The start of 2026 brought a new International Education Strategy, a cross government effort to grow British education exports to £40bn by 2030. It leans on expanding transnational education, deepening international partnerships and showcasing UK research capabilities. With the UK re entering Erasmus, the signal is clear: Britain wants to re establish itself as open for business after years in which immigration rows and Brexit politics sullied its competitive edge.
Universities tend to dominate debates about international education, but this is also a pivotal moment for professional, statutory and regulatory bodies (PSRBs) and referred to here as professional and regulatory bodies. Their influence is often underestimated, even though global shifts in provision directly affect skills pipelines, labour markets and the professions they underpin. For organisations with commercial ambitions, this is a moment to reassess their international position and the value they bring to a rapidly changing higher education market.
Graduate outcomes drive institutional competitiveness, yet the professional structures behind those outcomes rarely receive the same attention. Professional qualifications and membership are essential in many fields, strengthening the value of accredited degrees and providing clear career pathways. They also open international mobility routes that students seldom hear about. Despite this, awareness among universities and students is low. Too often, the contribution of professional and regulatory bodies to employability is treated as peripheral, even though they set the standards, competencies and ethical frameworks that employers value. This is a missed commercial opportunity. These organisations can help students understand professional routes, support universities to articulate the value of accreditation, and ensure graduates enter the workforce with a strong sense of professional identity and international portability. This strengthens the market position of both the profession and its accredited providers.
Many professional and regulatory bodies already have extensive networks of accredited institutions overseas. As UK universities expand through branch campuses and new partnership models, questions may arise about how these developments intersect with existing accredited provision. The landscape is shifting rapidly: private equity backed providers, large education groups and government funded initiatives are reshaping competition. Students are increasingly drawn to institutions offering stronger branding, English medium delivery, enhanced facilities or more assertive marketing. backed providers, large education groups and government funded initiatives are reshaping competition. Students are increasingly drawn to institutions offering stronger branding, English medium delivery, enhanced facilities or more assertive marketing.
The dynamics create both risks and openings. Long standing accredited partners may face new pressures, but professional and regulatory bodies can help them stay aligned with professional needs and visible in crowded markets. At the same time, a more commercially driven environment creates scope for these organisations to expand accreditation services, develop new recognition models and shape professional pathways that reflect global expectations. For many, this may be an opportunity to diversify revenue, strengthen international influence and build new strategic partnerships.
As organisations responsible for standards, accreditation, competence, curricula, CPD and professional integrity, this is a moment to test whether current approaches are fit for a more interconnected world. Professional education is often the first point of contact for future members and the mechanism through which individuals understand the value of belonging to a profession. It is also the ongoing link that sustains engagement through CPD, ethics and standards. This invites professional and regulatory bodies to examine whether their qualification frameworks, accreditation models, assessment practices, recognition routes, professional codes and member development pathways are sufficiently agile and internationally aligned. It also raises questions about how training pathways translate across borders and whether current systems can meet rising demand from students, employers and regulators in new markets.
The following areas highlight where professional and regulatory bodies may need to sharpen their international position as the landscape evolves.
International education as a pipeline for global professional communities
International students who pass through UK programmes often become part of global professional communities. Many later join as members, volunteers and advocates for UK standards. As universities expand internationally, professional and regulatory bodies have an opportunity to engage earlier and more deliberately with these future professionals, strengthening long term membership and reinforcing the global relevance of UK standards.
Points for consideration:
- Building clearer pathways from study into professional membership
- Engaging international students early as future professionals
- Strengthening the visibility of UK standards in global markets
- Supporting international branches with consistent CPD, ethics and professional identity
Branch development
International branches already play a significant role in representing UK professions overseas. With the strategy’s focus on diversification and TNE growth, this is a timely moment to review how these networks operate and where new opportunities lie. Stronger branch networks can deepen market presence, strengthen employer engagement and enhance the credibility of UK standards.
Points for consideration:
- Whether existing branches align with emerging markets
- Strengthening governance, volunteer support and local engagement
- Identifying regions where new branches or partnerships are warranted
- Positioning branches to shape professional identity, deliver CPD and engage employers
Professional standards and qualification portability
As TNE expands, the comparability and portability of professional standards become more important. Professional and regulatory bodies are central to ensuring that standards remain relevant and internationally recognised, protecting the global value of UK qualifications and supporting sustainable membership growth.
Points for consideration:
- Alignment of standards across jurisdictions
- Whether competency frameworks reflect global practice
- How accredited curricula map to international expectations
- Whether recognition processes support graduates entering regulated professions abroad
- How graduates can be better supported to practise internationally
Trade, Mutual Recognition Agreements and professional mobility
Professional qualifications and standards are increasingly embedded in trade negotiations and mobility frameworks. As the UK signs new agreements, professional and regulatory bodies have opportunities to shape recognition pathways, strengthen the international standing of their professions and open new commercial routes.
Points for consideration:
- Active engagement in developing Mutual Recognition Agreements
- Strengthening recognition arrangements with overseas regulators
- Positioning standards in emerging markets
- Supporting regulators abroad to build capacity and align with shared expectations
The Government’s Ricardo Fund and international capacity building
As part of its new International Trade Strategy, the government has launched a fund, named after Scottish Economist David Ricardo. The Ricardo Fund offers an opportunity for professional and regulatory bodies to expand their international activities. It encourages organisations to think beyond incremental change and consider how they can shape the future of their profession globally.
Potential opportunities:
- Overcoming barriers to entry in other markets
- Modernising standards to reflect global practice
- Developing new international accreditation or recognition models
- Building regulatory capacity in partner countries
- Strengthening collaboration with higher education institutions on qualification portability
- Investing in branch development and international volunteer networks
How HT can support you
- Develop international strategies and global membership models
- Strengthen qualification portability and standards alignment
- Build and support international branches and volunteer networks
- Expand accreditation and recognition services
- Shape credible, ambitious proposals for the Ricardo Fund
- Conduct global opportunity analysis and market prioritisatio
If your organisation is exploring how to position itself within the UK’s international agenda, we can help you turn opportunity into action.
