Transnational Education as Ecosystem: Rethinking Sustainability and Equity

Abstract

Transnational education (TNE) continues to expand globally, yet many partnerships remain fragile, short-lived or insufficiently connected to local contexts. This study argues that TNE must be reimagined not as a transactional delivery model but as a dynamic ecosystem grounded in equity, sustainability and mutual capacity-building. Drawing on 245 survey responses, 20 stakeholder interviews and more than 1000 regulatory audit findings, the analysis identifies systemic barriers including weak institutional integration, rigid curriculum transfer and fragmented support for students and staff. In response, the paper proposes an ecosystem-based framework that emphasises collaborative governance, contextual adaptation and long-term relational investment. The findings suggest that meaningful TNE partnerships prioritise people, trust and strategic alignment. When approached as ecosystems rather than exports, TNE can support not only academic outcomes but also wider social, economic and institutional development. Sustainable impact requires moving beyond education-to-education transactions towards partnerships designed to endure, evolve and become locally embedded.