New UK University Overseas Campuses Network announced at UUKi TNE conference

On behalf of the authors, Alex Favier, Director of Global and Political Affairs, University of Nottingham and Professor Richard Davies, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Global), Newcastle University.

Today’s (04 November 2021) Universities UK’s Transnational education conference saw the announcement of a new UK University Overseas Campuses Network. Bringing together an initial membership of 17 UK universities with 27 campuses located in 17 countries across the world, the Network represents institutions providing a British education to over 60,000 students and employing upwards of 5,000 staff across their international campuses.

For over twenty years, overseas campuses have exemplified the independence, ingenuity and pioneering spirit of UK universities and the international competitive advantage it provides our sector and the UK more broadly. The educational, diplomatic, economic, cultural and soft-power dividends from this movement to the UK continue to be vast. At a time when the global flow of ideas, trade and knowledge has been impacted to an unprecedented degree by the pandemic, overseas campuses represent an enormous opportunity for their institutions to continue to maintain an active, tangible presence in countries across the world. The Network will help UK universities and policymakers explore these issues and shape a better understanding of the role, contribution and future potential of overseas campuses across the higher education sector and government.

The Network has been founded and is co-chaired by the University of Nottingham and Newcastle University, with support from Universities UK International. Its aims over the next year include working with the UK government to identify barriers to trade affecting overseas campuses as well as the opportunity they provide the UK to build its reputation as a science and education superpower. The Network will also be supporting mutual learning between UK universities with overseas campuses, helping facilitate better information and experience sharing between the sector.

The UK government’s International Education Champion, Professor Sir Steve Smith, and Director, Universities UK International, Vivienne Stern, welcomed the creation of the new Network.

Notes:

1. The Network’s members are: University of Birmingham, Coventry University, Glasgow Caledonian University, University of Glasgow, Heriot-Watt University, University of Kent, Lancaster University, Leicester De Montfort University, University of Liverpool, Middlesex University, Newcastle University, University of Nottingham, Queen Mary University of London, Queen’s University Belfast, University of Reading, University of Southampton, University of Westminster
2. The Network’s founding co-chairs are Professor Richard Davies, PVC International, Newcastle University, and Alex Favier, Director of Global and Political Affairs, University of Nottingham