Global Essex

Global Engagement

A truly global outlook

At Essex we’re engaged with the world. We host incoming delegations, build bridges and form partnerships with overseas institutions, share our knowledge and help other institutions build their capacity. 

We invite delegations to visit us for strategic fact-finding trips and knowledge-sharing. We also work in partnership with Essex County Council to link with international partners. Our professional services employees also share good practice with colleagues in partner institutions.

Embracing the globe
  • We value working with others so that together we can do things better and do better things: we have links with 320 institutions around the world.
  • We have 14 international academic partnerships with global institutions in China, France, Germany, Japan, Russia and Singapore, and 120 friendship and progression agreements around the world.
  • We believe that working in partnership is the key to the improvement of humanity and society through the transformational opportunities we jointly create for students.

Sharing knowledge

Every other year, a delegation of our professional services staff visits the University of Konstanz for knowledge-sharing and networking. Academic staff can visit partner institutions through Erasmus+.

We are a university that is always looking to make a difference to the lives of others and we are always looking for like-minded organisations to partner with us on this journey.

Building capacity

Backed by current EU funding we are engaged in supporting capacity-building activity for institutions in other areas, including Russia, Israel and the Caucuses. For example, our Head of Employability has been working with a network of Georgian universities to help set up careers services. This type of activity is in the interests of sharing our knowledge and improving learning outcomes for other international institutions.

Boosting prosperity

We were one of the first UK universities to join the Santander Universities initiative, that was created in 1996 by Banco Santander’s late Chairman Emilio Botin – with the aim of bringing together the bank’s corporate social responsibility activities. The network began in Spain and now engages more than 20 countries including Brazil, Mexico, Argentina and Portugal with almost 1,200 university partners network in 2007, and today is has 83 UK members.

Since joining, we have received more than £1.3m in support which has helped us to support 120 Masters Scholarships, 200 internships and more than 150 travel grants. In March 2018 we signed a new three-year partnership with Santander Universities which will continue to support our students through a range of scholarship and enterprising opportunities.

“I am really inspired by the entrepreneurial spirit and drive of students at the University of Essex. We’re delighted to be supporting such an important initiative that recognises the importance of encouraging these young business leaders; nurturing the next generation to dare to invent, innovate, create and be entrepreneurial.”such as the University of Essex, to help Santander UK be better and ready for the future as well.” 
Matt Hutnall Head of Santander Universities UK

Vice-Chancellor's visits

Our Vice-Chancellor, Professor Anthony Forster, makes regular visits to higher education institutions to form new partnerships, strengthen existing links with Essex, and celebrate our graduates' achievements. 

2018-19 visits

  • India
  • Singapore and Hong Kong
  • USA
  • South Africa
  • China
  • Europe
  • South America

International visits to Essex

At Essex, we regularly welcome delegations and partner universities from all over the world. These visits allow us to connect with like-minded institutions, exchange ideas as well as explore opportunities for research and academic collaborations.  

Request a visit to Essex

If you are a partner university or part of a delegation in visiting Essex or inviting a delegation to Essex, please contact internationalvisits@essex.ac.uk

Professor Dominic Micklewright from the School of Sport, Rehabilitation and Exercise Sciences sitting at a table.
"We enjoy working with universities and organisations around the world who, like us, are always striving to achieve excellence in education and excellence in research. If you want to help us make a difference in the world, get in touch." 
PROFESSOR DOMINIC MICKLEWRIGHT DEAN OF PARTNERSHIPS