TNE: Is Higher Education 25 Years Too Late?

In the recent race for offshore delivery, many higher education providers are setting up campuses across Southeast Asia, hoping to attract new talent and diversify their revenue streams.

But is it 25 years too late?

Two decades ago, companies across industries were outsourcing their administration, sales, and manufacturing to the very same regions. That was the time when the real workforce development opportunity existed — and universities chose a different path.

Instead of going where the skills were needed, higher education focused on bringing students to the destination countries — a model that worked brilliantly for years. Universities built global reputations, invested heavily in facilities, and benefited immensely from international student tuition.

Then came COVID-19. The illusion of limitless growth cracked. Populist politicians turned international education into an election scapegoat, funding was stripped, and visa refusals skyrocketed. Universities suddenly realised they had built financial empires on a single, fragile pillar: international student revenue.

Now, in a full circle of irony, while universities are moving offshore to cut costs, private companies are bringing their teams back onshore — realising that quality, collaboration, and innovation are worth paying for.

The question is, whether TNE is worth it, for either students and providers.

#TransnationalEducation #TNE #InternationalEducation #HigherEd #EducationStrategy #GlobalLearning #Educli