At the system level, we support governments and policymakers to remove barriers and enhance international co-operation, paving the way for new partnerships, transnational education and mobility opportunities, and trusted international relationships. Our work has led to bilateral, government-to-government agreements in India, Brazil, Nigeria and Vietnam, all of which will pave the way for UK education providers to offer transnational education programmes.
In Kazakhstan transnational education (TNE) has seen rapid growth over the past three years, driven by strong government support and the Ministry of Science and Higher Education. New international university branches are opening and scholarships are being introduced to expand access to TNE, including for foreign students. To co-ordinate this work, the Ministry established the Council for Strategic Partners, creating a platform for collaboration on TNE development.
Transnational Education Quality Assurance Framework (TNE QAF)
In 2022, following discussions within the Education Working Group of the UK-Kazakhstan Intergovernmental Commission, the British Council established a joint working group comprising experts from Kazakhstani universities, the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the UK’s Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA). The group conducted an analysis of the national legal framework and institutional processes and developed the Transnational Education Quality Assurance Framework (TNE QAF) aimed at strengthening the quality and sustainability of transnational education in Kazakhstan.
The framework is built around ten key principles that align national practices with international quality standards. Guidance materials are being developed to support the implementation of these principles in TNE programmes, along with plans to assist universities in reviewing and enhancing their existing practices.
The framework and the desk report are available below for download in three languages (English, Kazakh, Russian).
Policy Dialogue
Building on existing achievements and supporting Kazakhstan’s ambition to become a regional hub for high-quality international education, the British Council is supporting the Council for Strategic Partners in organising a series of round tables on internationalisation in Kazakhstan, including the accreditation of transnational education (TNE) programmes.
This collaborative approach ensures that national and international education systems work in harmony to support quality, relevance and sustainable growth in transnational education.