The British Council Nigeria has organised a one-day Insights & Engagement Workshop with the theme: “*Examining International Best Practices and Case Studies for TransNational Education (TNE), Implementation in the Nigerian University System,* in partnership with the Nigerian Universities Commission, (NUC), yesterday in Abuja.

Director, Programmes of the British Council in Nigeria, Chikodi Onyemerela, said the program is intended to bring stakeholders together to x-ray the concept of transnational education partnerships and chart ways of implementing TNE best practices in Nigeria to boost the sector.

He said the TNE “Is about how Nigerian university system can work with the UK university system to strengthen quality, to strengthen pedagogy, research collaboration and other components of university system for the ultimate objective improved student and general outcome from the university system..

“Competition is now global and no longer localised, the same with opportunities. So it is important that university systems globally, including Nigeria, benchmark their practices in research, curriculum and others, with what is obtainable globally.

Executive Secretary, NUC, Chris Maiyaki, observed that the Nigerian university system has evolved through the years highlighting transnational education as one of the signature innovation program.in the country”

“Because of the dictate of globalisation and the fact that university system must be seen to demonstrate those international attributes, we recently as a university system, consummated out guidelines on transnational education under whose auspices foreign universities are now at liberty, they have the latitude to contribute to be active players in providing an expanded access to university education.”

Speaking further on the framework, Professor of Computer Science and Vice Chancellor of the University of Jos, Tanko Ishaya, said “As far as we are concerned in the academia, we believe that this is very timely because many years ago, we wanted to explore this transnational education framework but Nigeria was not actually ready for it but we are glad that this is now possible.

“We are really glad that the NUC has now brought up a variety of models for the transnational education that Nigerians can actually key into

On her part, Vice Chancellor of newly established Azman University in Kano, Professor Fatima Mukhtar, said Azman University is keying into the transnational education framework as it commences admission of students.

“This will very much benefit Nigerian universities because as a new university, we have programmes may require this especially programmes that are not offered in any of the Nigerian universities like aviation programmes that I think we are pioneering them..

“We also have a programme on artificial intelligence and there are programmes under allied health services also that are not offered in many universities so the dearth of staff that will handle these course, we can link up and collaborate with universities in the UK.

The meeting is expected to provide insights into existing best practices of TransNational Education (TNE) in similar contexts.