Palestine universities at the EAIE Conference: Creating space for voices in crisis
In times of conflict and division, the EAIE remains committed to inclusivity, collaboration and open dialogue. We believe it is important to be transparent about our actions and the steps we are taking to support those who need it. The EAIE Conference and Exhibition is a space where international educators from around the world can share knowledge, meet partners, and work together on the future of international higher education, always with respect for each other’s perspectives.
As our global community gathers this week in Gothenburg, Sweden, the EAIE’s role as a platform for a diversity of voices is more relevant than ever. This year, we are supporting Palestinian higher education institutions in several ways and offering them the opportunity to be a part of a platform of 7000+ higher education professionals from across the globe.
Our stance
We recognise that the war in Palestine is not an abstract policy debate but involves serious human rights violations and ongoing violence that profoundly affect our community, including many of our members. As the organiser of the largest international education conference and exhibition in Europe, the EAIE has a responsibility to provide space for the full range of voices of our membership and the wider sector. This means not shying away from difficult questions but instead creating a safe platform where they can be addressed openly, respectfully and responsibly.
Acting on our values
Our dedication to inclusivity and social responsibility is more than words, it guides every action we take. This year, the EAIE Board proactively reached out to representatives of the Palestinian higher education sector to hear directly about their most urgent needs for support and ways to (re)build partnerships at this crucial time. As a result, six representatives have been invited to join us at the EAIE Conference, with all costs covered and a free stand provided.
Our programme also features a session "Partnering with HEIs mid- and post-crisis: Examples from Gaza and Ukraine" on Wednesday, 10 September. Ahmed Abu Shaban will join from Al-Azhar University in Gaza. He is also part of the Emergency Committee of Universities in Gaza. This organisation is working closely with Friends of Palestinian Universities, who have been invited and offered a free stand at this year’s EAIE Exhibition (stand R81), to share the needs of the universities with a wider public in Europe and beyond.
Education is not just a means of imparting knowledge; it is a vital pillar of our existence and a beacon of hope for the Palestinian people.
This builds on our ongoing commitment to support higher education communities in our region affected by war and crisis. For the past four years, we have provided a free exhibition stand for the Ukrainian higher education institutions, as well as fee waivers and accommodation support. In Rotterdam and Toulouse, we hosted the Unissued Diplomas exhibition, commemorating students whose lives were cut short in that ongoing war.
Our role and responsibility
It is important to underline that the EAIE does not decide on the international relations and collaborations of governmental and academic institutions. What we can do, and what we see as our responsibility, is to provide a platform: a space where voices from across the world can be heard, where dialogue can take place, and where partnerships can be built, even in the most difficult circumstances.
A deliberate choice
Our approach is neither passive nor evasive. It is a deliberate choice: to create space for dialogue, to acknowledge pain and injustice and to translate our values into tangible action.