EAIE on the road: The PIE Live Europe 2026

On 24 March, the EAIE team travelled to London, England, to attend the PIE Live in Europe 2026. Representing us were EAIE President, Sara López Selga alongside Fanny Terrasse and Paul Gruijthuijsen from our Partnership team. The event brought together a wide range of organisations from across the international education sector, including several EAIE partners and exhibitors such as IELTS, ETS, the British Council, Alumnify and Flywire. For the EAIE, it was an excellent opportunity to strengthen existing relationships and connect with potential new exhibitors. Here are some of our top takeaways from our time in the United Kingdom.

A historic setting in the heart of London 

The PIE Live Europe 2026 took place at "The Brewery", a unique and atmospheric venue in the city of London. Steeped in history, the site dates back to 1750 and was once home to the former Whitbread Brewery, London’s largest brewery in the 18th century. Hosting the event in such a distinctive venue added an extra dimension to the experience, combining the character of 18th-century London with the innovation and forward-looking discussions of today’s international education sector.  

Expanding reach and gaining insights 

The event served as an excellent platform to raise awareness of the EAIE among a diverse audience of over 850 visitors from more than 40 countries. It created valuable opportunities to engage with potential new delegates and sponsors, further extending the EAIE’s global reach. 

With a rich programme of sessions and over 50 eye-opening discussions, the PIE Live also offered important insights into the latest developments in international education. From innovative projects to emerging trends, the discussions highlighted the continued impact of internationalisation in higher education and pointed to exciting opportunities ahead for the sector. 

UK–EU Higher Education: Reciprocity & Funding

As one of the many talks during the two days, we heard from Sara López Selga on the topic of Erasmus+ and Horizon: resetting the UK–European relationship, hosted by Universities UK and the EAIE. The discussion explored how the UK is beginning to repair its relationship with Europe following the Brexit wilderness, an important yet often under-discussed issue in European higher education. Sara highlighted that European students still strongly consider the UK as a destination for postgraduate study, often citing it as a high-quality talent pool, while the viability of higher education programmes across the EU increasingly depends on a delicate balance between public and competitive funding, alongside maintaining the right mix of student profiles and tuition fee structures.

Key takeaways: navigating a changing global education landscape 

Key discussions underscored the growing complexity of compliance and regulation, including visa delays, pressure on sponsor licences and upcoming BCA metrics and RAG ratings in June 2026. In addition, artificial intelligence emerged as a defining force, framed as the "new operating system" of international education. We learnt about its ability to shape everything from research to increasingly streamlined, "zero-click" student decision-making. Sustainability and Transnational Education (TNE) were also high on the agenda, particularly in light of China’s ambitions to expand TNE enrolments and the need for resilient, long-term partnerships.  

In parallel, conversations about the UK’s potential return to Erasmus signalled renewed efforts to rebuild European relationships post-Brexit, while discussions on employability reflected a clear shift from promoting career prospects to delivering tangible job outcomes in a challenging global migration context.

The PIE Live Europe 2026 proved to be an action-packed and transformative event, offering valuable perspectives on how to navigate the rapidly evolving landscape of global education. With a strong focus on policy developments, the growing influence of AI and shifting student recruitment strategies, we gained plenty of inspiration as we look forward to the EAIE Conference and Exhibition in Glasgow.