Sir Steve Smith has confirmed that the Home Office will be members of an action group tasked with the delivery of the international education strategy, in an exclusive update while speaking at The PIE Live Europe 2026 in London.
The revamped strategy outlines three main priorities for UK international education; to grow education exports to a collective $40 billion per year by 2030, oversee sustainable overseas student recruitment and amplify the UK’s international standing through education – including a focus on cutting red tape for TNE partnerships abroad.
The strategy is co-authored by the Department for Business and Trade, the Department for Education and the Foreign and Commonwealth Development Office, but there had been concerns that the potential absence of the Home Office could undermine attempts for cohesive strategy across government.
However, in conversation with The PIE’s deputy editor Kim Martin, Sir Steve revealed “this is new news. ESAG will be led by the ministers of the three departments [DBT, DfE, FCDO], there will be the devolved administrations [included], and a crucial point, so will the Cabinet Office and so will the Home Office.”
“In very difficult political circumstances” continued Smith, “we are trying to find a consensual way forward that applies across government, and ESAG will be the body that brings all that together.”
The news will come as a relief to UK universities who are being impacted by visa delays, the implementation of new Basic Compliance Assessment thresholds, and “visa brakes” that have impacted Chevening scholars.
Smith, however, did caution the sector to “expect visa brakes from more countries” in the near future, as the government crackdown targeting asylum claims continues.
Further details on the the membership of ESAG are expected soon, as Smith also revealed that invitation letters will be going out “very soon” to the other stakeholders considered to be essential to the success of the international education strategy.
“We are going to focus on key groups in the sector who will work with the second tier [of groups and associations], so we want a small number of members who might then coordinate visits for example… such as a mission to a country,” he explained.
After the appointment of the ESAG membership and ministerial leads, action plans are expected within 100 days to help move the strategy, with clear expectations of how educators can support the national focus.
Members of International Compliance Network, part of UKCISA, led a sector expert community session at The PIE Live Europe, on the current challenges, interpretations and timeline for admissions and compliance professionals working in UK universities.
The Home Office expressed support for the session saying “[we] will continue to work with the sector in implementing these changes including engagement sessions, participation in sector discussions, and already circulated draft guidance” however were unable to attend.
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