The UK government unveiled its long-awaited International Education Strategy (IES), a bold blueprint to grow education exports to £40 billion per year by 2030. Moving away from the 2019 goal of increasing international student numbers, the new plan focuses on “sustainable recruitment” and expanding British education overseas. Key growth areas include transnational education (TNE), such as branch campuses, along with English language training and high-tech “edtech” solutions.
“Last year international students provided nearly £43bn to the UK economy… They enrich our society & have skills that are proving vital in the post brexit climate… Without a way for overseas students to bring their families, many will opt to go elsewhere.” – Carol Monaghan MP pic.twitter.com/5hCQ51fYXG
— Ilemona (@I_Am_Ilemona) May 24, 2023
The strategy designates India, Indonesia, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, and Vietnam as high-priority markets, with emerging interest in Brazil, Mexico, and Pakistan. A newly formed Education Sector Action Group (ESAG) will lead the charge, with each representative required to publish an action plan within their first 100 days. To further global influence, the government also announced a forthcoming Soft Power Strategy, recognizing that over 50 current world leaders were educated in the UK. Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson emphasized that the goal is to provide a “world-class UK education on the doorstep” of students worldwide.
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This “diplomacy-led” approach is co-owned by the Department for Education, the Department for Business and Trade, and the Foreign Office. By rejoining the Erasmus+ programme in 2027 and cutting red tape for international partnerships, the UK aims to cement its status as a global education powerhouse. While recruitment targets are gone, the focus remains on high-quality student experiences to ensure that international graduates remain lifelong advocates for British values and innovation.
