HESA launches new dashboard for international and transnational educational data

HESA (part of Jisc) has launched a new interactive dashboard bringing together data on international students studying in the UK and students studying overseas through UK transnational education (TNE).

Launched at Universities UK International’s TNE Conference on 30 September, the new HE international dashboard provides an accessible way to explore international higher education trends and understand how international and TNE activity is changing across the sector.

Drawing on HESA open data from 2012/13 to 2024/25, the dashboard enables users to explore international and TNE student populations by country, higher education provider, academic year and level of study.

Users can investigate questions such as:

• where students studying through UK TNE are located
• where international students studying in the UK come from
• how international and TNE student populations have changed over time
• which levels of study account for the largest populations
• how the balance of home, international and TNE students varies between providers

The dashboard is designed as a starting point for universities exploring international opportunities. It can help international, planning and strategy teams identify trends, understand the wider market and develop questions for more detailed analysis.

The launch comes as international education remains a major priority for the UK and providers consider how student recruitment, international partnerships and TNE can support sustainable global growth.

From open data to deeper insight

Universities needing to investigate specific markets, competitors or strategic questions in greater detail can build on the dashboard using our tailored datasets service.

Tailored datasets provide bespoke extracts of HESA data, with Jisc analysts helping customers define their requirements and access the data needed to answer specific questions about UK higher education.

The combination provides a route from initial exploration using open data to more detailed analysis tailored to an institution’s priorities.

Supporting successful transnational education

Data can help universities understand where international opportunities may lie, but developing successful and sustainable TNE also requires institutions to consider how provision will work in different countries and contexts.

Jisc brings together support for these wider challenges, including digital equity, licensing, cyber security, connectivity, trust and identity, research, advice and consultancy. Our TNE support also draws on HESA data and analysis to help the sector understand the scale and characteristics of UK TNE.

Our research into the digital experiences of TNE students and staff, conducted with 19 UK higher education providers, draws on feedback from more than 5,000 participants across more than 30 countries. It identified recurring challenges around connectivity and technology, access to digital resources, cultural differences in the use of technology for learning and teaching, and digital skills.

Together with the dashboard, our data expertise and wider TNE support can help users to move from understanding international trends to investigating opportunities and considering how they can be delivered effectively.

For more detailed analysis, email data.analytics@jisc.ac.uk about tailored datasets or speak to your relationship manager about consultancy and wider TNE support.