Viva! EAIE Barcelona 2020

After the sweeping landscapes and picturesque vistas of Geneva and Helsinki, the EAIE Annual Conference and Exhibition is returning to Southern Europe. For the 32nd Annual EAIE Conference and Exhibition, we'll be heading to the vibrant and inventive city of Barcelona.

There’s no denying Barcelona has forged its own unique position in the world via its unmatched architecture and its cosmopolitan vibe. But today it is also is leading the way in innovation and sustainability. It is a place where entrepreneurs, innovators and creative minds of all kinds can find a welcoming community in which to pursue their activities, and we’re looking forwarding to welcoming our passionate community here in 2020.

A smart city and responsible host

Today, Spain’s most visited city ranks as one of the world’s top smart cities. Barcelona’s innovative use of technology and IoT has seen Wi-Fi routed via the street lighting. Sensors throughout the city monitor lighting, air quality, waste bins and the amount of water used in city parks. All these solutions save the city money, but more importantly are reducing the consumption of resources.

Renowned for its perfect grid-like city plan, in recent years Barcelona has developed a network of public green spaces through the creation of superblocks. By transforming many of the former traffic streets into pedestrian walkways and open areas, it has reduced both noise and air pollution in the city centre. Despite encountering resistance when the project started in 2016, Barcelona plans to reclaim more than half of the city streets back from cars in the coming years. The city encourages citizens and visitors to enjoy the city in a balanced way that is respectful to the environment, and for this reason was the first city in the world to receive Biosphere Certification, awarded by the Responsible Tourism Institute (RTI), for its commitment to sustainable tourism.

Forging creative pathways

Our 2020 conference theme, ‘Forging creative pathways’ celebrates not only the city itself, but also the same creativity and forward-thinking that is needed to address the complex realities of the world in which we live. The field of higher education faces enormous pressures and challenges around matters of design, delivery and impact. However, internationalisation has the potential to redefine the norms and guide education towards a better future. Innovative thinking is also needed for the many challenges that exist outside the walls of our institutions yet still impact the future of higher education.

Save the date

We welcome you to forge your own path to the 32nd Annual EAIE Conference in Barcelona, Spain taking place from 15–18 September 2020. The conference will be held at Fira de Barcelona Gran Via, one of Europe's largest and most cutting-edge venues known for its unique architecture, functionality and commitment to sustainability.

We would like to thank our 2020 local partner Government of Catalonia for their generous support for the 32nd Annual EAIE Conference and Exhibition in Barcelona.