Delegates from Egypt recently participated in the UK’s Deep Dialogue event on transnational education (TNE), held from 12 to 14 November in Manchester. The event, organised by the British Council, brought together leading stakeholders in higher education from across the globe, facilitating in-depth discussions on the trends, regulations, and challenges shaping TNE.
Prof. Dr. Rasha Hussein Mostafa, Egyptian Cultural Attaché Director, and Prof. Dr. El Sayed Kandil, President of Helwan University, joined from Egypt as part of the delegation engaging in this dialogue.
Egypt’s transnational education (TNE) sector has seen significant growth, with a 21% increase in Egyptian students registered for UK TNE degrees in 2020-21 and a total of around 24,000 students in 2022. Egypt ranks as the 5th largest market globally for UK TNE, leading in the MENA region, with 27 UK universities collaborating with 15 Egyptian institutions, often through dual degrees. The UK is Egypt’s preferred TNE partner due to its educational reputation, and it holds the largest share of TNE partnerships in Egypt, Key areas of study include Engineering, Business, and Computer Science, mainly at the undergraduate level. The Egyptian government views TNE as essential to its 2030 Vision, seeking to expand UK TNE offerings to support educational internationalisation.
Deep Dialogues are focused events that foster meaningful international engagement on important higher education themes. The event in November addressed some of the key questions relating to today’s evolving TNE landscape, such as how global higher education trends influence TNE provision and how regulatory frameworks can support effective, equitable TNE partnerships. Delegates also considered the quality standards within TNE partnerships, examining how these standards differ across regions. Another critical area of focus was the development of strong data systems to support sustainable TNE through well-informed policy interventions, providing a foundation for scalable and resilient educational models. Together, these conversations shed light on the complexities of TNE and highlighted opportunities for policy-driven improvements that meet both local and global educational needs.
Susanna Carmody, Regional Education Director – Middle East and North Africa, highlighted the importance of this year’s dialogue:
“The Deep Dialogue has offered an invaluable platform for our delegates from across the region to share their diverse experiences and ideas and learn from their global peers. I hope the connections and insights they have developed here will support them to positively shape the future contribution of TNE within their higher education systems to meet local and global demands.”
The event also featured hands-on experiences at UK universities. Over the three days, participants engaged in sessions focused on regulatory practices, the importance of ensuring a high-quality experience for students in TNE programmes, and the impact of public policy in shaping TNE partnerships and provision.
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