International & Partnerships Strategy

Executive summary

Abertay University's International and Partnership Strategy 2025–2030 sets out a bold and inclusive vision to expand the University's global impact through transnational education, digital innovation and strategic collaboration. Aligned with the overarching University Strategy, this plan aims to deliver transformative learning experiences for students worldwide and strengthen Abertay's reputation as a globally connected, student-centred institution.

The strategy focuses on five key objectives:

• Sustainable Global Growth and Brand Development: Expanding Abertay's qualifications through transnational education (TNE), online learning and strategic partnerships, while enhancing global brand visibility.

• Strategic and Sustainable Partnerships: Building long-term, values-aligned collaborations with institutions, governments and industries across key regions.

• Inclusive Access and Student Success: Supporting diverse learners through tailored academic support, inclusive pedagogy and community integration — on campus, online and through partner institutions.

• International Study Experience: Promoting student and staff mobility, virtual exchange and embedding global perspectives into curricula and co-curricular activities.

• Digital and Operational Transformation: Leveraging digital platforms to scale international delivery, enhance partnership management and ensure compliance and quality assurance.

Progress will be measured through key performance indicators including student recruitment, partnership income, online learning retention, mobility participation and student satisfaction. Workforce planning, risk mitigation and alignment with the University's People, Digital and Student Success strategies will underpin successful implementation.

This strategy positions Abertay to deliver inclusive, innovative and globally relevant education — empowering learners and partners across borders and platforms.

While this strategy focuses on international education and partnerships, international research is guided by a dedicated framework. For insights into Abertay's research priorities and innovation agenda, please refer to the Abertay Research, Knowledge Exchange and Innovation Strategy.

Strategy

Vision

Aligned with Abertay University's Strategy 2025–2030, the International and Partnerships Strategy sets out a bold vision to expand the University's global impact through high-quality, inclusive, sustainable and digitally enabled international engagement.

This strategy champions the global delivery of Abertay degrees through transnational education and the development of Abertay Online as a high-quality, flexible learning platform that extends access to learners worldwide. It also places strong emphasis on the international student experience on campus, ensuring that students are supported through tailored services, intercultural enrichment and opportunities for personal and academic growth.

By fostering strategic partnerships and promoting a quality, student-focused international study experience, the strategy strengthens Abertay's global reach and operational agility. Progress will be tracked through key performance indicators focused on student recruitment, partnership income, research outputs and satisfaction. Risk management and annual reporting will ensure accountability and adaptability.

This strategy positions Abertay as a globally connected, student-centred institution — delivering transformative opportunities for learners and partners across borders and platforms.

Strategic objectives

1. Sustainable global growth and brand development

• Expand the portfolio of Abertay qualifications locally and globally through transnational education (TNE), online learning and strategic academic partnerships.

• Deliver growth in on-campus international student numbers by expanding recruitment pipelines, agent networks and articulation agreements.

• Enhance Abertay's global brand through targeted marketing, alumni engagement and participation in international rankings and networks.

2. Strategic and sustainable partnerships

• Forge long-term, values-aligned partnerships with institutions, governments and industry in key regions, for example Europe, Asia, Africa and North America.

• Develop collaborations that reflect Abertay's academic strengths and societal impact.

• Enhance our governance processes and evaluation frameworks to ensure mutual benefit and sustainability of partnerships.

3. Inclusive access and student success

• Ensure transformational opportunities for students from diverse backgrounds, supporting them through our Student Success Strategy, regardless of whether they are on-campus home or international students, studying through an international partner in another country or studying with Abertay through Abertay Online.

• Continue to enhance the international student experience through tailored onboarding, academic support and community integration.

• Promote intercultural learning and global citizenship across the student, academic staff and professional services bodies of the University.

4. International study experience

• Expand student and staff mobility through schemes such as Turing and the Scottish Education Exchange Partnership (SEEP) as well as through bespoke exchange agreements.

• Support virtual exchange and collaborative online international learning (COIL) to widen access to global experiences for students on the Dundee campus.

• Embed international perspectives into curricula and co-curricular activities.

• Support the study experience of students coming to Dundee from across the globe.

5. Digital and operational transformation

In alignment with the Abertay Digital Strategy, we will:

• Use digital platforms to scale international delivery, support online learners and manage global partnerships efficiently.

• Develop data-informed decision-making tools to monitor partnership performance and student outcomes.

• Ensure cybersecurity, data compliance, licensing agreement compliance and quality assurance in all partnership operations to the levels expected within UK legislation and regulatory body standards.

Alignment with University Strategy

Strategy 2025–2030

KPIs

Please note: The University maintains a set of internal KPIs to measure delivery against this strategy. These indicators are monitored through established governance processes but are not published externally.

Values

The Abertay University Strategy 2025–30 is guided by four core values:

• Inclusive – Equality of opportunity and inclusion are embedded in the University's ethos.

• Caring – Kindness and respect for people, animals and the planet.

• Innovative – Encouraging creativity, excellence and progress.

• Collaborative – Working together internally and externally to achieve shared goals.

The International and Partnerships Strategy 2025–2030 expresses these values in the following ways:

Inclusive

• Provides transformative learning experiences for students from diverse backgrounds, across multiple locations and flexible modes of study, and applies the philosophy of our Student Success Strategy within all models of working with students.

• Provides academic support across Abertay and partner institutions.

Caring

• Prioritises student wellbeing through onboarding, retention support and community integration.

• Builds partnerships that reflect shared values and mutual benefit.

Innovative

• Promotes digital platforms for scalable international delivery.

• Encourages data-informed decision-making and global research collaboration.

• Supports creative approaches to teaching, learning and partnership development.

Collaborative

• Develops strategic partnerships with institutions, governments and industries worldwide.

• Facilitates joint research, mobility programmes and co-curricular initiatives.

• Engages alumni and international networks to strengthen global impact.

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