Towards A Ministry‑Led Quality Assurance Framework For Transnational Higher Education: A Comparative Uk–Uae Study

Abstract

Transnational higher education (TNE) has expanded rapidly, yet quality‑assurance (QA) arrangements remain fragmented, duplicative and frequently inequitable. Building on an extensive literature review (92 sources) and a comparative case analysis of the United Kingdom (UK) and United Arab Emirates (UAE), this article proposes a ministry‑led, collaboratively governed QA framework designed to reconcile regulatory logics, rebalance stakeholder power and accommodate digital delivery. Guided by Collaborative‑Governance, Stakeholder and Agency theories, the study synthesises interview evidence from 31 senior TNE actors, secondary policy documents and thematic coding to identify structural weaknesses in current regimes. Five interlocking mechanisms—Joint Regulatory Councils, Bilateral QA Compacts, Stakeholder Advisory Panels, QA Equivalency Standards and Integrated Data & Reporting Systems—are advanced, alongside a four‑phase implementation roadmap. The framework seeks to preserve national sovereignty while enabling harmonisation and continuous enhancement across borders. Implications extend to ministries of education seeking strategic oversight, institutions aiming to reduce compliance burden, and students demanding equivalent learning outcomes regardless of delivery site.