The #EAIE2026 daily bulletin
Fàilte gu Glaschu! This is your go‑to space for everything unfolding live at EAIE Glasgow 2026 — the moments that make the week unforgettable. Each day, you’ll find fresh on‑the‑ground coverage: new stories, new images and new highlights that capture the buzz of the conference as it happens. Whether you’re following along from afar or checking in between sessions, this blog is your daily companion for big‑picture insights throughout the week. Dive in!
Tuesday: Welcome to your global meeting place
Day one at the Scottish Event Campus (SEC) burst into life as participants from across the globe streamed in, ready to dive into a very special week ahead. Leaning straight into the Scottish spirit, the morning kicked off with a unique Campus Experience to St Andrews University, Scotland’s first university and one of its most iconic campuses. Participants came away with a clear sense of what a truly international learning environment looks like, and an understanding of how heritage and innovation shape student life. As the morning unfolded, the buzz continued with the opening of our Community Drop‑In Area, where Discover Glasgow offered the perfect insider’s guide to the city. The afternoon centred on community and climate action as participants joined a netwalking event, working together to brighten and care for the riverside banks of the Kelvin and Clyde.
While exploration took centre stage outside the conference venue, the focus inside the SEC shifted to learning and sharing new ideas. One of the day’s standout moments came from a session highlighting Erasmus+, which invited participants to help shape the programme’s next chapter. As the day progressed, we also caught up with familiar and new faces at our member-only Afternoon Tea, which kicked off with a personal welcome from EAIE President Sara López Selga. For our young professionals, day one came with its own burst of momentum: a dedicated speed‑networking session which offered the perfect springboard for the week ahead. Wrapping up an action‑packed first day, our community gathered at the OVO Hydro, one of Glasgow’s most iconic venues, to celebrate the week’s launch at an Opening Reception (the week's largest networking event) rich with traditional Scottish activities and live music. By the time the evening drew to a close, Glasgow had already left its mark — our global community gathered under one roof, conversations had carried on long after the sessions ended, and the week was only just beginning.
If you haven’t visited the Community Drop-in area yet, come and join us. There are plenty of conversations, activities and opportunities to connect with the community throughout the conference.
Wednesday: Embracing change and new connections
With the sun rising over Glasgow, day two shifted into high gear with one of the week’s defining moments: the Opening Plenary. Participants filled the OVO Hydro, greeted by the electrifying sounds of Scottish folk band 'Whisky Kiss'. EAIE Executive Director Mervin Bakker took the stage first, reminding participants that if they were seeking future collaborations, they were "in exactly the right place at exactly the right time." With the crowd fully immersed, it was time for our opening keynote speaker, Beau Lotto, to take the spotlight. A world‑renowned neuroscientist and three‑time TEDx mainstage speaker, Beau guided the audience through a dynamic exploration of change. He left participants with four powerful principles: pursue self‑honesty, be accountable, treat life as an experiment, and be the example. And with one final thought, "in nature, the fittest collaborate", he set the tone for the week ahead.
As Wednesday unfolded, the conference reached another milestone: the opening of the EAIE Exhibition, where more than 1200 institutions and organisations from every corner of the world began forging new connections with each other. On the floors above, one session that captured this spirit was the Study and Research in Africa initiative, offering a first look at a new effort to strengthen academic cooperation between African and European higher education. Participants also gained a high‑level view of how internationalisation looks from where the minister sits, through a discussion with five national leaders on the politics and policies of internationalisation.
From learning about the sector to contributing to it, another highlight included an interactive Q&A session for the EAIE Barometer, Europe's leading practioner-focused study, which invited participants to explore how they can help shape the sector’s most influential dataset. Sustainability also took centre stage on Wednesday, with discussions at our EAIE Sustainability Hub ranging from regenerative food and beverage practices to reducing emissions linked to conference travel. By day’s end, the momentum was unmistakable. Having reached the week's halfway mark, we witnessed our global community embracing new connections, change and collaboration like never before.
Some of the best solutions this sector has produced have happened in rooms and hallways like here.
Thursday: Building bridges to new perspectives
As a world‑renowned UNESCO City of Music, Glasgow set the tone early on Thursday with movement and melody. Early-bird participants jumped into a Highland Dancing–inspired morning exercise, while others opted for an energising morning run as they took in some of Glasgow’s best sights. Back inside the venue, networking was in full swing at a much-loved yearly tradition: our Rainbow Get-together at the Community Drop-In Area, where supporters of the rainbow community spent a relaxed morning of sharing experiences and ideas with their peers. Thursday also brought more conference favourites, including the return of the EAIE Debate. This year’s debate invited participants to explore one of the most pressing challenges facing international education: Equity in the age of AI.
The latter half of the day shifted into a series of thought‑provoking discussions that carried the morning forward. Sessions exploring emerging opportunities in regions like India offered universities across Europe and beyond a strategic framework for building meaningful, long‑term partnerships. Not far away, another session capturing the sector’s current pulse, 'At the starting line: A roadmap for rolling out the joint European label' unveiled the newly released guidelines for the joint European degree label now being introduced by the European Commission. Together, these sessions, along with 61 others on Thursday, provided both practical direction and forward‑looking insight for institutions navigating an evolving international education landscape.
Thursday continued with moments that brought the community even closer to current research and student experience. At the Ignite session on the EAIE Doctoral Research Grants, participants gained a first look at the key questions and practical findings emerging from the work of this year’s five grant winners. Meanwhile, on the opposite side of the venue, a Campfire discussion invited participants into an interactive conversation shaped by students’ perspectives on internationalisation. To close another full and inspiring conference day in Glasgow, participants came together for an evening of cosmic connections at the Glasgow Science Centre. Over canapés, drinks and shared discoveries beneath the stars, the community enjoyed a final night of building bridges to new perspectives.
All approaches are valid; none are wrong, but this demonstrates that universities are not entering the AI era from the same starting point.
Friday: Looking back on an unforgettable week
It’s been a week for the books. Glasgow welcomed our biggest conference and exhibition ever, with more than 7300 participants arriving from over 107 countries, a milestone that set the tone for a truly unforgettable edition. Fittingly, our final morning began with a moment of symbolism and care: a tree‑planting ceremony hosted by our sustainability partner, Life Terra, together with representatives from Glasgow City Council and the Clyde Climate Forest. This act marked the official launch of our long‑term partnership, a commitment to support the planting of thousands of new trees in the months ahead, giving back to our host city and honouring the generosity we’ve experienced here.
This year’s edition truly embodied ''The Rhythm of Revolution", with a sense of community spirit unlike anything we have experienced. Peers from every role, nationality and seniority level examined the state of the world from every angle, bringing their own experiences and perspectives to forge a better future. Together, we challenged the status quo, forged new partnerships, and embraced possibilities with courage and care. We rounded off the week with a momentous Closing Plenary, where our Executive Director, Mervin Bakker, thanked our audience for "showing up with open minds and open hearts" and bid farewell to our outgoing EAIE President, Sara López Selga, who thanked our participants for making her last week at the conference extra special. Afterwards, she introduced incoming EAIE President, Tayyeb Shah, who shared a glimpse into his vision for the Association's next chapter.
Of course, no EAIE Closing Plenary would be complete without the musical talents of our EAIE Choir. Then it was time to welcome our Closing Keynote speaker, Lewis Iwu, one of the world’s leading voices on argumentation and persuasion. Lewis offered a compelling look at how ideas take root, how minds shift and how meaningful change is built through dialogue and collective action. Then came a special glimpse of what awaits us next September. Tuna Feminina do Orfeão Universitário do Porto (TUNAF) took the stage with traditional Portuguese flair, filling the auditorium with vibrant harmonies and choreography that carried a little piece of Lisbon straight to Glasgow. The plenary wrapped with a special sneak‑peek video of next year’s sunny host city, Lisbon. As the lights came up, participants left the auditorium buzzing with anticipation, already mapping out plans with colleagues and new friends alike. You could feel it, the first spark of next year’s ''Luminous Perspectives" theme beginning to glow.
And just like that, our week in Glasgow comes to a close. We leave with thousands of steps walked, new friends from more than 107 countries and challenges tackled through collective insight. Eleven years on, Glasgow has once again proven to be the perfect host city, its rhythm, creativity and innovation mirroring the conversations that shaped this year’s conference. From the entire EAIE team here in Glasgow: thank you for joining us, for contributing your voice, and for making this week unforgettable. Safe travels home, and Até Lisboa.
Build unusual alliances and be prepared to take a stance. Start by setting out underlying shared values.
