International Education Sector Action Plan

BESA is a member of the Education Sector Action Group, the cross-departmental body which supports on the delivery of the government’s International Education Strategy. Each of the 8 members were asked to submit a Sector Action Plan to outline the ways in which our sector will help contribute to the achievement of the objectives of the IES. BIST have now consolidated each of these documents into one complete plan.

These plans provide an important first roadmap for action, setting out practical, sector-led priorities to strengthen the UK’s global education offer, build on existing strengths, and unlock new opportunities for growth, partnership and impact. While they identify initial priorities, they mark the beginning of a longer journey.

Achieving the UK’s international education ambitions will require commitment from across the sector. Organisations of all sizes and specialisms have a role to play in showcasing the very best of UK education, expanding our global reach, and ensuring international education continues to deliver lasting benefits for learners, institutions, businesses and communities throughout the UK.

We encourage organisations across the sector to explore the Sector Action Plans, identify where they can contribute, and join us in delivering a shared vision for the future of UK international education.

BESA consulted with our members. We put out a survey and conducted interviews with key exporting members. We used feedback from the Export Special Interest Group and our annual member survey, alongside feedback gathered over the last 12 months as part of our ongoing export support programme. 

Our Sector Action Plan focuses mainly on how we can support educational suppliers to make connections in overseas markets, reduce market entry barriers and help them increase the value of their exporting business over the next 5 years. We have identified a number of challenges and asks of government that we feel would help our members accelerate their growth.

You can read the BESA Sector Action Plan in full here.

The next steps in this process are to meet with Ministers to discuss ways to alleviate the challenges and provide required support. This will be an ongoing iterative and collaborative process. We will report on progress to members via our international update in the weekly newsletter.

About ESAG: ESAG brings together representatives from across the UK education sector and works closely with government partners to support delivery of the UK’s International Education Strategy. Visit here to learn more about ESAG and access the full range of Sector Action Plans.