The UK government has issued new guidance asking education providers in England to take a more systematic approach to assessing the risks of international partnerships and overseas operations. The framework, published by the Department for Education (DfE) on 11 November, covers collaborations with foreign universities and organisations, transnational education, joint research, qualification licensing, and student and staff mobility.

Five areas of risk

The DfE identifies five broad dimensions institutions should consider when evaluating overseas arrangements: security, political and values-related, commercial and legal, safety, and geopolitical risks. Providers are asked to carry out proportionate due diligence before entering a partnership, to protect staff and students, safeguard academic freedom and data, and to keep oversight of an agreement after it has been signed.

Collaboration is not discouraged

The guidance stresses that it does not seek to discourage international collaboration, and says most partnerships are legitimate and beneficial. There is no fixed list of countries, organisations or activities that automatically require enhanced risk assessment; scrutiny should be proportionate to the scale and nature of the activity, the partner involved and the environment in which it operates. The document applies to England and sits alongside existing legal, regulatory, safeguarding and quality-assurance obligations.

Why the guidance was issued

The framework comes as the UK seeks to expand its international education presence. The government’s International Education Strategy 2026 aims to increase the value of education exports to £40 billion a year by 2030, while acknowledging that overseas delivery and international partnerships can expose institutions to financial, legal, security and geopolitical risks. Read the DfE guidance on GOV.UK.