Keeping the dialogue open at EAIE Glasgow 2026
For almost four decades, the EAIE has provided an inclusive and constructive platform for professionals working in the internationalisation of education. As an association of individual members our strength lies in the diversity of the voices of our community. Through our annual conference and year-round activities, we bring together institutions and individuals to connect, share knowledge, develop skills and engage in cooperation that strengthens the sector.
At a time when many communities around the world are experiencing the effects of conflict and crisis, we remain guided by the belief that international collaboration and human connection matter, now possibly more than ever.
Ongoing conflicts have far-reaching consequences, affecting not only international engagement and cooperation, but also the capacity of institutions to continue their work and serve their communities. We recognise that this geopolitical context is exceptionally complex and may create significant dilemmas for individuals and organisations regarding participation in international events.
Palestinian and Israeli participation at #EAIE2026
In this context, we remain committed to providing an open and inclusive environment for our community that encourages meaningful exchange for participants and institutions from across the globe, regardless of background or perspective. Inclusivity for us also means that we support colleagues affected by conflict and crisis by providing access to our activities and services.
Consistent with this commitment, we have again offered support and funding to Palestinian representatives to participate and exhibit at the 2026 EAIE Conference and Exhibition in Glasgow. Furthermore, we will enable individual Israeli participants and institutions to attend and exhibit. At the same time, we have decided not to facilitate a national umbrella presence or country promotion stand in line with our mission, internal policies, duty of care, operational considerations and the need to maintain a safe and constructive conference environment.
Welcoming individuals or institutions at our events does not mean the EAIE endorses the actions or policies of any government or other stakeholder. We cannot and will not turn a blind eye on the devastating human suffering caused by the war and its profound impact on education and academic communities. We are particularly conscious of the extensive damage to higher education infrastructure in Gaza and the consequences this has for access to education, research and international engagement. We are also acutely aware of the sensitivities surrounding academic cooperation with Israeli institutions and of the differing views that exist within our membership and the wider international education sector.
Staying true to our mission
As a community of practitioners, we believe our role is to stand with academic communities facing severe threats to their ability to teach, learn, conduct research and collaborate internationally. In line with our social responsibility actions, we continue to actively support international education communities affected by conflict and crisis, particularly where academic infrastructure has been damaged or destroyed and where access to (international) education opportunities for students and staff is jeopardised.
This includes past and ongoing work focused on:
- Organising conference sessions focused on working with institutions in crisis contexts
- Producing publications and podcasts addressing topics such as academic freedom, navigating conflicts and academics and students at risk.
- Providing free access to membership and training programmes for colleagues from conflict zones such as Palestine and Ukraine.
- Funding delegations from Ukraine and Palestine to participate and exhibit at our conference, creating opportunities for dialogue with the global international education community about their needs and realities.
- Welcoming the Unissued Diplomas exhibition to our annual conference and exhibition in Rotterdam and Toulouse, which commemorates Ukrainian students who will never graduate because they lost their lives in the war with Russia, as well as screening a documentary film in Gothenburg last year on the effects of the war in Ukraine on the academic community.
- Providing Scholars at Risk with a free space at our conference, to enable direct connections with the full spectrum of stakeholders gathered there.
Finally, we wish to emphasise that our decisions and actions are not driven by a political agenda. Rather, they reflect our mission and responsibility to provide a safe, inclusive and meaningful space for international exchange.
Everyone joining us in Glasgow this September or at another EAIE activity can expect to be treated with respect, professionalism and dignity. We remain committed to dialogue, learning and the exchange of perspectives across the global education community – now and in the future.
