More students from conflict-affected regions are participating in transnational education (TNE) courses run by UK universities, amid concerns about brain drain, according to the British Council. 

 found there has been a 38 per cent increase in TNE students in 21 regions affected by conflict between 2018 and 2023.

Areas of significant growth include Iraq, where 315 students are participating in British courses (up 117 per cent), South Sudan (up 213 per cent to 250 students) and Yemen (up 178 per cent to 125 students). 

In terms of volume, Nigeria tops the list with 6,155 students enrolled, followed by Lebanon with 2,695 students. Myanmar is in third place with 1,995 students, but is one of two countries that saw a decline in the period covered, with 25 per cent fewer students than the 2018-19 academic year. 

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Beyond TNE, the report highlights the impact of higher education partnerships on improving opportunities for students affected by conflict. 

“A growing number of UK higher education institutions (HEIs) are pursuing partnerships with HEIs in conflict-affected regions as part of their internationalisation strategy,” it says. “Additionally, many HEIs are looking for ways to extend their global impact through supporting reconstruction efforts in conflict-affected regions.”

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A notable example from recent years is the UK-Ukraine twinning initiative, launched in the wake of the Russian invasion to support Ukrainian institutions, which has seen more than 100 universities sign up. 

However, research interviews conducted for the report highlighted challenges caused by inequitable partnerships.

“Oftentimes, the UK partner would lead with their own priorities and ideologies about what works, and due to issues surrounding lack of contextual understanding, this led to tensions between project partners,” the report says. 

This also applied to discussion of individual scholarships to enable students to leave conflict-affected areas. One representative from a partner university said this was the sector’s “default answer” to a crisis. 

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“Not only can that inadvertently end up weakening a system which is trying to survive, you know by taking people out and causing brain drain, it also ends up erasing the institutions and their role, when currently, we are already facing a military attempt to erase them,” they said. 

The British Council recommends “allowing local partners the space to communicate the support they require”. 

“This would replace the current model of the UK HEI presenting their own support package prior to discussing the local needs,” the organisation says. 

The report also found that the “negative” reputation of the UK in certain regions, primarily due to “government and foreign policy”, could be a “hindrance” to some projects, leading to difficulty “building trust” with local communities and delays to projects. 

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In some cases, the UK “brand” had also previously been “abused” by private institutions providing “substandard services”, exacerbating distrust. This was found to be a particular problem across the Middle East and North Africa region. 

helen.packer@timeshighereducation.com