Transnational education (TNE) is proving to be in high demand in Bangladesh, with law being a particularly popular subject, according to a report launched by the British Council yesterday.

The demand for TNE placements typically comes from students who lack the resources to study abroad but wish to pursue higher education at reputed international institutions. 

TNE refers to higher education programmes where students study in a country different from the one where the awarding institution is based. These programmes are delivered internationally through online learning, overseas branch campuses, or partnerships with academic institutions in other countries. 

British High Commissioner to Bangladesh, Sarah Cooke, said Bangladesh is prioritising higher education reform to enhance quality and global competitiveness.

She said TNE plays a crucial role in expanding access to world-class education, allowing students to earn international qualifications while remaining in Bangladesh. 

"TNE supports human capital development by equipping graduates with the skills needed for an evolving global workforce," she added. 

Stephen Forbes, country director for the British Council in Bangladesh, said TNE can play a significant role in shaping the future of higher education in the country. 

"TNE can bridge the gap in higher education access and drive economic growth for the country. We look forward to working with our partners in Bangladesh to implement the recommendations from the report," he said. 

University Grants Commission Chairman Prof SMA Faiz praised the British Council's commitment to fostering collaboration between universities in Bangladesh and the UK. He noted that such efforts create opportunities for academic excellence and institutional capacity-building. 

Salvador Carbajal Lopez, Director of Education for South Asia at the British Council, shared key findings from the report. He revealed that in the 2022-23 academic year, approximately 2,145 Bangladeshi students were studying for UK higher education qualifications in Bangladesh.

However, this number remains relatively low compared to countries like India and Sri Lanka, which have around 15,000 and 54,000 UK TNE students, respectively. 

The University of London is the largest UK TNE provider in Bangladesh, accounting for about 75 percent of all UK TNE students in the country. These students are primarily enrolled as 'distance learning' students, although the university's TNE model operates differently from other distance learning institutions.

The report also added that Australian and Malaysian universities have offered TNE in Bangladesh over the past few decades. 

To further support TNE, the report recommended streamlining regulatory processes, providing clear guidelines for TNE providers, addressing linguistic barriers through language bridging programmes, and enhancing digital infrastructure to support remote and online learning.