The British Council and Nuffic are looking for one or two higher education specialists to produce a rigorous mapping of the partnerships that currently exist between UK and Dutch higher education institutes. The consultancy commission is carried out on behalf of the UK-NL Strategic Advisory Board.
The UK–Netherlands Strategic Advisory Board (SAB) was established in early 2026 by the British Council and Nuffic to strengthen long-term collaboration between the higher education and research sectors of the United Kingdom and the Netherlands. Its mandate includes providing strategic advice, identifying barriers and enablers to cross-border partnership, and helping shape an environment in which durable, high-quality UK–Dutch cooperation can thrive. The SAB held its inaugural in-person meeting in Amsterdam on 26 March 2026, as part of the UK–Netherlands Higher Education Mission.
A priority identified at the inaugural meeting was the need to produce a rigorous mapping of the partnerships that currently exist between UK and Dutch higher education institutions. Board members noted that while individual institutions hold knowledge of their own bilateral relationships, there is no consolidated, publicly available picture of this landscape — its breadth, depth, or the models through which it operates. This gap limits the Board’s ability to set priorities, identify genuine gaps, or make the case for further investment.
This mapping exercise is the first piece of substantive commissioned work undertaken by the SAB. It will be followed by a second activity: a practical Guide to Effective UK–NL Higher Education Partnership Building. That guide will be a lessons-learned piece drawing on the knowledge and experience of those who have already built strategic partnerships across the two countries, with the aim of making the process easier and more navigable for institutions in the future. Outputs from this mapping commission may inform and feed into that subsequent work.
This Terms of Reference sets out the scope, approach, and requirements for a consultancy commission to carry out the mapping exercise.
Project at a glance
- Project Type: Research consultancy — partnership landscape mapping
- Team Required: Two consultants: one UK HE specialist; one Dutch HE specialist
- Budget: €15,000 (inclusive of all fees and expenses)
- Languages: English (primary), Dutch knowledge a strong asset
- Timeline: Commission: July 2026 | Delivery: December 2026
- Deadline to submit expression of interest: Friday 14 August 2026
- Enquiries: culturalengagement@britishcouncil.nl