New Global Insights report focuses on the European Union

QAA has published a new report in its Global Insights series, exploring the higher education landscape of the European Union – the bloc of 27 nations and 450 million people.

One of the European Education Area's objectives is to increase the share of 25- to 34-year-olds with tertiary educational attainment to at least 45 per cent by 2030. The EU's strategic agenda for 2024-29 includes a new Union of Skills initiative whose aims include a better alignment of higher education and labour market priorities. Investment in education is seen as a priority for boosting economic competitiveness and addressing demographic challenges.

The European Higher Education Area is the largest non-Anglophone hub for English-taught courses. UK transnational education (TNE) in the European Union has grown substantially. Student numbers rose 71 per cent between 2016-17 and 2024-25 – with 147 providers serving around 95,000 students. British Council research has found that perceptions of the quality of UK education are improving among prospective students in France and Germany, the EU's two most populous nations.

Exclusive to Global Insights members, QAA's new report charts Europe's higher education landscape and its core quality and qualifications frameworks, and trends, opportunities, quality assurance and regulation in the European Union's TNE markets. It also explores international student mobility and trends in EU students coming into the UK.

The report is available to Global Insights members on our website.

Global Insights members are also reminded of QAA's Global Insights Conference which will take place online on 19-22 October – and which offers unlimited places to all staff working in institutions with Global Insights membership and Accredited International membership.