English UK welcomes new International Education Strategy
A focus on revenue rather than student numbers, transnational education, and sector-led growth plans are at the heart of the government's long-awaited international education strategy (IES).
The IES says sector stakeholders will be central to the successful delivery of this strategy and the reformed Minister-led Education Sector Action Group (ESAG) will bring together industry, government, and representative bodies from across the education sector to tackle key concerns and identify opportunities for partnerships. "Each representative will lead on an action plan, published within the first 100 days of appointment to ESAG, outlining how their members will support delivery of the three ambitions of this strategy."
English UK ready to help deliver the strategy's ambitions
English UK has been part of the current ESAG since its formation. Huan Japes, our joint acting chief executive, said: "We welcome the Government's commitment to work closely with sector partners including UK ELT, and the ambition to commit to the UK being a global leader in international education. We look forward to playing our part in creating plans for our sector and helping to reach this ambitious new target, and also in making use of the international support which may be available once these new systems for in-country outreach are established."
Main points of the International Education Strategy (IES)
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The 54-page document links the UK's international education exports and soft power, saying that working with overseas governments on education policy "often paves the way for closer connections and stronger alliances, generating goodwill towards the UK and benefits that extend beyond the education sector." It adds: "We recognise and value the important role our education sector plays in this endeavour and are empowering it to lead on delivery at every level of study through a new Education Sector Action Group. Together with the International Education Champion and key strategic partners such as the British Council, we will tackle barriers and amplify the impact of UK education internationally."
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It says the UK will increase its international standing through education and will become the global partner of choice at every stage of learning, that it will continue to "sustainably recruit high-quality international students from a diverse range of countries" and collectively grow education export to £40bn by 2030. It notes education is one of the UK's most successful exports, generating £32.3 billion annually and creating jobs across the UK and also "one of our greatest contributions to addressing shared global challenges", adding that 59 serving world leaders were educated in the UK and over 1.35 million international higher education students are studying for UK qualifications.
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The IES promises to "leverage the UK's diplomatic network and British Council presence to build bridges across cultures and sectors" and "grow government's leadership in trans-national education, working closely with the sector and the BC to expand access and impact of high-quality UK education provision overseas."
What does the IES say about ELT?
The IES says: "English Language Training (ELT) English is the global language of education, commerce, and diplomacy and the UK is its foremost champion. With a rich literary heritage and world-renowned institutions, the UK delivers high quality English language teaching, assessment and teacher training that supports learners across professional, academic, and cultural contexts. British English remains the benchmark for global communication."
It also highlights the importance of educational travel and short courses, noting that in 2023 a third of all international arrivals were youth and student travellers "whose participation supports local economies and fosters global connections. These experiences complement formal education and strengthen the UK's reputation as a welcoming, worldclass study destination."
Role of the Education Sector Advisory Group
The IES says the government will work with education providers and businesses to develop industry-led action plans to increase the value of education exports. Through the Education Sector Action Group, each subsector will share market intelligence, resolve barriers and align priorities, creating an action plan to grow export revenue and contribute to the shared £40 billion target and the strategy's other ambitions.
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