landscape. Political uncertainty, tighter visa policies, funding constraints and growing competition mean that institutions are having to rethink how they attract and support international students.

One area that should be getting your attention is engagement with government scholarship agencies, corporate sponsors, and philanthropic foundations. These organisations collectively fund thousands of students globally each year, yet many universities are unsure whether they are well positioned to benefit.

At Cormack Consultancy Group, these are the four questions we hear most often from universities considering our Sponsor Readiness Service.

The UK signed the legal text in Brussels in April. From 2027 we are back inside Erasmus+ on the same footing as EU member states and other associated countries, with the British Council confirmed as National Agency. The 2027 Call for Proposals is expected in November, with most partnership deadlines falling around February and March 2027, and funded projects starting in the second half of the year.

Where an International Branch Campus (IBC) is established through a long-term strategic delivery partnership between a university and an operating partner, discussions about risk often begin—and end—with one concern: the university’s reputational risk.

Cormack Consultancy Group (CCG) has announced a new partnership with Durham Cricket, supporting the club's Academy programme and its commitment to developing the next generation of cricketing talent

Every opportunity to visit in Ukraine in the context of ongoing full-scale invasion is inseparable from strong emotional feelings. While in Ukraine you witness that country is not only fighting - people live their lives, work, create and move on. It is difficult to realise, but Ukraine’s education demonstrated enormous resilience.

Too many universities approach an international branch campus as a property project, an academic project or simply another international partnership. In reality, it requires the university to rethink governance, decision-making, risk management, quality assurance, finance and organisational capability.

We are pleased to share that Charles Cormack, Chairman of Cormack Consultancy Group, has been featured in a major Times Higher Education (THE) discussion examining one of the most important questions facing global higher education today:

Federal funding is being squeezed. Political hostility towards universities is no longer subtle. Research budgets are under attack, and some of the most prestigious institutions in the country have found themselves publicly targeted.

The Study Team at the Home Office reached out to UK Universities last week to clarify the requirements for official financial sponsorship. This comes amidst increased numbers of student visa applications relying on funding provided by non-national government bodies to demonstrate the required level of funds.

It is neither surprising nor revolutionary to point out that higher education, particularly international higher education, is facing a reckoning. One need only cite the U.S. F-1 visa refusal rate at a decade high of 35% globally, with industry leaders warning of the compounding enrollment losses, or the news of the “Duration of Status” proposal, to see the chaos facing the United States.  

Four years have now passed since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. What began on 24 February 2022 as a moment of global shock has become a prolonged war of attrition — one that continues to cost lives, devastate communities and deliberately target the civic institutions that underpin a democratic society.

As the fourth anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine approaches, Cormack Consultancy Group (CCG) has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Ukraine’s higher education sector through the continued development of the UK–Ukraine Twinning Initiative — one of the most significant coordinated responses by the global higher education community to the war.

Cormack Consultancy Group (CCG) is proud to announce the expansion of its partnership with Lincoln City FC, becoming the front-of-shirt sponsor for the Lincoln City Academy.

On the one hand, Horizon Europe is the largest research and innovation programme in the world — well funded, open to the UK again, and actively seeking international collaboration. On the other hand, many UK universities still treat it as something optional, peripheral, or simply too difficult.

Dyslexia affects around 10% of the population, yet many children and adults continue to face barriers to early identification and support despite clear evidence that timely intervention transforms outcomes. Through strategic partnerships and community initiatives, we are committed to raising awareness, improving access to assessment, and supporting evidence-based practices that help individuals with dyslexia thrive.

Transnational Education (TNE) is no longer a peripheral activity—it has become central to the future of global higher education. By integrating research, employability, and digital delivery, TNE can enrich student experiences both abroad and at home, while ensuring the UK remains a global leader in education innovation. The challenge is clear: move from rhetoric to reality, seizing bold, sustainable opportunities that transform lives worldwide.

UK universities face a unique strategic opportunity as global competitors tighten restrictions on international students, creating space for the UK to strengthen its position through long-term partnerships. While agent networks remain essential, sustainable competitive advantage will come from investing in robust institutional collaborations that build resilience, mutual value, and lasting global impact.

We asked Professor Sally Wheeler, Vice-Chancellor International at Birkbeck University, a series of questions about the evolving higher education landscape.

This piece explores why transnational education must move beyond short-term, recruitment-driven models to embrace truly transformational partnerships built on equity, shared investment, and long-term impact.