Collaboration will ¡°be at the heart¡± of the UK¡¯s coming international education strategy, Bridget Phillipson has told global leaders as the country attempts to reset its relations with Europe.?

The education secretary confirmed that the next strategy ¨C a cross-governmental plan which will shape the country¡¯s approach to?education exports ¨C will be published ¡°in the coming months¡±.

¡°At its heart will be collaboration, building partnerships that are meaningful, partnerships that matter, partnerships that, above all else, make a difference in the lives of the people that we serve,¡± she said, speaking at the Education World Forum in London, a gathering of education ministers from around the world convened by Times Higher Education.

¡°We need to be at the top of our game¡± to tackle ¡°wider global challenges¡± including ¡°growing economic uncertainty, shifting labour markets, the flood of disinformation around social media¡±, she?added.

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¡°These are shared challenges that demand shared solutions, solutions powered by technology backed by evidence. But collaboration is key. We can¡¯t do this alone.¡±

It comes as the country?negotiates a deal to reset relations with the European Union after Brexit.

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The two sides have signalled support for a youth mobility scheme as part of this that would make it easier for Europeans to study in Britain and vice versa, although few details have been announced.?

Labour also recently set out plans to reduce immigration to the UK, including by shortening the length of time international graduates can stay and work in the country.?

The government is expected to avoid setting a target number of international students in the next international education strategy, after the goal in the last strategy was achieved almost a decade early.?

Advocacy groups in the UK have also urged the government to encourage more British students to study abroad?as part of the strategy, after finding participation rates in outward mobility schemes dropped by more than half between 2018 and 2022.?

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Phillipson also announced plans to fund the development of global guidelines for the use of generative AI in education, with the UK set to host an international summit on the topic in 2026.

helen.packer@timeshighereducation.com