EAIE Glasgow 2026

How can partnerships sustain higher education through crises? This session will bring together the Lebanese American University, Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv and Freie Universität Berlin to share lessons from leading through war and instability. Presenters will explore how trust, empathy and flexible Erasmus+ cooperation can preserve mobility and academic engagement in times of disruption.

Internationalisation is undergoing a quiet revolution. Political instability, global crises and shifting priorities are reshaping how international offices operate. This session will explore how international relations officers can foster ethical, values-based internationalisation while strengthening resilience and crisis preparedness. We will exchange experiences, explore practical strategies and reflect on how values-based decision-making can guide responsible partnership assessment.

Short-term summer programmes are vulnerable to financial risks, sudden visa restrictions, political shifts, mismatched expectations, health crises, travel disruptions and much more. This session will explore strategies to anticipate and manage uncertainty through market diversification, presenting case studies of cancellations and format adaptations. You will gain tools for risk assessment, crisis communication and flexible programme design to keep initiatives resilient and sustainable.

As global displacement continues to disrupt access to education, higher education institutions and national agencies are developing new models of collaboration to support refugee and displaced students. This panel session will highlight two innovative initiatives – the Global University Academy and the EU Mobility Programme for Myanmar – that exemplify how strategic partnerships can create sustainable academic pathways in crisis settings.

⭐ Thematic Committee Session

✅ Included for all participants
💡 Social responsibility

This spotlight session, led by speakers from affected regions, will look at how opportunities to support and learn from universities in conflict areas have been neglected in the international higher education field. Consequently, their struggles are not well known and requests for support and sustained efforts to recover and rebuild have been silenced. We will highlight that crisis and conflict do not diminish international higher education but rather lead to the reinvention of educational spaces.

This session will examine how international partnerships with higher education systems in crisis, with the case of Ukraine, can generate reciprocal benefits for institutions and systems across Europe and beyond. Leaders from the UK, Ukraine and the European University Association will explore how cooperation strengthens resilience, expands opportunities for students and staff, supports recovery and reform, and contributes to long-term internationalisation. Participants will gain practical insights into designing partnerships that create shared value, diversify funding and advance the global social mission of universities.

Universities face mounting financial, political and reputational pressure. This interactive session will explore how a strong internal brand can serve as a compass in times of crisis, helping institutions manage stakeholder relations, align communications and public affairs, and build lasting resilience – both nationally and internationally, where reputation directly shapes partnerships and student trust – in an age of public scrutiny and real-time media storms.

Are your students abroad truly prepared for emergency situations? If a crisis struck tomorrow, could your institution respond effectively? What blind spots exist in mental health or harassment prevention? How do you balance student empowerment with accountability? Join Leiden University, the University of Helsinki and University College Dublin to explore a proven model for equipping students with the tools and mindset to navigate health and safety challenges abroad.

Global mobility creates real‑time obligations of care. This session will translate ISO 31030 into practical steps for international offices and crisis teams. Through a short simulation and rapid debrief, you will map roles, escalation paths and controls before, during and after travel, and you will leave with a lightweight checklist you can adapt to your own institution.