Transnational education and professional recognition: accreditation of built environment courses from a UK perspective

Universities have a long and proud history of attracting students from beyond their national boundaries. In recent times they have become involved in Transnational education programmes. Transnational education is in-country delivery of higher education by foreign universities. It can be delivered in campuses owned by the foreign universities in the country or affiliated to the university, but is more commonly delivered in partnership with existing universities in the country, by distance learning, and by e-learning. In the UK this often involves delivering professionally orientated undergraduate and postgraduate degree programmes using distance and distributed learning methods. These courses are in many cases subject to accreditation by professional institutions in the UK. The requirement for professional body accreditation imposes constraints on the internationalisation of course content due to a need to maintain approval by the UK accrediting bodies. At the same time relevant accrediting organisations, both professional bodies and government agencies, outside of the UK have articulated their wish to have control over the educational formation of professionals within their countries The paper will explore the issues associated with the tension between internationalisation of degree programmes and perceived national needs