Sue Drew et al., Trans-National Education and Higher Education Institutions: Exploring Patterns of HE Institutional Activity, DIUS Research Report 08 07, Centre for Research and Evaluation and Centre for Education and Inclusion Research, Sheffield Hallam University, 2008. Pdf file, pages 113. 

The report investigates the scale and pattern of current and planned transnational education (TNE) offered by UK universities. Of the 135 universities surveyed by the authors, 65% offer TNE. Within these institutions the report identifies 1,536 current TNE programmes (with a further 222 programmes planned for the following academic year) and 276,765 TNE students, equating to 12% of the total number of students in the UK for the same year. England accounts for 83% of the UK’s TNE programmes compared to Scotland’s 4%, Wales on 5% and Northern Ireland with 4%. The report also identifies TNE provision by type and size of institution. The study suggests that the larger the institution, the more likely it is to provide TNE.

The report also identifies 10 models of TNE provision – from branch campus to partial credit – and finds that franchises, validation and distance learning account for 62% of UK TNE programmes. UK TNE programmes are delivered in almost 80 countries, with the largest proportion delivered in Asia (44%), followed by Europe (28%). Interestingly, Europe is a more common location for post-92 universities (34% of their programmes) than for pre-92 universities (20%), and specialist institutions/colleges have more worldwide provision (64%), reflecting their focus on distance learning. There are also some differences between sizes of institution and geographical reach. Medium-sized universities have more provision in the Middle East and small universities have considerable provision in Asia but not in Europe.

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