Universities must ‘harness [their] global reach, reputation and impact’ says Universities UK, as government pledges to review their International Education Strategy.
A new report from Universities UK, ‘Opportunity, growth, and partnership: a blueprint for change from the UK’s Universities’, has called for support and transformation over the next 10 years for higher and international education.
The report was created in collaboration with 10 expert commissioners, and includes recommendations for expansion and investment, as well as acknowledging key challenges facing the sector.
In her foreword, Professor Dame Sally Mapstone, President of Universities UK said:
‘We stand at a fork in the road in the history of the UK’s universities. There is now a clear choice. We can allow our distinguished, globally competitive higher education system to slide into decline. Or we can act together, as institutions and with government, to ensure that higher education is able to deliver for the nation into the 2030s.’
Noted in the report was that universities contribute £24 billion to national exports through international and transnational education. However, July and August 2024 saw a 16.4% decrease in the number of study visa applications, compared to the previous year.
Universities UK recommend establishing a global strategy ‘with the objective of harnessing the global reach, reputation and impact of our universities create opportunity, foster prosperity and develop knowledge’.
This comes as the new Labour government have reappointed Professor Sir Steve Smith as International Education Champion (IEC). Sir Steve was originally appointed as IEC in June 2020 for a four-year term, which has now been extended for another year.
Under the new government, officials have said they will conduct a review of the International Education Strategy, ensuring that it ‘continues to be an effective tool in increasing the value of education exports, promote policy dialogue and reflect the priorities of education stakeholders, businesses and Ministers’.
The strategy was initially launched in 2019, with the aim of growing international student numbers by 30% and boosting the industry’s economic impact by £35 billion annually. However, continuing hostility towards international students has caused student visa numbers to fall.
Sir Steve says he is ‘absolutely delighted’ to continue in the role:
‘It’s a critical time for the education sector and I look forward to building on the trusting relationships we have with our partners around the world.’
