International Conference
on Transnational
Education (TNE)
Reimagining Transnational Education:
Partnerships, Quality Assurance & Regulation, Innovation and Global Impact
25-26 MARCH 2026
MAURITIUS
In an increasingly interconnected world, Transnational Education (TNE) has emerged as a key enabler of access to quality education, global talent development, and sustainable international partnerships. Mauritius, through UIEH, has positioned itself as a regional hub for TNE, hosting reputable international institutions such as Middlesex University, Université Paris-Panthéon-Assas, Ecole Nationale Supérieure d’Architecture de Nantes, Amity University, Swansea University, Vellore Institute of Technology, and SUPINFO.
As TNE continues to evolve in response to digital transformation, geopolitical shifts, and the demand for skills-based learning, UIEH aims to bring together academic partners, policy makers, researchers, and industry actors to reflect, share experiences, and shape the next generation of cross-border education.
Register now
Plenary Speaker
Dr Francisco Marmolejo
Higher Education President & Education Advisor at Qatar Foundation
Francisco Marmolejo is Higher Education President at Qatar Foundation (QF) in Doha, where he leads QF’s work in support of 8 prestigious universities established at Education City in Doha offering more than 70 academic programs to students from more than 110 countries. During 2012 - 2020, he worked at the World Bank, where he served as the Global Coordinator of Higher Education, based in Washington, DC., and later as Lead Higher Education Specialist for India and South Asia, based in New Delhi.
As part of his activities at the World Bank, he coordinated the internal thematic group on higher education, which helps to facilitate the exchange of ideas among the more than 100 Bank’s staff members and consultants involved in higher education initiatives across the globe.
During 1995-2012, he served as founding Executive Director of the Consortium for North American Higher Education Collaboration, a network of more than 160 colleges and universities primarily from Mexico, Canada, and the U.S based at the University of Arizona, where he also worked as Assistant Vice President for Western Hemispheric Programs, Affiliated Researcher at the Center for the Study of Higher Education, and Affiliate Faculty at the Center for Latin American Studies. Previously, he has been American Council on Education Fellow at the University of Massachusetts, Academic Vice President of the University of the Americas in Mexico, and International Consultant at OECD in Paris. He has served on the Board of Directors of different organizations including NAFSA and World Education Services. Currently, he is member of the Academic Board of the Centre for Higher Education Internationalisation (CHEI) at UNICATT in Italy, and of the Editorial Board of the Journal of Internationalisation of Higher Education – Policy and Practice. He is Senior Fellow of NAFSA and Founding Scholar of CHEI-UNICATT. He has received honorary doctorate degrees in Mexico from five Mexican universities including his Alma Mater, the University of San Luis Potosi.
Email: fmarmolejo@qf.org.qa
X: @fmarmole
During 1995-2012, he served as founding Executive Director of the Consortium for North American Higher Education Collaboration, a network of more than 160 colleges and universities primarily from Mexico, Canada, and the U.S based at the University of Arizona, where he also worked as Assistant Vice President for Western Hemispheric Programs, Affiliated Researcher at the Center for the Study of Higher Education, and Affiliate Faculty at the Center for Latin American Studies. Previously, he has been American Council on Education Fellow at the University of Massachusetts, Academic Vice President of the University of the Americas in Mexico, and International Consultant at OECD in Paris. He has served on the Board of Directors of different organizations including NAFSA and World Education Services. Currently, he is member of the Academic Board of the Centre for Higher Education Internationalisation (CHEI) at UNICATT in Italy, and of the Editorial Board of the Journal of Internationalisation of Higher Education – Policy and Practice. He is Senior Fellow of NAFSA and Founding Scholar of CHEI-UNICATT. He has received honorary doctorate degrees in Mexico from five Mexican universities including his Alma Mater, the University of San Luis Potosi.
Email: fmarmolejo@qf.org.qa
X: @fmarmole
Dr Nina Arnhold
International Higher Education Specialist Dr. Nina Arnhold is an International Higher Education Specialist with more than 20 years of global experience in higher education policy, financing, quality assurance, and system reform. She currently works as an International Consultant for the World Bank and as Guest Lecturer in the Master’s in Research and Innovation in Higher Education (MARIHE) Program at the University of Tampere, Finland. Until February 2025, she served as Global Lead for Tertiary Education and Lead Education Specialist at the World Bank, co-authoring the Bank’s 2021 tertiary education position paper and leading higher education operational and analytical work in South Asia. Since joining the World Bank in 2006, she has also held senior roles as Human Development Sector Coordinator for Central Europe and the Baltic States, and as Program Leader for Higher Education in the Middle East and North Africa, as well as in Europe.
Programme
25 MARCH
Morning
Keynote Lecture 1 : Dr Francisco Marmolejo, Higher Education President & Education Advisor at Qatar
Foundation
Subtheme Partnership
· Session 1a: Building sustainable partnerships
· Session 1b: Leveraging International Education Hubs
Afternoon
Subtheme Innovation
· Session 2a: Next Generation models of TNE as catalyst for local innovation
· Session 2b: New technologies in support of TNE
26 MARCH
Morning
Keynote Lecture 2 : Dr Nina Arnhold, International Higher Education Specialist
Subtheme Global Impact
· Session 3a: Rethinking TNE through the SDG lens
· Session 3b: Paper presentation
Afternoon
Subtheme Quality Assurance and Regulation
· Session 4a: Building Trust in TNE
· Session 4b: Paper presentation
RESEARCH PAPER SUBMISSION
Useful info
-
Uniciti International Education Hub, Royal Road, Pierrefonds, 72448,
Mauritius - Phone: +230 401 2400
- Email: conference@uniciti-ieh.com
Hotels in the vicinity of conference venue:
Note: a shuttle service will be available for participants staying in hotels located in the vicinity of the event venue.
Local Organising Commitee
Dr Dhanjay Jhurry
Managing Director Uniciti International Educational Hub (Conference Organiser)
Dr Sanjana G. Sooben
Head of Academic Affairs & Operations Uniciti International Educational Hub
Karoonen Moorghen
Operations Manager Uniciti Student Residences
Parwez Aullymun
Administrative Manager Uniciti International Educational Hub
Shelby Emilien
Communication Executive Medine Group
INTERNATIONAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE
Dr Olgun Cicek
International Expert in Higher Education & TVET Quality Assurance & Accreditation The Netherlands
Dr Mark Edwards
Director of Programmes TNE Institute
Dr Nitesh Sughnani
Director of Higher Education at the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA)
Dr Fabrizio Trifiro
EWF Programme Director and Senior TNE Advisor, THE / INQAAHE Board Member
Dr Cheryl Yu
Director of Programmes TNE Institute
Supporting Partner :
