35th Annual Conference of the European Association for International Education (EAIE), held in Gothenburg (Sweden) from 9–12 September. Under the rubric “GO Create”, this year’s conference revolved around collaboration, cooperation and co-creation in this field. This afforded UPF the opportunity to strengthen relations with its European and international partners, particularly the European associations and alliances to which it belongs, such as The Guild and EUTOPIA, and further its strategic objectives, which include enhancing mobility quality and opportunities. 

The vice-rector for Internationalization at UPF, Helena Ramalhinho, headed the University’s delegation at the event. Also present were the delegate for Mobility at UPF, Josep Capdeferro, and the head of the International Relations Service, Sara López, who is also the EAIE’s president. They were joined by the Service’s head of agreements, Fatou-Bin N’Gum, and the heads of centres attached to UPF, such as the ESCI and Tecnocampus.

UPF’s conference representatives were part of a broader Catalan delegation grouped under the umbrella “Study in Catalonia”. UPF currently holds the presidency of the Catalan Association of Public Universities (ACUP), wherefore the vice-rector for Internationalization was also required to fulfil duties on behalf of the Catalan delegation. 

The conference draws 7,000 participants and over one thousand organizations 

The EAIE (European Association for International Education) is a non-profit organization focused on higher education at a global level, with over 3,000 members. Each year, it organizes the largest European conference in the field, along with an exhibition fair, lending all participants the opportunity to present their activities to other higher education representatives. 

This year’s edition welcomed more than 7,000 people and 1,150 organizations. The exhibition fair featured over 250 stands, which included those of EUTOPIA, an alliance of which UPF is a member, and the Catalan delegation “Study in Catalonia”. The conference’s line-up of activities included 160 open sessions, 10 workshops and 29 activities on issues relevant to higher education at an international level, such as policies and programmes for bilateral cooperation and sustainability, among others.

During the event’s opening address, Sara López, as EAIE president, stated: “Despite the barriers we encounter at both national and supranational levels to extend our vision of international education, we believe that this event is key to developing a mutual understanding and connection across borders.”

UPF strengthens ties with its European partners

During the event, UPF’s delegates engaged in around fifty meetings with European and international partners, most notably those from the alliance EUTOPIA and the association The Guild, of which UPF forms part. Among the members of EUTOPIA is the University of Gothenburg, the host of this year’s conference. Within the framework of this event, EUTOPIA also organized activities aimed at creating spaces in which the alliance’s member universities could meet and exchange ideas. One such activity involved organizing a reception and networking session for the EUTOPIA community, as well as an informal meeting for delegates from all alliance member universities present at the conference. There on UPF’s behalf was the vice-rector for Internalization, Helena Ramalhinho. UTOPIA was also represented in 14 talks on issues such as responsibility and ethics in international cooperation, mobility and student and staff inclusion, the impact of AI on internationalization and the geopolitical challenges of university alliances. 

The Guild, on its part, organized three sessions devoted to reflection on the relevance of European alliances, how European universities can contribute to driving higher education policies and practices that strengthen institutional capacities in this regard.

A meeting aimed at advancing UPF’s internationalization objectives

UPF also leveraged the EAIE’s annual conference to make headway in what are strategic objectives for the University, such as improving international mobility quality and opportunities. Steps were also taken to explore avenues for cooperation between UPF and new partners in the fields of engineering, medicine, communication and global studies.

During the conference, UPF showcased its vitality and international strength, while sharing its European vision in support of academic freedom, education as a driver of social cohesion and international education as cornerstone of dialogue and peace. All these were recurring topics in an event in which discussion shifted between ideas, strategies and solutions for addressing the challenges of higher education, such as the opportunities and risks of AI, as well as the Erasmus+ programme and other programmes funded by the EU. 

At the behest of the EAIE’s president, an award was also given to Allan Goodman, from the Institute for International Education, in recognition of his career as a diplomat and scholar committed to the principles of citizenship and global dialogue, as well as his commitment to trans-Atlantic relations, also within the realm of universities.