Transnational Education
Level 7 Certificate in Teaching Learning and Professional Practice for TNE (Oct 25) 1 1
The Level 7 Certificate in Teaching, Learning and Professional Practice for TNE is recognised as equivalent to a Postgraduate Certificate (PGCert).
This course will equip academic and professional services staff from outside the UK with the knowledge, skills, and intercultural competencies needed to deliver, support, and manage UK transnational education (TNE) programmes to UK standards.
The strong emphasis on quality assurance, pedagogical practice, curriculum design, student engagement, assessment integrity, as well as practicalities and cultural norms and expectations in the context of cross-border education will also appeal to those based within the UK.
Level of Qualification: Level 7 Certificate, equivalent to PGCERT
Unit Structure
- Unit 1: UK Transnational Education- History, Policy, Models and Partnership Practice (20 credits)
- Unit 2: Transnational Education Partnerships – lifecycle, governance and partnership oversight (20 Units)
- Unit 2: Delivering UK Higher Education Transnationally – Academic Practice and Student Experience (20 credits)
Learning Outcomes
Unit 1: UK Transnational Education – History, Policy, Models and Partnership Practice
- Understand the UK higher education system, including its qualifications framework, quality assurance bodies (QAA and OfS), and key policies shaping provision both nationally and internationally.
- Critically understand transnational education (TNE), its evolution, major delivery models (e.g., franchising, joint degrees, branch campus), and associated benefits and challenges.
- Analyse strategic and policy aspects of TNE, including audit findings, transnational agreements, host country regulations, and alignment between UK and partner country objectives.
- Evaluate global influences on higher education, such as international qualifications frameworks, student mobility trends, global rankings, and geopolitical or economic shifts impacting TNE strategies.
- Understand and manage the TNE partnership lifecycle, including proposal development, approval and validation processes, governance structures, and strategies for review, renewal, or termination.
- Design effective academic TNE partnerships, incorporating clear roles and responsibilities across academic, administrative, and executive functions within joint programmes.
- Evaluate the impact of intercultural dynamics on academic content, assessment, governance, and relationship-building, with strategies to promote inclusivity, trust, and mutual understanding in TNE settings.
- Understand quality assurance with local adaptation, analysing how curriculum, teaching autonomy, and institutional expectations are negotiated across borders.
- Research, design, and evaluate inclusive, outcomes-aligned TNE curricula, applying constructive alignment principles and ensuring coherence between learning outcomes, teaching strategies, and assessment methods.
- Implement inclusive teaching, assessment, and student engagement strategies, incorporating active learning for multicultural audiences, fair marking practices, culturally responsive academic integrity approaches, and student-centred pedagogy based on UK sector benchmarks.
- Develop robust quality assurance and governance frameworks for TNE, including assessment rubrics, moderation systems, external examiner roles, parity of standards, and collaborative decision-making structures across delivery sites.
- Integrate effective student support and technology-enhanced learning models, designing academic and pastoral frameworks tailored to transnational learners, and creating accessible, equitable blended or hybrid delivery formats that address infrastructure and cultural contexts.
- Apply professional standards and sustainable practices in TNE, aligning teaching with the UKPSF, pursuing Advance HE recognition, and evaluating the long-term viability, innovation, and impact of international programme delivery.
How you will learn
- Group study
- Tutorials
- Seminars
- Independent study
- Small group learning
- Presentations
After you have completed the induction session, you will commence the web-based study component of the course. This will take place in our dedicated virtual learning environment (VLE) including online course materials, learning resources and regular tutorial support.
Our course provides an interactive learning experience and allows you to study at your own pace. You will be encouraged to interact with other course participants, and each module will involve group activities.
How you will be assessed
- Coursework
- Presentations
- Reflective review
- Written work
Each module will be assessed by coursework and a comprehensive written assignment, video-based assessment or equivalent.
Contact time and study hours
You should aim to study for a total of 600 hours (about 15-20% taught hours) throughout the course (8 months). The scheduling of the induction event will vary according to your cohort.
Entry Requirements
As this course is designed for professionals in International Education, we would assess applicants on an individual basis.
Progression Opportunities
Once you have completed the certificate course, you can carry on the credits to complete a Master's degree in a relevant subject.
