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.
