The need for a UK Strategy was the principal recommendation of the 2012 Riordan Review, led by Professor Colin Riordan, Chair of the UK Higher Education International Unit (IU), and informed by a sector-wide consultation on the barriers to UK outward mobility. As a result, the Minister for Universities and Science, the Rt Hon David Willetts MP, asked Professor Riordan and the IU to lead the development of a sector-led Strategy for outward mobility.
The UK Strategy for Outward Mobility will facilitate an increase in the proportion of UK domiciled students who undertake international placements as part of their undergraduate, postgraduate and research programmes, and help to address institutional barriers to participation in outward mobility in UK higher education.
In order to achieve its strategic vision of increasing the proportion of UK domiciled students accessing international opportunities, and contribute to the European Higher Education Area’s mobility target of 20% of graduating students with an international mobility experience as part of their studies by 2020, the UK Strategy for Outward Mobility has the following seven objectives: