Kristian Rumble, Head of Partnerships at Advance HE, reflects on his visit to Egypt for the Deep Dialogue MENA Series. 

The British Council’s Deep Dialogue MENA series in Cairo brought together policymakers, regulators, university leaders and practitioners from across the region and the UK. Across three days in January, we explored the evolution of transnational education (TNE) in MENA – not as an export model, but increasingly as a collaborative, locally grounded ecosystem centred on student outcomes, national priorities and shared capacity building. 

Representing Advance HE, I was delighted not only to participate throughout, but also to be given the opportunity to raise the profile of Advance HE and to introduce my colleague Fiona Lennoxsmith, Head of Leadership, Governance and Management, who delivered a dedicated workshop on leadership for collaborative success in TNE. It was an energising reminder that sustainable partnerships are fundamentally human: rooted in trust, shaped by culture and made real through leadership. 

Below are some personal reflections on the themes that resonated most strongly with me. 

Setting the scene: diverse models, shared priorities 

Day 1 provided essential grounding. Senior leaders from Egypt opened the programme by outlining an ambitious national vision for higher education – one that positions the country as a supportive and increasingly sophisticated ecosystem for TNE. 

Contributions from Eduardo Ramos, regional and global experts, and a thoughtful masterclass from Universities UK International and QAA helped create a vital shared language for TNE. With partnership models ranging from joint delivery and digital partnerships to multinational branch campuses, we needed a common platform before diving deeper. 

A highlight for me was the session on digital TNE and institutional readiness, delivered in collaboration with Jisc. We explored the region’s rapidly evolving digital landscape, contrasting ambition with readiness, and heard how Jisc’s Digital Transformation Framework offers a practical, structured route for institutions seeking to build sustainable digital capability. 

Hearing from Arab Open University and the IIOE Arab Regional Centre reinforced how digital platforms are expanding access at scale – supporting over 41,000 students and enabling new forms of regional collaboration. 

Student voice, graduate outcomes and entrepreneurial mindsets 

Day 2, hosted by The Knowledge Hub Universities, brought TNE back to where it matters most: the learner experience. Listening directly to students was grounding. Their motivations – global exposure, high-quality teaching, workr-eady skills – were clear. But so were their aspirations for belonging, relevance and agency. 

The afternoon’s deep dive into graduate employability highlighted a common tension across the region: the need to move from compliance-driven models to ecosystems that cultivate innovators, creators and problem-solvers. The emphasis on experiential learning – internships, mentoring, interdisciplinary projects – echoed strongly with the partnership frameworks many institutions are working to strengthen. 

We also explored how TNE can underpin research capacity, innovation ecosystems and entrepreneurial universities. These conversations demonstrated that TNE in MENA is no longer limited to teaching provision; it is evolving into a driver of research impact, industry collaboration and national development agendas. 

Access, quality and leadership: building for the long-term 

Day 3 confronted deeper structural questions. How can TNE widen access for refugees, women in STEM, rural learners and other underrepresented groups? How do we ensure quality and recognition frameworks keep pace with innovation? What does responsible leadership look like in cross-border partnerships that involve multiple regulators, cultures and communities? 

This is where Advance HE had the privilege to contribute directly. 

Leadership for collaborative success 

Fiona Lennoxsmith facilitated a workshop focused on leadership, governance and systemic capability for effective TNE. Three themes stood out: 

1. Partnerships depend on people, not paperwork: MOUs create opportunity, but trust, clarity and shared values create results. 

2. Leadership must be distributed and culturally intelligent: TNE partnerships require team, not individuals, who can navigate difference, build consensus and sustain momentum over time. 

3. Governance is the quiet enabler of quality: clear roles, responsive processes, and aligned risk-sharing models determine whether a partnership thrives, adapts or falters. 

Our discussions were enriched by leaders from Iraq and Egypt who brought candid reflections on building systems, not just structures, for cross-border collaboration. 

The final panel on TNE hubs – bringing together perspectives from Indonesia, the Gulf, Egypt and the UK – reaffirmed that successful hubs are purposeful ecosystems: shaped by policy, sustained by collaboration and defined by their ability to create real public value.