New report identifies digital challenges in delivering transnational education
Our report highlights the digital barriers that could affect the one in five registered UK students who are in transnational education (TNE).
Developed in partnership with 21 higher education institutions, the global education and technology: digital challenges associated with the effective delivery of transnational education report shines a light on the often-overlooked staff and student experiences of those in TNE, and explores the realities of delivering UK degrees abroad.
Transnational education, where students study in a different country to the awarding UK institution, is central to many universities’ strategic plans.
Despite its growth, digital experiences of students and staff remain poorly understood, even though digital is integral to all forms of TNE.
The report identifies four key digital challenges:
- access to technology and connectivity
- access to learning resources
- cultural differences in how digital is applied in education
- and digital skills gaps
We are working in partnership with UUKi, the British Council and the Quality Assurance Agency (QAA) to support the sector in addressing these challenges.
Sarah Knight, director of digital transformation, Jisc, comments:
“We hope that the findings of this first report will help institutions to address issues early in the TNE planning process, working with their libraries to address licensing and resource access challenges and align host country digital infrastructure with course needs.”
Elizabeth Newall, digital transformation sector specialist, Jisc, adds:
“The report is a practical call to action to prioritise digital equity in global education. By understanding the challenges faced by staff and students, we can design more inclusive, resilient and effective TNE models.”
Part two of the report will be published in October 2025, and will explore these challenges via the personal experiences of students and staff from across 50 different global instances of UK TNE.