How will recent advances in teaching and learning technology impact on the delivery of TNE?

The COVID pandemic had an immediate and profound impact on higher education, with universities needing to quickly pivot to online delivery in response to the sudden lockdown measures put in place. While some institutions were better prepared for this shift, all academics and professional staff have worked hard to ensure that students continue to receive a high-quality education.
One outcome of the pandemic has been the rapid implementation of technology to enable online learning, accelerating the trend towards a more blended delivery model that was already taking shape in some institutions. This has shown that the shift to online education on a large scale is possible, and that there are already a wide range of technology solutions available to support it. However, it's important to note that this transition cannot be solved solely by technology. It also requires a different mindset and approach to teaching and learning in higher education.
The result of this shift is that higher education will never go back to what it was before 2020. This raises questions about the future of transnational education (TNE) delivery, can the more online, blended practices in the UK be delivered globally?
One issue to consider is whether partners and their students have access to the technology infrastructure required to support this model. Additionally, do partner academics have the training and skills to adapt to this new way of teaching?
It's worth noting that the current shift towards blended learning, supported by advanced virtual learning environments (VLEs), is only the beginning of the educational revolution. The next step will involve the use of personal knowledge management platforms with embedded artificial intelligence (AI) to support the development of a "second brain" for learners. It's crucial that universities quickly evolve their pedagogical model to incorporate these new tools, as students and workplaces are already using similar technology to complete their work.
UK TNE providers have an opportunity to be at the forefront of these developments, offering greater flexibility in their international programs. By being the first to market with these new approaches, they can gain a significant advantage. This flexibility will allow for the development of personalised learning programs based on individual progress, as well as the creation of supplementary educational programs that provide international students with micro-credentials that are immediately relevant to their work.
AI, when appropriately designed, has the potential to provide exponentially greater student support than is currently possible with academic staff alone. In order to maintain their reputation for high-quality education, UK TNE providers must begin now to redevelop their offer to embrace these recent technological advances. #highereducation University of the West of Scotland #tne