing time zones: developing a transnational professional development series

Co-creation with TNE partners allows both front-line educators and host institution opportunities for quality assurance and pathways to build communities of practice. Here, Dom Conroy and Santanu Vasant outline 11 steps to working with international partners

Dom Conroy, Santanu Vasant

London Metropolitan University

Class of students using Etherpad to discuss learning points

Use Etherpad to improve engagement in large transnational classes

By leveraging technology to create an anonymous and collaborative space, educators can empower hesitant students to actively contribute and foster a more interactive and inclusive learning environment

Ying Feng

Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University

Help students make the most of studying overseas at branch campuses and beyond

Chris Pirie offers advice on how to run a smooth international student exchange programme

Chris Pirie

Heriot-Watt University

Quality assurance of online transnational higher education

Online and hybrid degrees are booming, but work needs to be done to maintain the reputation of Australian online university degrees in the transnational education space, writes Fion Lim

Fion Choon Boey Lim

University of Technology Sydney

International partnerships for universities

Seven tips on finding and establishing international partnerships

An international partnership is like a marriage – once the courting is over, long-term compatibility is crucial, says Debra Hinds

Debra Hinds

Arden University

International academic partnerships can be very useful

A guide to the dos and don’ts of international partnerships

Navigating cultural issues, considering local rules, establishing red lines and much more will be required if you are to create a strong partnership and protect both partners

Jason E. Lane, Jessica D. Schueller

Miami University

Image representing a global team working together

Helping doctoral students build international connections

PhD students’ learning and research can be greatly enhanced through international collaboration. A team from Imperial College London shares practical tips for supporting these cross-border links between doctoral students

Elena Forasacco, Laura Bulmer, Laura Lane

Imperial College London

Image depicting institutional branches scattered around the globe

What determines the success of an international branch campus?

What do successful international branch campuses have in common? Nigel Healey outlines the key characteristics that institutions wishing to extend their presence overseas should take heed of

Nigel Healey

University of Limerick

Western universities need to get theirs heads out of the sand and embrace international partnerships

Western universities need to look further afield or risk alienation

So many institutions have their heads in the sand, but if they create true international partnerships, they can reap great rewards, says Hugh Martin

Hugh Martin

British University in Dubai

A war reporter on the BBC, an organisation that opened its outlook to include overseas voices - which higher education also needs to do

I ran the BBC World Service – it showed me how universities can be truly global

Forget our universities’ Brit-centric approach – developing an authentically global experience needs to be at the core of higher education’s digital future

Peter Horrocks

Learna

Insight on how global trends will dictate the direction of innovation in transnational education

Innovative approaches to transnational education

Vangelis Tsiligiris outlines the key areas for innovation in the design and delivery of transnational education based on changing needs and developments in the global higher education landscape

Vangelis Tsiligiris

Advice on the key considerations for setting up a branch campus overseas

The dos and don’ts for setting up an international campus

Tobias Kliem offers insight on what to prioritise and what to avoid when setting up a branch campus overseas

Tobias Kliem

Arden University

Advice on running successful tutorials in transnational courses

Running effective tutorials in transnational education

Michael Daw explores the challenges and misconceptions related to running interactive tutorials in joint international courses, based on his experience teaching a UK-China programme in China

Michael Daw

The University of Edinburgh, Zhejiang University

Applying flexibility, inclusion and empathy to your hybrid teaching model for on-campus and overseas students

Guiding principles to support students on campus and overseas through hybrid teaching

Markus Davis explains how three guiding principles of flexibility, inclusion and empathy have helped shape a hybrid teaching model that serves both on-campus and overseas students effectively

Markus Davis

Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University

Driving internationalisation in digital teaching to enhance the student learning experience

Using internationalisation to enhance digital learning experiences for all

Omolabake Fakunle explains how steps to support internationalisation in digital teaching can enhance the learning experience for all students

Omolabake Fakunle

The University of Edinburgh

Steps to running online masters courses that cater for international students

Developing online master’s courses for an international audience

Lauren Johnston-Smith describes steps to create a quality learning experience for students enrolled on online postgraduate courses from all over the world

Lauren Johnston-Smith

The University of Edinburgh

How use online teaching to enhance university's international education offering

Boosting international education and collaboration through online delivery

With its lack of physical boundaries, online teaching can be used to boost access to learning for international students, as Stuart Perrin explains

Stuart Perrin

Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University

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