Source · Select Committees · Business and Trade Committee
Recommendation 5
5
Acknowledged
Confirm education as a priority sector within trade strategy to maximise export potential.
Recommendation
Education and higher education are critical export sectors in Asia-Pacific and strategic enablers of the best possible export environment in the region. The Government’s trade strategy should confirm that education is a priority sector and the Industrial Strategy Council should ensure there is a cross-Whitehall dialogue that helps maximise the potential of UK education exports. On the ground in export markets, UK embassies should ensure that universities feature in a five-year business plan for advancing local ‘soft-power strategies’ which choreograph taxpayer-funded soft power institutions including UK universities, UK research councils, the British Council and the BBC World Service and connect to better organised drive behind export of UK creative industries, organised through the Industrial Strategy Council. (Recommendation, Paragraph 41)
Government Response Summary
The government acknowledges the importance of education exports and is delivering through its International Education Strategy, having reappointed an education champion. It also notes that embassies have been instructed to consider deploying soft power, and a Soft Power Strategy is being developed, but does not specifically commit to a cross-Whitehall dialogue via the Industrial Strategy Council or a five-year business plan for universities.
Government Response
Acknowledged
HM Government
Acknowledged
The Government recognises the importance of education related exports (worth £32.3 billion in 2022), and the significant opportunities for the sector in the Asia-Pacific region, which we are delivering through our International Education Strategy. In support of this the Government has reappointed Professor Sir Steve Smith as International Education Champion. He has undertaken extensive engagement with the Asia-Pacific region, including meeting with the Indonesian President in July, leading a delegation of British Russell Group Universities. Education and creative industry exports are key elements of UK soft power and the Government works closely with the UK Soft Power Council to identify how these can be advanced to drive growth and security. As part of these discussions, Ministers held a roundtable on education and soft power with Council members and external experts on 4 June 2025, the outcomes of which are informing the development of the Soft Power Strategy that this Government has committed to produce. UK embassies have also been instructed to consider how to deploy soft power more purposefully as they develop their business plans.