Southampton Solent University has announced a new international partnership with Exeed College, marking another step in the institution's drive to expand its global presence and deliver career-focused higher education to students across the Middle East.
The agreement will enable Solent degree programmes to be delivered online throughout the region, giving learners greater access to British qualifications without the need to relocate. University leaders say the collaboration is designed to broaden opportunity, strengthen international connections and equip students with the skills and global outlook that employers increasingly demand.
The partnership was finalised following a recent visit by representatives from Exeed College to Solent's East Park Terrace campus in Southampton. During the visit, discussions covered curriculum delivery, student support arrangements and the shared ambition of providing high-quality, industry-relevant education that responds to regional labour market needs.
Professor James Knowles, Vice-Chancellor of Southampton Solent University, welcomed the agreement. "We are proud to strengthen our partnership with Exeed, building on a shared commitment to innovation, opportunity and student success," he said. "This collaboration will provide students with meaningful international and industry-focused experiences, helping them to develop the skills and global outlook that employers increasingly value.
"Partnerships such as this are vital to the future of higher education, enabling us to broaden opportunity, strengthen international connections and deliver lasting impact for our students and communities."
Exeed College is a global organisation with registrations and operations across different locations, including Colorado, USA, and a project management and outreach office in Sharjah, UAE. By combining Solent's academic expertise and British degree-awarding powers with Exeed's regional knowledge and delivery infrastructure, the two institutions aim to create flexible learning pathways that fit around work and family commitments.
Online delivery is expected to be a central feature of the new offer. Students will be able to study towards Solent qualifications remotely while remaining in the Middle East, reducing the financial and logistical barriers that can prevent talented individuals from accessing UK higher education.
The announcement comes at a time when UK universities are actively seeking sustainable international partnerships. With changing patterns of student mobility, growing demand for flexible and online study, and increasing competition for international enrolments, collaborations of this kind are seen as an important way to maintain relevance and diversify income streams.
Also Read: Rethinking Talent Development in an Era of AI and Global Collaboration
Solent says programmes delivered under the partnership will be subject to its quality assurance processes, ensuring standards remain consistent with those applied on the Southampton campus. Support services, including academic guidance, careers advice and student wellbeing provision, are also expected to form part of the delivery model.
Full details of the first programmes have yet to be published. Career-focused education has long been a hallmark of Solent's approach, and the new arrangement is intended to extend that ethos to a wider international audience.
For students in the Middle East, the opportunity to earn a British degree online through a UK university partner is expected to be attractive, particularly for learners who balance professional responsibilities with study.
As the partnership moves from announcement to implementation, attention will turn to programme launch, student recruitment and ongoing quality monitoring.
