The National Universities Commission (NUC) recently partnered with the British Council, Nigeria to organize a Two-Day Sensitization Workshop on Transnational Education (TNE), which brought together key stakeholders in the NUS to strategize on the effective integration of TNE to enhance and strengthen Nigeria’s higher education system, focusing on regulatory compliance, quality assurance, and strategic international partnerships.
In his opening remarks at the sensitisation workshop, the Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission, Professor Abdullahi Yusufu Ribadu, FCVSN, recalled that NUC in 2023, launched its Guidelines for Transnational Education as part of its reforms to strengthen the quality and competitiveness of the nation’s higher education system.
The Executive Secretary, who was represented by the Ag. Director, Research Innovations and Information Technology (DRIIT), Mal. Mohammed Lawal Farouk said this step was driven by the realities of globalisation and the need for the universities to demonstrate international attributes which now also allow foreign universities the latitude to become active players in expanding access to higher education in Nigeria.
He explained that the guidelines provide a transparent framework for establishing international collaborations, not simply to open doors, but to do so in a way that safeguards quality and delivers real value to the system.
Professor Ribadu informed participants that as the NUC move towards implementation, 3 priorities will continue to guide its approach in order to move from policy to practice in a deliberate and well-structured way.
He said, first among them is quality assurance as the NUC expects that transnational education will meet the same standards expected of Nigerian universities, while also benefiting from global best practices, stressing that the Commission insists on this to ensure that students are confident in the value of their degrees.
Second area of concern, according to him is partnerships. The Commission envision TNE as a platform for mutually beneficial cooperation, explaining that Nigeria brings far more than population and opportunity.
Under this framework, he said Nigerian Universities will contribute brilliant staff and students with rich intellectual traditions and a growing body of research, while International partners, on their part, bring expertise, networks, and resources. He further said these strengths together can drive knowledge exchange, joint research, and innovation in ways that are mutually beneficial.
The Third concern, he said, is regulatory clarity as the NUC is committed to providing clear and consistent guidance so that universities and partners know exactly what is required with the Commission aware that consistency in regulation provides assurance, and that assurance is what sustains enduring partnerships.
He told participants that the TNE agenda connects directly with the broader reforms the NUC had been pursuing that includes the development of the Core Curriculum and Minimum Academic Standards (CCMAS), with emphasis on technology-enabled learning, and efforts to strengthen accreditation and quality assurance.
He also highlighted that TNE builds on these reforms by opening new pathways for innovation and global competitiveness.
He pointed out that at the national level, the partnerships also support Nigeria’s National Policy on Education (2021–2030), which emphasises international collaboration and capacity building as key pillars for sector reform.
While urging international partners to see Nigeria not merely as an emerging market, but as a collaborator in building knowledge economies, he encouraged Nigerian universities to engage with openness and readiness.
He used the forum to reaffirm the NUC’s commitment to providing the regulatory support that will guarantee quality outcomes, expressing optimism that the workshop will mark an important step forward in operationalising TNE in Nigeria.
At the event, the immediate past Deputy Executive Secretary (DES), Administration Mr. Chris Jibreel Maiyaki, delivered Keynote Address, where he highlighted the “evolving role of transnational education in strengthening the higher education system in Nigeria.”
In her paper titled: Regulatory Clarity, Expectation, and Sector Alignment for Transnational Education, Ag. Director Open Distance and e-Learning, NUC, Dr. Funmilayo Morebise, provided essential clarity on the regulatory environment, ensuring that institutions understand how to operate TNE partnerships within NUC guidelines.
| Some of the key highlights of the Discussions at the Workshop include : 1. Building a clear, shared understanding of the concept of Transnational Education. 2. Identifying the various delivery models (e.g., joint degrees, articulation, online/blended learning, branch campuses). 3. Examining global trends and motivations driving TNE, with examples from the UK and other regions. 4. Clarifying the roles of key stakeholders (governments, regulators, and institutions) in enabling successful TNE. 5. Presentation on the overview of the British Council TNE Strategy 6. Deepening participants’ understanding of international partnerships in higher education and their different forms (e.g., TNE, research, mobility, capacity-building). 7. Examining the drivers, benefits, and challenges of international partnerships from both UK and Nigerian perspectives. 8. Managing risk and enhancing quality in transnational education. |
At the end, the Workshop successfully equipped stakeholders with a clear understanding of TNE, from conceptual clarity and regulatory expectations to strategic partnership development and quality management, setting a definitive path for the responsible expansion of TNE in Nigeria.
Participant at the Workshop include Vice-Chancellors and Heads of international partnerships of Nigerian Universities. Other NUC staff that participated at the workshop include: Dr. (Mrs.) Vitoria Pillah, Dr. Gabriel Ligari, Mr. Ayeni Kolade, Dr. Agaba Benjamin, Mr. Oyinkuro Andaebi, Ms. Jamila Dahiru, and Mrs. Zainab Mohammed.