Engaging in Transnational Education

This book offers a clear and concise introduction to transnational higher education. Drawing on research, current sector guidance and policy, it asks critical questions about the role and nature of transnational education, motivations for engaging in transnational education, how transnational education is quality assured, and how it might develop in the future. It unpacks some of the differences in practice, and their inherent complexities, in an accessible way, encouraging the reader to consider their own role and context.

Critical Practice in Higher Education is a series which provides a scholarly and practical entry point for academics into key areas of higher education practice. Each book in the series explores an individual topic in depth, providing an overview in relation to current thinking and practice, informed by recent research. The series will be of interest to those engaged in the study of higher education, those involved in leading learning and teaching or working in academic development, and individuals seeking to explore particular topics of professional interest. Through critical engagement, this series aims to promote an expanded notion of being an academic – connecting research, teaching, scholarship, community engagement and leadership – while developing confidence and authority.

Having spent my time researching practitioner (both host and overseas) interactions in TNE, I passionately believe that practitioner engagement and participation is fundamental to the successful delivery of any TNE initiative. I am therefore delighted to endorse this book and recommend it to any practitioner who wishes to understand the phenomenon of TNE in greater detail to improve their knowledge and practice. Dr C M Bordogna

1. Chapter 1: Introduction to transnational education (TNE)

   Chapter 2: Motivations for engagement in TNE

   Chapter 3: Assuring quality in TNE

   Chapter 4: TNE students and their experiences

   Chapter 5: TNE practitioners and their development

   Chapter 6: Final reflections

Karen Mpamhanga (formerly Karen Smith) is Professor of Higher Education and Professional Learning in the School of Education at the University of Hertfordshire. Her research focuses on how higher education policies and practices impact on those who work and study within universities. Karen has worked within educational development and on lecturer development programmes. She holds a Principal Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy and is currently the Director of the University of Hertfordshire’s Professional Doctorate in Education. Karen also leads collaborative research and development in her School, where she engages in externally funded research and evaluation and supports the development of scholarly educational practice through practitioner research.

Joy Jarvis is currently Professor of Educational Practice at the University of Hertfordshire and a UK National Teaching Fellow. She has experience in a wide range of education contexts and works to create effective learning experiences for students and colleagues. She is particularly interested in the professional learning of those engaged in educational practice in higher education settings and has undertaken a range of projects, working with colleagues locally, nationally and internationally, to develop practice in teaching and leadership of teaching. Joy works with doctoral students exploring aspects of educational practice and encourages them to be adventurous in their methodological approaches and to share their findings in a range of contexts to enable practice change.