The current International Education Strategy (IES) has primarily focused on the narrative of exports. This emphasis has highlighted the domestic importance of international student recruitment and its contribution to the UK's economic well-being. While acknowledging the intangible impacts of campus enrichment and long-term soft power, the strategy has often seemed self-serving, projecting the UK as a nation extracting students and income globally to support its higher education sector's financial stability.
This perception, though an oversimplification, has made the IES uncomfortable in discussions with international partners. UK universities, heavily reliant on international recruitment, integrate this within broader international strategies prioritising partnerships, student mobility, research collaboration, and transnational education (TNE). Higher education's role in achieving the UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is widely recognised, and placing this at the core of a new IES could position the UK at the forefront of global efforts to leverage higher education and research for societal advancement.
Aligning the IES with the UK's strategic priority of sustainable development, aiming to reinvigorate progress towards the UN's SDGs, could alleviate poverty and address geopolitical instability's root causes. UK universities are prominently featured in the latest Times Higher World Impact Rankings, which assess universities' impact across multiple SDGs. Eleven UK universities are in the top 50, demonstrating progress in areas like climate action, gender equality, good health and wellbeing, decent work and economic growth, and sustainable cities and communities.
The focus on SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals, is evident as universities showcasing their impact must demonstrate effective partnerships. These partnerships amplify sustainable impact and foster equitable outcomes. The global refugee crisis, with over 100 million people displaced, highlights the urgency. Only 7% of university-age refugees access higher education, with the UN High Commission for Refugees targeting a 15% increase by 2030. The UK plays a pivotal role, offering university places and long-term projects to build local capacity.
The International Higher Education Commission (IHEC) has adopted a more holistic approach, recognising the role of TNE in enhancing local HE capacity, counteracting brain drain, and contributing to SDGs. The University of London, the UK's largest TNE provider, has documented its contributions to transforming lives and societies through sustained global engagement. Similarly, the Association of Commonwealth Universities, headquartered in the UK, provides global leadership in international higher education partnerships across the Commonwealth, addressing shared global challenges.
A revised IES should retain references to international student recruitment, acknowledging its impact on quality education (SDG 4), decent work and economic growth (SDG 8), and other sectors. However, it must present the UK as a partner in mutual and multilateral ventures. The recent change in government, with a promise to "end the war on universities," offers an opportunity to end the contentious environment that has plagued universities. This creates space to explore sustainable long-term solutions and recalibrate the IES, developing a sector-wide narrative that prioritises global collaboration for the benefit of all.
This fresh approach would not only enhance the UK's international standing but also align with the broader objectives of the UN Global Goals, particularly SDG 4: Quality Education. By fostering international partnerships and focusing on sustainable development, the UK can play a crucial role in advancing global education standards and promoting equitable access to quality education worldwide.
Sources: By Mike Winter https://thepienews.com/better-ies/