Our revised approach to transnational education (TNE) and partnerships data collection will now collect data using the expanded aggregate offshore record (AOR), pause the implementation of individualised records for TNE students, and ask institutions with new award-only partnerships to submit reportable events.
In September 2024, the Office for Students (OfS) announced the collection of an expanded student record that would include TNE and award-only students for the first time. The additional data was intended to give us a better understanding of the quality and standards of TNE provision and help us to more effectively protect the interests of these students, as set out in a consultation on the expansion run during 2023.
Having considered feedback from the sector and the lessons highlighted in the independent PwC report on Data Futures, we have decided to collect data using the expanded AOR and to pause the implementation of individualised records for TNE students. This means institutions will not be required to submit individualised data to Jisc’s 2026-27 student record for TNE or award-only students until further notice.
This change will help us build a clearer picture of TNE provision while reducing burden for institutions. It will also allow institutions, as well as Jisc and the OfS, to focus on the implementation of student in-year data, with plans for an initial implementation in 2027-28.
We will also ask institutions with new award-only partnerships to submit a reportable event, including key information such as the number of students involved, the names of their partners, and the types of awards being granted. Where we identify partnerships that represent a greater risk to students or the credibility of their awards, we may ask for more comprehensive information.
OfS Director of Strategy and Delivery, Josh Fleming, said:
‘Transnational education is an increasingly significant part of our higher education sector, with the number of overseas students benefiting from world class higher education provided by at English universities and colleges growing.
‘We’ve been reflecting on our approach to TNE student data collection. We want to make sure we’re learning from the lessons highlighted in the independent PwC report on Data Futures as we progress to in-year data collection, as well as taking on board the useful feedback we’ve heard from colleagues across the sector.
‘We’ve heard the concerns that introducing individualised TNE data at the same time as implementing in-year data collection would risk delivery of both. We’re confident that our revised approach will mitigate this risk, while giving us a clearer picture of TNE provision. Our intention is to reduce the workload for data colleagues across the sector while improving protection for students.
‘We will write to universities and colleges at the beginning of May to update them on our plans for in-year data collection. We look forward to working with colleagues across the sector to make sure the move to in-year data is a success.’