Call for Evidence: FCDO’s Approach to Higher Education and Research Partnerships
The International Development Committee will explore the FCDO’s approach to higher education and research partnerships as part of its development strategy; how this may shift in response to a reduced aid budget and in the light of the new International Education Strategy; and the medium to long-term benefits of higher education and research partnerships to the UK’s international development goals.
The new International Education Strategy outlines this Government’s plans to use the UK’s research and education system to create mutually beneficial partnerships, in which the UK supports upskilling and capacity-building in partner countries by sharing expertise. This is a key element of the Government’s four essential shifts.
This strategy will be complemented by the upcoming Soft Power Strategy. A British education has traditionally been perceived as prestigious by overseas students. The Foreign Affairs Committee’s inquiry into soft power found that 71% of international graduates feel a close connection with the UK and 57% are more likely to do business with the UK because of their degree experience. In 2025, the UK educated 59 serving world leaders. However, a lack of investment in partnerships, alongside the cut in student visas, may undermine this exchange. Home Office data shows that applications for study visas are at the lowest level in four years.
Written Evidence
The deadline date for submissions to this inquiry is noon on Wednesday 15 April 2026, however, the Committee will strive to consider written evidence submissions that arrive after this date.
We generally discourage anonymised submissions and would ask contributors who wish to remain anonymous to contact the Committee team at an early stage.
Evidence submitted to a Select Committee should not be published in part or in full before the Committee has accepted and published it on its website, after consulting with the Committee team.
Duplicate Submissions
Please note that duplicated submissions will not be accepted.
Reasonable Adjustments
If you need an adjustment to help you send your evidence, please get in touch with committee staff by email at indcom@parliament.uk or call 020 7219 1223. They’ll be able to talk about what we can do to help you send your evidence, so far as reasonably practical. That might include sending it to us in a different format or giving you more time to prepare your evidence. We will be happy to help you.
Key Questions for the Inquiry Include:
The Committee is interested in hearing a range of views on some or all of the following questions. We would be keen to hear from: stakeholders who can talk about case studies; Government leaders and officials; academia; think tanks; civil society organisations working on the ground; administrators or leaders of higher education or research-related programmes that receive UK ODA.
- What role do higher education and research partnerships play in the FCDO’s wider development strategy?
- What are the criteria for the allocation of Official Development Assistance towards higher education and research partnerships?
- Have the criteria changed since the shift to allocating 0.3% of gross national investment to ODA?
- Can research partnerships adequately fill the gap left by reductions in funding to and focus on international programmes, as in the case of the Fleming Fund?
- What have been the benefits of investment in higher education and research partnerships for the UK and international partners?
- What further benefits can be harnessed?
- What distinguishes UK scholarships, such as the Chevening Scholarship, from international counterparts?
- What role can UK scholarships play in the FCDO’s wider development agenda?
- How does the UK’s investment in higher education and research partnerships as part of its development agenda compare with that of other leading countries?
- How have higher education and research partnerships contributed to the UK’s influence on the global stage?
- How can the FCDO mobilise higher education and research partnerships to achieve its commitments towards SDG4?