The rise of TNE in China
TNE is a large and growing sector in China. 30 years of rapid expansion in Chinese - overseas joint programmes and institutes have stimulated in-depth collaboration and the development of Chinese host universities and their overseas partners, boosting:
- two-way student mobility
- teaching exchanges
- student experience management
- teacher development
- quality assurance
Over half a million students are enrolled on joint TNE programmes in China, with TNE graduates totalling over 1.5 million. There are more than 1,000 active joint programmes or institutes at undergraduate degree level or higher.
The UK - a lead TNE partner for China
The UK has led the development of course and qualification exports in mainland China, with over 260 joint degree partnerships in operation.
Over 81,000 students were studying for UK higher education qualifications in mainland China in 2022-23.
The UK is one of China’s leading partners, with UK cooperative partnership accounting for:
- over a fifth of all Chinese-overseas joint programmes and institutes at the bachelor’s degree level and above
- more than a fifth of the students on these programmes
There are over 260 UK China joint programmes at the bachelor’s degree level and upwards, operating with approval from the Chinese Ministry of Education. There are 47 UK China joint institutes, including 45 institutes without independent legal entity status and two cooperative universities with their own independent legal entity status.
UK China - pioneers in TNE
The UK has pioneered new education models through joint universities, such as the University of Nottingham Ningbo China and Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University.
Britain also launched the first joint institute (Surrey International Institute, Dongbei University of Finance and Economics) specialising in business, testimony to China’s high level of confidence in the UK’s higher education system.
What we do for UK China TNE
We expand the scale and potential for UK China transnational education. British Council China does this through three streams of higher education programme activity:
Think TNE
Our focus in Think TNE is the future strategic development of transnational education in China and across East Asia.
Our core Think TNE activities are:
- research
- information sharing
- policy development and strategy
Working with our UK and Chinese partner institutions and authorities, we set up policy dialogues and meetings to discuss TNE priorities, quality assurance (QA), guiding principles and operating parameters to steer the future of TNE collaboration for both countries.
Train TNE
We equip UK and Chinese institutions to build capacity for innovation and sustainable TNE growth through professional development. This includes topical conferences, training workshops or interventions which encourage TNE knowledge sharing between institutions.
Network TNE
We create sustainable networks and projects to accelerate UK China TNE development. We broker partnerships and bring institutions together to explore collaborative and potential opportunities.
One of our pioneering networks is the UK China Joint Institute Alliance.