What does the International Education Strategy mean for research and innovation?

The new strategy – the first International Education Strategy since 2019 – explicitly cites the role of research and innovation in the UK’s international education ambitions. While the previous strategy focused on exports, particularly through student recruitment, the new strategy takes a broader view – including research and innovation, one of the UK’s greatest strengths.

Research and innovation is fundamental to the UK’s global standing. It delivers cutting-edge breakthroughs in science, cultivates international partnerships, improves lives and delivers solutions to complex global problems – but none of this can be done in isolation. UK researchers remain among the most internationally connected in the world: over 60% of UK articles result from international collaboration, the highest among our closest comparator countries, and our impact doubles when publishing with international colleagues compared to single-author publications. 

The IES clearly recognises this role for research and innovation, citing its importance in maintaining close international cooperation and driving economic growth. As a knowledge-intensive economy, research and development (R&D) investment is one of the UK’s greatest assets and a critical part of our competitive advantage, which is centred in the Industrial Strategy. In 2023, spending on R&D in the UK accounted for 2.6% of GDP, compared to the EU investment of 2.2% in the same year. Universities play a critical role in this: higher education accounted for £17b of R&D investment in 2023, or 24% of all spend – an increase from recent years. 

However, overall R&D spend in 2023 represented a fall compared to recent years, with the UK showing the weakest growth in R&D spend across the G7. While the UK’s world-leading universities and highly skilled knowledge base is a huge asset, the focus on R&D cannot afford to slip. 

The new IES acknowledging the role of research is therefore a positive and important change. The government states that: 

This messaging is crucial, reflecting that research and innovation are at the heart of what makes the UK great, including our education sector – and that we must work in partnership to go further together. 

1. Long-term funding commitments 

   International research collaborations thrive in stable environments with long-term goals. We saw a decline in the UK’s participation in Horizon Europe during the period from 2021 to 2023 when the UK was not in the programme, especially in collaborative projects, even though funding remained available for European collaboration. 

    

   Partnerships take time to build, and trust and stability are fundamental. We welcome the government’s commitment to Horizon Europe, and highlight the importance of continued positive messaging for international research collaborations of all kinds. As Universities UK, we continue to call for a swift agreement on the UK’s full association to Framework Programme 10 (FP10) to reduce uncertainty and maintain momentum of partnerships already thriving in the current programme. 

    

   The next iteration of the International Science Partnerships Fund is also cited in the IES; this programme has been a vital pillar of the UK’s international research engagement and, as an ISPF delivery partner, we are keen to see another long-term programme which allows for stable engagement with global partners. 

    

2. Safe and sustainable partnerships 

   The UK is a leader in developing robust research security practices, balancing open academic exchange with risk management processes to protect staff, research and partnerships. Significant progress has been made thanks to close co-working across the sector and government, with expertise and training led by sector bodies such as the Higher Education Research Security Association and the Association of Research Managers and Administrators, as well as research and security guidance developed by Universities UK. The launch of the Research Collaboration Advice Team within the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) was a welcome step, and continues to be a key pillar enabling universities to proceed in partnerships with confidence.  

    

   Meeting the UK’s ambitions in international R&I requires continued positive exchange with government, flexibility and co-working, and suitable resourcing from government to empower institutions to develop their approaches to security. We have been calling for a research security fund to support the higher education sector invest in the training, development and resources needed to meet the evolving demands of this complex area.  

    

3. Support for global talent flows 

   The movement of global talent is a crucial component of ensuring research and innovation continue to thrive and push the boundaries of human knowledge. It is critical that the UK is seen as a welcoming, stable destination for world-leading researchers to pursue their careers. Uncertainty should be reduced wherever possible, with clear approaches underpinned by a stable policy environment. The introduction of the Global Talent Visa was a highly positive step, allowing fast and straightforward entry for highly skilled international scientists. 

    

   In our blueprint for higher education, we called on government to aspire to a 'best-in-class' offer for global talent. This should include targeted support to mitigate financial barriers for researchers in high-demand areas, or in receipt of recognised awards, such as Horizon Europe grants. The Global Talent Visa should continue to be championed as a route for top researchers to come to the UK, and government should consider further initiatives to attract talent, such as DSIT’s Global Talent Fund, to ensure the UK remains a top destination for delivering world-class research. 

With government committed to the current Horizon Europe programme until the end of 2027, universities will continue to make a success of this opportunity, building participation and launching new partnerships. Universities also stand ready to engage with the new International Science Partnerships Fund, continuing to contribute to priority sectors and cutting-edge technology with partners across the globe. 

We welcome the government’s continued commitment to empowering institutions to engage in safe and sustainable partnerships, for the benefits of all involved, and look forward to the release of government’s research security strategy later this year, bringing together the UK’s broad scope of work in this area and looking to the future. 

With the government’s direction on global talent continuing to evolve, we look forward to engaging with the best ways to attract and retain highly skilled colleagues across all fields. 

The inclusion of research and innovation in the government’s International Education Strategy 2026 is welcome – now we must continue to support universities in leading the way on sustainable, collaborative relationships with our global partners.