Ann Katrin MULLER

Abstract Transnational education is becoming an increasingly important way for universities to expand global learning opportunities and deepen international collaboration. Beyond traditional student mobility, many institutions are now exploring new forms of partnership through joint programmes, shared curriculum development, and flexible academic pathways that allow students to benefit from international learning experiences. At the same time, developing transnational education initiatives is not always straightforward. Universities often face challenges in building partnerships that go beyond formal agreements, aligning academic structures across institutions, and designing programmes that genuinely add value to the student experience. This pre-conference workshop will bring together universities from Asia and Europe to share experiences and reflect on the evolving role of transnational education. The session will not be structured as a series of presentations. Instead, it will focus on open discussion and collaborative exchange, allowing participants to share their own experiences and perspectives. The workshop will draw on the experiences of Universiti Malaysia Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah (UMPSA), Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka (UTeM), University of Nottingham Malaysia, TH Mannheim, Manchester Metropolitan University, and Hochschule Hannover. Through guided conversations and small group discussions, participants will explore some of the practical questions that universities face when developing cross-border education initiatives and reflect on how these challenges might be addressed in their own institutional context. Learning Objectives ● To reflect on the evolving role of transnational education in international higher education ● To exchange institutional experiences in developing international partnerships and programmes ● To explore different approaches to designing collaborative cross-border programmes ● To identify practical ideas that may help strengthen transnational education initiatives within participants’ institutions Target Audience This workshop is intended for colleagues involved in international collaboration and programme development in higher education. Participants may include international office staff, partnership managers, mobility coordinators, academic programme leaders, faculty members, and institutional leaders who are interested in developing or strengthening transnational education initiatives. The session welcomes both participants who are new to transnational education as well as those who already have experience in international programme development and would like to exchange ideas and practices with colleagues from different regions.