EAIE Podcast: Recent Episodes
EAIE
The EAIE podcast brings you voices, perspectives, ideas and insights from the world of international education. Join us as we sit down with professionals, experts and policymakers to discuss a wide range of issues affecting internationalisation in higher education today.
The (international) higher education community continues to grapple with the reality that academic freedom - long regarded as essential to open, democratic societies - remains vulnerable across the globe. Today, scholars face escalating pressures from political forces, censorship, and conflict, while institutions navigate increasingly complex ethical and geopolitical terrain. Scholars at Risk, an international network of higher education institutions and individuals working together to protect scholars and promote academic freedom, is celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2026. A quarter century of defending the right to think, to question and to share ideas. But how has this work evolved? What does the landscape look like now, in 2026? And how can institutions and individuals meaningfully contribute to protecting academic freedom in their own contexts?
In this EAIE podcast episode, host Laura Rumbley speaks with Robert Quinn, founding Executive Director of Scholars at Risk. Together, they explore how SAR’s mission and activities have developed over the past 25 years, which achievements have been most meaningful, and the threats and opportunities shaping academic freedom today. Don’t miss this thoughtful and forward-looking conversation and tune into this episode of the EAIE Podcast.
About Robert QuinnRobert Quinn is a human rights advocate, lecturer, lawyer, and executive director of the Scholars at Risk Network, (SAR) an international movement of over 600 higher education institutions and thousands of individuals in over 50 countries dedicated to protecting at-risk scholars, promoting academic freedom, and defending everyone’s freedom to think, question and share ideas. Robert is a co-editor of Free to Think, SAR’s annual reports on attacks on universities worldwide; co-instructor on the free online course "Dangerous Questions: Why Academic Freedom Matters" (long-form MOOC course, with Futurelearn and short-form mini-course with Amnesty International); and the host of the Free to Think podcast, featuring conversations with inspiring people working at the intersection of power and ideas.
Additional resourcesFor further insights into the topics touched on in this episode, the following resources may be of interest:
→ Scholars at Risk – Free to Think
→ Supporting at-risk researchers in Europe
→ Encieh Erfani and Daniel Munier: What’s happening in Iran?
→ Sinead O’Gorman: Academic freedom in a complex world
We find ourselves at a time when political tensions, misinformation, and social divides increasingly spill onto university campuses across Europe and beyond. Higher education institutions are trying to respond to growing polarisation and a need to strengthen democratic culture. But how can the foundations for constructive dialogue be secured on our campuses? What’s involved in equipping future citizens with the skills to engage constructively? And how do institutions remain resilient in a rapidly shifting world?
In this EAIE podcast episode, host Laura Rumbley speaks with Tatiana Zimenkova, Vice President for Internationalisation and Diversity at the Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences (Germany), and Arend Hardorff, member of the Executive Board of The Hague University of Applied Sciences (THUAS; the Netherlands). They discuss the real-world challenges facing higher education institutions eager to foster space for respectful, reasoned conversations on campus amid global conflicts, rising populism, and questions about academic freedom, as well as the responsibility HEIs feel to create safe, inclusive spaces for dialogue. Be sure to tune in to hear about the good practices implemented at these two institutions, how to engage ‘the silent middle' and what these speakers recommend to others eager to address, and ideally reduce, polarisation on campus.
About Tatiana ZimenkovaProfessor Dr habil. Tatiana Zimenkova is Vice President for Internationalisation and Diversity at the Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences (Germany), where she is a professor of sociology. She received her doctorate and habilitation in sociology at Bielefeld University. Her goals include further strengthening and developing HSRW’s international character and strategy, as well as increasing visibility and awareness of diversity-related issues. She envisions an inclusive university where each person is empowered and able to achieve their goals. At the same time, her aim is also to enable all members of the university to participate in decision-making processes and the campus community.
About Arend HardorffArend Hardorff joined the Executive Board at The Hague University of Applied Sciences (the Netherlands) on 1 September 2022. Arend studied Leisure and Tourism Studies at the University of Tilburg. After his studies, he worked as a lecturer and programme manager, and from 2012 to 2018 as Director of the Academy for Leisure at Breda University of Applied Sciences. From August 2018 until August 2022, he was a member of the Executive Board and Dean of Hotelschool The Hague, responsible for Education and Research.
Additional resourcesFor further insights into the topics touched on in this episode, the following resources may be of interest:
→ The Hague Network
→ Dangerous questions: Why not keep quiet?
→ Living our EAIE values in times of conflict
In May 2021, the EAIE podcast published an episode on micro-credentials. At that moment, there was a thrilling mix of excitement and uncertainty surrounding this topic. Would micro-credentials live up to the expectations? How would higher education institutions be transformed, and how would they adapt? Maria Kelo, then the Director of the European Association for Quality Assurance in Higher Education, answered some of these questions, unaware of what the world would have in store for all of us.
We now find ourselves five years later, and we deemed it was time to revisit this topic, which was actually one of the most popular EAIE podcast episodes to date. EAIE Podcast host Laura Rumbly and Maria Kelo, now the director of the Institutional Development Unit at EUA (European University Association), are back to once again dive into the constantly evolving world of micro-credentials. What key developments took place over the last several years? How is the current policy environment shaping the conversation around micro-credentials? And if we look ahead, what might the future have in store for us? Don’t miss out on this episode of the EAIE podcast!
About Maria KeloMaria Kelo is the director of the Institutional Development Unit at EUA (European University Association), which focuses on higher education learning and teaching, recognition, and quality assurance. Before joining EUA in January 2022, Maria was, for over a decade, the Director of ENQA, the European Association for Quality Assurance in Higher Education, and a member of the EQAR Executive Board from 2013-2020. She took part in European policy-making processes within the Bologna Process and through cooperation with the European Commission. Prior to joining ENQA, Maria worked for 9 years in international higher education across different European organisations and as a private consultant, gaining significant experience in quality assurance, international higher education, and higher education reform. Maria is a graduate of University College London and the London School of Economics.
Additional resourcesFor further insights into the topics touched on in this episode, the following resources may be of interest:
→ EUA – Trends 2024 report
→ EAIE Podcast: Maria Kelo: The big new world of micro-credentials
→ EAIE Blog: From micro-credentials to micro-courses: The future of flexible higher education
We find ourselves at the start of a new year, a moment of both reflection and celebration. In the case of two of the EAIE’s partner associations, there is indeed much to celebrate: IAU, the International Association of Universities, just marked its 75th anniversary in 2025, while EUA, the European University Association, will observe their 25th anniversary now in 2026. These wonderful milestones offer timely reasons to touch base with these impressive associations to reflect on their pasts, consider the main points on their agenda for the new year and look toward the future.
In this episode, EAIE Podcast host Laura Rumbley is joined by Amanda Crowfoot, Secretary General of EUA, and Hilligje van’t Land, Secretary General of IAU, to talk about these impressive milestones. We travel back in time to when these associations were formed to understand their original aspirations. We hear about key moments from the archives and lessons learned over the years. And we get a glimpse into some of the notable directions, priorities and aspirations for these organisations as they plan their next steps.
About Amanda CrowfootAmanda Crowfoot has been Secretary General of the European University Association since January 2020. She is responsible for implementing the Association’s strategic plan, acting as an ambassador for its members and leading its Secretariat. Amanda previously served as the first Director of Science Europe, the association representing major European public research funding and performing organisations. From 2001 to 2012, Amanda worked at the UK Research Office, the Brussels office of the UK research councils, first as a European Advisor and then as Director of the Office.
About Hilligje van’t LandDr Hilligje van’t Land serves the global higher education community as Secretary General of the International Association of Universities (IAU) - a global NGO with UNESCO Associate Status. For the past two decades, she has fostered the key role of higher education in societal transformation. She supervises the overall programme activities at the IAU, develops the Association’s strategic plans and oversees the everyday work of the secretariat. She positioned the IAU as a UNESCO partner in work on Education for Sustainable Development and the Futures of Education Initiative, and is an advocate for higher education as a key stakeholder for the UN Agenda 2030 – Transforming our World.
Dr van’t Land represents the IAU in various working groups and expert committees at the UN and UNESCO, the Council of Europe, and organisations around the world. She publishes on higher education issues that are relevant locally and globally. She holds a PhD in comparative francophone literature, held T&L and Research positions in the Netherlands, Canada and France.
Additional resourcesFor further insights into the topics touched on in this episode, the following resources may be of interest:
→ EUA – Universities without walls: A vision for 2030
→ EUA - How universities can protect and promote academic freedom: EUA principles and guidelines
→ IAU – Strategy 2030
→ IAU - IAU Horizons: Dimensions of Trust in Higher Education
→ EAIE Podcast: Fanta Aw & LaNitra Berger: NAFSA turns 75!
At the EAIE, we believe that advancing international higher education starts with empowering the people behind the ideas. Guided by this commitment, we were thrilled to announce our first round of EAIE Doctoral Research Grants winners in September 2025. The grants reflect our commitment to inspiring and uniting the community throughout the year by connecting professionals, policy-makers and scholars through ideas that matter. This initiative helps open doors to new voices, fresh insights, and research that can shape a more inclusive and responsible future.
In this episode, part 2 of a short podcast series, we meet the final two of our five EAIE Doctoral Research Grants winners. Rúna Gudmarsdóttir (Tilburg University, Netherlands & Rannis) and Aurélie Kono (University of St. Gallen, Switzerland & Ludwigsburg University of Education, Germany) join podcast host Laura Rumbley to introduce themselves and tell us more about their research projects. What sparked their interest in pursuing a doctoral degree, how do they expect their research to make an impact on actual practice within the field and what are they hoping to achieve during this year of EAIE funding? Tune in to find out more!
About Rúna Gudmarsdóttir and Aurélie Kono
Aurélie Kono is a programme manager at the University of St. Gallen, Switzerland and a part-time PhD student in Education Management at the Ludwigsburg University of Education, Germany. Before her current role, she worked in higher education institutions in Japan and Germany, gaining experience in programme and enrolment management, international student recruitment and international cooperation and partnerships. Aurélie holds a joint MA in International Education Management, with distinction, from the Ludwigsburg University of Education, Germany and Helwan University, Egypt. She also earned an online diploma in Management of Higher Education Internationalisation from the University of Guadalajara, Mexico and a BA in Foreign Languages, Literature and History from the Catholic University of the West, France.
Rúna Vigdís Gudmarsdóttir is a PhD candidate at Tilburg University. She has worked on internationalisation in education since 2007, starting at the Icelandic National Agency for the Lifelong Learning Programme and later at the University of Iceland. From 2013 to 2017, she worked with the Erasmus+ Higher Education team at DG Education and Culture, focusing on programme management and impact assessment. In her role as the Director of the National Agency at Rannís, Rúna oversees all six sectors of Erasmus+ and represents Iceland in the European Network for the Recognition of Prior Learning (ERPL). Additionally, she serves as an administrator in the Academic Cooperation Association (ACA) and co-leads a working group on social inequalities within the European Network for International Student Mobility (ENIS). Rúna holds an undergraduate degree from the Iceland University of Education and two master’s degrees in Intercultural Education from Freie Universität Berlin and Applied Linguistics from the University of Sussex.
Additional resourcesFor further insights into the topics touched on in this episode, the following resources may be of interest:
→ EAIE Research Snapshot library
→ Announcing the 2025 EAIE Doctoral Research Grant awardees
At the EAIE, we believe that advancing international higher education starts with empowering the people behind the ideas. Guided by this commitment, we were thrilled to announce our first round of EAIE Doctoral Research Grants winners in September 2025. The grants reflect our commitment to inspiring and uniting the community throughout the year—connecting professionals, policy-makers and scholars through ideas that matter. This initiative helps open doors to new voices, fresh insights and research that can shape a more inclusive and responsible future.
In this episode, which is part one of two, we meet three of the five EAIE Doctoral Research Grants winners. Eveke de Louw (The Hague University of Applied Sciences; University of Groningen), Stanislav Avdeev (University of Amsterdam), and Joel Christoph (European University Institute) join podcast host Laura Rumbley to introduce themselves and tell us more about their research projects. What sparked their interest in pursuing a doctoral degree, how do they expect their research to make an impact on actual practice within the field, and what are they hoping to achieve during this year of EAIE funding? Tune in to find out more!
About Eveke de Louw, Stanislav Avdeev, Joel Christoph
Eveke De Louw is an experienced internationalisation practitioner and an expert in curriculum internationalisation, with more than 20 years of experience. In her professional career at The Hague University of Applied Sciences, Eveke has held key coordinating roles, including International Student Coordinator, Team Leader, and Senior International Officer. She has also chaired various committees and played a leading role in curriculum design projects. She is currently a researcher and academic developer on internationalisation of the home curriculum at the Centre of Expertise Global & Inclusive Learning of The Hague University of Applied Sciences. In this role, she executes action-research projects exploring the role of the academic discipline in curriculum internationalisation and supports programme teams through training and consultancy.
Stanislav Avdeev is a PhD candidate in Economics at the University of Amsterdam. As an empirical microeconomist with a strong interest in the economics of education and health, his research focuses on the quasi-experimental estimation of policy reforms using administrative and survey data. His advisors are Hessel Oosterbeek and Bas van der Klaauw.
Joel Christoph is a PhD Researcher in Economics at the European University Institute. His work examines how incentives and institutions can advance public goods, with current research focused on internationalisation in European higher education and the design of policies that align student mobility with inclusion and quality goals. He has contributed policy analysis and commentary to international outlets and collaborates with networks that connect research to practice. Joel works in several European languages, which supports engagement with diverse stakeholders across the European Higher Education Area. Through practitioner-facing initiatives, he helps translate evidence into practical tools for institutions and public bodies.
Additional resourcesFor further insights into the topics touched on in this episode, the following resources may be of interest:
→ EAIE Research Snapshot library
→ UNESCO World Higher Education Database (WHED)
→ OECD "Education at a Glance" reports
From handshakes and sharing cultural highlights to photo opportunities and campus tours, delegation visits are activities many HEIs across the globe spend a lot of time on. But how can your institution move from simply making these visits happen to ensuring maximum partnership impact? At the EAIE conference in Gothenburg earlier this year, the Thematic Committee Partnerships organised a Spotlight Session zooming in on this topic. How can you transform delegation visits, both incoming and outgoing, into strategic mechanisms for creating new partnerships and strengthening partnership development?
In this episode of the EAIE podcast, host Laura Rumbley talks to three IHE practitioners working within the field of partnerships who are closely involved in delegation visits. Eve Brosseau is the Associate Director of Global Relations and Partnerships at University College Dublin (Ireland); Catalina Gerstmann is the Head of Strategic Partnerships at Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile; and Garrett Margliotti is the Director of Global Partnerships and Partner Engagement at the University of Pittsburgh (USA). Together with these three experts, we dive into the world of delegation visits and how institutions can ensure they are meaningful and impactful for all involved.
About Eve Brosseau
Eve Brosseau is the Associate Director of Global Relations and Partnerships at University College Dublin (Ireland). Eve leads the team responsible for managing global partnerships, institutional networks, and UCD’s engagement with Una Europa and Erasmus+ funded projects. She oversees the development and delivery of partnership strategies that advance the university’s global engagement objectives. Her role also encompasses global relations, including the coordination of inbound and outbound delegations and diplomatic engagement. Focused on fostering meaningful collaboration, Eve works closely with academic and professional colleagues to strengthen UCD’s global presence and strategic partnerships.
About Garrett Margliotti
Garrett Margliotti is the Director of Global Partnerships and Partner Engagement at the University of Pittsburgh (USA), where he leads the Office of Global Partnerships and Services — a one-stop hub supporting faculty and staff in advancing the university’s international collaborations and operations. With almost two decades of experience in higher education and global engagement, Garrett focuses on building sustainable partnerships that connect Pitt’s research and teaching mission with institutions and organisations worldwide. A lifelong advocate for international education and creative exchange, Garrett also maintains an artistic practice through Stratford Studios, his stained-glass design business based in Pittsburgh.
About Catalina Gerstmann
Catalina Gerstmann is the Head of Strategic Partnerships at Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile. She has held this position since 2022, during which she has led work with university partners, engaged in international diplomacy, and built institutional networks. Within her role lies identifying and supporting key collaborations with international partners aligned with the university’s mission, organising high-level delegation visits in and out, and maintaining, evaluating, and engaging with strategic networks.
Additional resources
→ Spotlight Session Partnerships 2025 - roundtable notes
→ Harnessing the power of evaluation to build better partnerships
→ Remapping international partnerships
Between 17 and 21 November 2025, the United States is focusing on International Education Week, a suitable time to reflect on the transatlantic relationship between the US and Europe, especially in light of recent developments in this field. Earlier this year, in September, colleagues at the Institute of International Education (or IIE) and the German Academic Exchange Service (known as the DAAD) co-authored a report titled “Transatlantic Mobility in Higher Education and Research: A Cornerstone of Transatlantic Relations”. This publication offers a multifaceted set of insights into the movement of researchers, academics and students between the United States and Europe over time.
Laura Rumbley welcomes three guests: Jason Czyz (President and CEO of IIE), Mirka Martel (IIE’s Head of Research, Evaluation & Learning) and Michael Hörig (Director of the DAAD’s Brussels Office, as well as the lead author of the recent IIE-DAAD report). Through their insights, personal and professional, we learn more about the transatlantic relationship today and the recent report addressing it. What led to this publication, what are some of the key highlights, and why is the transatlantic relationship so important?
About Jason CzyzJason Czyz is the President & CEO of the Institute of International Education (IIE), leading an organisation that, for the past 100 years, has advanced scholarship, built economies and promoted international exchange. During his tenure, Jason helped solidify IIE’s position as a strategic partner to the US government’s public diplomacy and educational exchange initiatives. At the same time, the Institute increased its capacity to fund rescue and emergency initiatives for displaced artists and scholars. Before joining IIE, Jason worked extensively in Africa, Central and Eastern Europe and Central and South Asia on legal reform, utility regulation and infrastructure privatisation projects.
About Mirka MartelMirka Martelis Head of Research, Evaluation & Learning at the Institute of International Education (IIE). She manages research and evaluation projects specialising in international education, leadership and development. Mirka’s oversight of key resources, including the historic Open Doors Report on International Educational Exchange and the Project Atlas research initiative on global student mobility, advances the field and provides strategic insight into the future of academic mobility flows in the United States and worldwide.
About Michael HörigMichael Hörigis the Director of the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) Brussels Office and is responsible for representing DAAD towards the institutions of the European Union, European partner organisations and German representations in Brussels. Previously, he held different positions at DAAD, including Head of Division Strategic Planning, Head of Section ‘Development Cooperation: Partnership Programmes, Alumni Projects and Higher Education Management’ and Head of Section ‘West and Central Africa and the Centres of African Excellence.’
Additional resourcesFor further insights into the topics touched on in this episode, the following resources may be of interest:
→ Report: ‘Transatlantic Mobility in Higher Education and Research: A Cornerstone of Transatlantic Relations’
→ Report: ‘The Transatlantic Economy 2025’
→ Report: Using Data to Open Doors
Every year on 10 October, we observe World Mental Health Day, which aims to raise awareness of mental health issues worldwide. While mental health is a topic that touches all of us, this EAIE podcast episode zooms in on student mental health: an area that continues to receive more attention but is still occasionally overlooked or underestimated. Navigating new cultures, academic pressures, and social isolation can take a toll on student well-being, making mental health support not just a service, but a lifeline.
In this EAIE podcast episode, host Laura Rumbley explores best practices that empower both students and HEIs to discuss this topic openly and act accordingly. Sophia Schmieder is the Programme Director of the Freie Universität Berlin International Summer and Winter University (FUBiS), and she shows how her HEI stepped up with a strong good-practice example. Efe Berke Akkaya, president of ESN Türkiye, discusses the importance of mental health for international students and the initiatives ESN has taken to address these issues, particularly the Erasmus Psychological Assessment project. Whether you’re a student, educator, or policymaker, this conversation invites you to join in, reflect, and possibly even act.
About Sophia SchmiederSophia Schmieder is the Programme Director of the Freie Universität Berlin International Summer and Winter University (FUBiS), the multidisciplinary short-term study abroad programme of Freie Universität Berlin. She has been leading the programme for almost 20 years and has extensive experience in developing international education formats that combine academic excellence with student well-being. Under her direction, FUBiS welcomes around 600 students from more than 40 countries each year to its three academic terms in Berlin. Sophia is particularly interested in creating inclusive, supportive learning environments and in fostering intercultural understanding through short-term international education.
About Efe Berke AkkayaEfe Berke Akkaya is the current National President of ESN (Erasmus Student Network) Türkiye. Efe was born in Samsun, Türkiye, in 2001. His life took a transformative turn at 17 when he joined the AFS Programme and went on an exchange to León, Spain. Immersed in an international community for the first time, he developed a deep passion for intercultural exchange and international education—values he has carried with him ever since. In 2021, Efe joined the Erasmus Student Network (ESN) and has remained an active member ever since. He first served as the Local President of ESN Kadir Has, where he led initiatives to support and engage international students on campus. His dedication then took him to the national level, where he completed a mandate as National Vice President. Today, Efe serves as the President of ESN Türkiye. In this role, he works daily to support international students and promote mobility programmes across the country, continuing the mission that first inspired him years ago in Spain.
Additional resourcesFor further insights into the topics touched on in this episode, the following resources may be of interest:
→ Erasmus Psychological Assessment Booklet - by ESN Türkiye
→ Mental health & wellbeing support at FUBiS
→ EAIE Podcast: Stephanie Griffiths: Mental health: our shared responsibility
→ EAIE Blog: Coaching students towards emotional health
Whether we like it or not, artificial intelligence (AI) has also made its way into the world of international higher education, and it is here to stay! At the 2025 EAIE conference in Gothenburg, Sweden, the topic of AI was addressed and discussed in various sessions and settings, and we’re continuing the conversation in this instalment of the EAIE podcast. There’s a whole world of AI out there to explore. Still, in this episode, we are particularly focusing on the potential applications of AI within the fields of marketing, recruitment and admissions, as well as student mobility.
EAIE Podcast host Laura Rumbley talks to Brian Piper, an author and award-winning international keynote speaker who decided to dive into the world of AI in 2021. Brian shares insights into how AI can be utilised in student recruitment, the ethical considerations that need to be taken into account and the AI developments that are most likely to have a significant impact on IHE marketing in the next few years. Laura is also joined by Noah Charpentier, a student in Data Science & Artificial Intelligence, as well as the national president of ESN Belgium. Noah shares the student perspective on the topic of AI, exploring how students utilise AI, the main differences in approach to AI between students and staff and what aspects of the future of AI excite him the most.
About Brian PiperBrian Piper is an author, award-winning international keynote speaker, and consultant. Brian has been optimising digital content since 1996. He has created online training programmes for dozens of companies, including Xerox, L3Harris, IBM, and Volvo, and has spoken at hundreds of conferences and events. He has spent the last eight years focusing on data analytics, digital marketing, and content strategy. Since 2021, he has been diving into AI, web3, community building, and the metaverse. Brian was named one of the top higher education marketers to follow in 2023 and 2024. When he’s not creating data visualisations, he teaches wingsuit skydiving and spends time with his wife and six children.
About Noah CharpentierNoah Charpentier (he/him) is the current National President of ESN (Erasmus Student Network) Belgium, where he manages 18 local sections and works to improve the lives of international students while promoting greater and better access to mobility. Alongside this, he’s a Bachelor’s student in Data Science & Artificial Intelligence at Maastricht University, the Netherlands. In April 2025, he co-created and presented the session ‘Er-AI-smus: how will AI impact mobility?’ at the Erasmus Generation Meeting 2025 (Ancona), where he discussed how AI could transform student mobility and support IROs.
Additional resourcesFor further insights into the topics touched on in this episode, the following resources may be of interest:
→ Cynthia Alby, Sandra Slotte, Jeroen Ouburg: A chat with real people about AI
→ How AI is shaking up higher education
→ Exploring Generative AI in IHE
→ Coimbra Group - AI and Digital Competence through Higher Education position paper
The countdown to the EAIE 2025 Conference and Exhibition in Gothenburg has begun! Between 09 and 12 September 2025, many topics within the world of international higher education will be discussed during sessions, networking events, informal gatherings, and the opening and closing plenaries. As we look toward this exciting gathering, EAIE podcast host Laura Rumbley had the pleasure of interviewing both of our esteemed plenary speakers for this year, Andreas Ekström and Melati Wijsen.
In these short getting-to-know-you chats with Andreas and Melati, various topics are addressed, ranging from their perspectives on international living and learning to how they interpret this year’s conference theme, Go-create. Get a sneak peek at what’s on the minds of this year’s keynote speakers and what they plan to talk about in Gothenburg by tuning in to this EAIE podcast episode!
About Andreas Ekström
Andreas Ekström is a Swedish journalist, author and digital futurist and has been a leading commentator on all things digital worldwide. He is a senior staff writer and columnist at Sydsvenskan, a daily morning paper in Malmö, Sweden. As a seasoned reporter with extensive experience covering the field, Ekström offers valuable insights into how the worlds of media, business and politics are shaped by the leading digital power players globally. He is also an author of several books; ”The Google Code”, published in 2010, made him a household name in the Nordics. His latest in English is called “On Finding”.
About Melati Wijseen
Melati Wijsen is an international full-time changemaker and embodiment of youthful energy. With a passion for the natural world and a commitment to protecting it for future generations, she founded Bye Bye Plastic Bags with her younger sister in 2013 at 12. After years of committed campaigning by many, Melati and her community celebrated the passing of a ban on plastic bags, straws and styrofoam on the island of Bali.
Melati has developed a passion for environmental education and policy change. This led her in 2020 to the World Economic Forum as part of their first-ever official youth cohort. She also sat on the inaugural Expert Advisory Panel for the Earthshot Prize. In 2021, she premiered her film, Bigger Than Us, at the Cannes Film Festival.
Building on ten years of change-making, Melati continues to share what she’s learnt in classrooms, boardrooms, and world stages through her company, YOUTHTOPIA. She is an in-demand speaker on the global stage, including opening for President Barack Obama at the Ziggo Dome in Amsterdam. She has also given two TED talks and spoken at the UN headquarters in New York, all before turning 21.
Additional resources
For further insights into the topics touched on in this episode, the following resources may be of interest:
→ EAIE Gothenburg 2025
The current times offer a rich and varied landscape of terms, terminology and acronyms that encompass matters of gender and sexuality. From LGBTQ to LGBTQA+ to LGBTQ+2S, within the international higher education field, we often see the term ‘rainbow community’ used to capture the full scope of this picture. Notably, in the EAIE Barometer, third edition (2024), 32% of respondents indicated the topic ‘ inclusion and diversity’ to be of particular professional/personal interest, and it continues to be top of mind amongst IHE professionals, especially considering the turbulent times we currently find ourselves in across the globe.
In this EAIE podcast episode, host Laura Rumbley is joined by two practitioners from the field who share a common interest: they are both active supporters of the Rainbow Community at their institutions in their unique ways. Dirk Van Waelderen is Head of the Mobility Office at the Faculty of Economics and Business at KU Leuven, Belgium, and Nahoko Nishiwaka is Assistant Manager for the Japanese Language Programme at Kansai University in Osaka, Japan. Laura talks with her guests about what it means to view rainbow realities through an international higher education lens, some of the key challenges and opportunities for LGBTQ+ students and staff in both Europe and Japan, and shares some good practices to follow.
About Dirk Van WaelderenDr. Dirk G. Van Waelderen is Head of the Mobility Office at the Faculty of Economics and Business of KU Leuven. He has been working in the field of internationalisation for almost 26 years. He has published several articles on education and internationalisation and presented at seminars (also with poster presentations at EAIE and ERACON). At KU Leuven, he was promoted to Doctor with his research in Early Modern History on the portrayal of the Ottomans in the Spanish and Austrian Netherlands. He previously studied at KU Leuven and the Katholieke Hogeschool Brussel (now Odisee). At KU Leuven, he graduated with a thesis on the Ottomans and the siege of Vienna. During his studies at the latter university, he also participated in an exchange at the "Institut Orientalistique" de l’Université Catholique de Louvain.
About Nahoko NishiwakaNahoko Nishiwaka is Assistant Manager for the Japanese Language Programme at Kansai University in Osaka, Japan. With over 10 years of experience in international student mobility, she has worked on both inbound and outbound programmes. During her graduate studies in International Higher Education at Boston College (USA), she developed a strong interest in LGBTQ⁺ student support. Upon returning to Japan, she founded the Kandai Ally Network at Kansai University, leading ally training initiatives to create an inclusive and equitable environment for LGBTQ⁺ students.
Additional resourcesFor further insights into the topics touched on in this episode, the following resources may be of interest:
→ How to support the international mobility of LGBTQIA+ students
→ Walking the talk in inclusion and diversity
→ Don’t mistake my kindness for weakness: Leading with kindness to foster an inclusive environment
Since the start of the Erasmus+ programme in 1987, some 15.1 million people have been provided with the opportunity to study, train, work and volunteer abroad. In 2025, a mid-term review of the 2021–2027 Erasmus+ programme will provide insights into the strengths and weaknesses of the current programme, while efforts are underway to shape the next edition of Erasmus+ for 2028–2034. Many eyes are on Erasmus+ just now, at this important moment for reflection and strategic planning for the future of the European Union’s flagship initiative for international education.
Host Laura Rumbley welcomes Stefan Zotti, Deputy Head of Unit Higher Education at the European Commission (DG EAC), into the EAIE podcast studio to learn more about these developments from directly inside the Commission, including some perspective on what’s been positive and what’s been challenging about the mid-term evaluation of the Erasmus+ 2021-2027 programme process, and some reflections on what the financial outlook for the next programme might look like.
This podcast episode also includes a second interview with young filmmakers Timea Barocz and Vincent Imperato. As Erasmus+ alumni themselves, Timea and Vincent were passionate about sharing their experiences with others, which led to the creation of the Erasmus Generation film. They share how the film came to be made, what they hope its impact will be, and what their most important takeaways from their Erasmus+ experience are.
About Stefan Zotti
Stefan ZottiisDeputy Head of Unit at the Higher Education in the European Commission (DG EAC). He holds a PhD in Catholic Theology and a master’s degree in European Studies. He has extensive professional experience in national and European public administration, including serving as an adviser to the Austrian Minister for Science and Research and a cabinet member of Commissioner Johannes Hahn (Regional Policy, 2010-2013). Before rejoining the Commission 2020 as team leader for the Jean Monnet actions in DG EAC (until 2024), he was Director of the Austrian Agency for International Cooperation in Education and Research (OeAD-GmbH) and Vice-President of the Academic Cooperation Association (ACA). Since 2012, he has been a lecturer on EU policies at an Austrian University of Applied Sciences.
About Timea Bárocz
Timea Bároczis an event and project manager working with an NGO that supports Hungary’s startup ecosystem. She is deeply passionate about community-based initiatives and the power of intercultural connection. Originally from Transylvania, Tímea’s life took a transformative turn when she participated in an Erasmus exchange programme in Sweden—an experience that broadened her worldview and later on sparked her journey into documentary filmmaking. Together with her partner, she co-created The Erasmus Generation, her debut as lead production manager. From concept to release, Tímea oversaw communications and project management, bringing her strong organisational skills and heartfelt belief in the Erasmus mission to the screen.
About Vincent Imperato
Vincent Imperato is a documentary filmmaker, director and producer. He began working in video advertising during his teenage years and as a camera assistant on documentaries for NHK in Italy. After attending the Academy of Fine Arts in Naples, where he studied “Cinema, Photography, and Television,” he worked in VR video production in London, with a brief experience in Los Angeles. After that, he decided to refocus on his passion for documentary filmmaking, applying his sensitivity to images and people, and founded his own production company specialising in narrative documentaries and reportage. The Erasmus Generation is his first feature-length documentary.
When crossing borders across Europe and the world, we often find ourselves not only in a different country but also facing a different language. But what is the state of language learning in Europe today? With the widespread uptake of English across the globe, especially within IHE, is there still a need to immerse yourself in new languages? Laura Rumbley talks to Susanna Slivensky, Deputy Director and Head of Programmes of the European Centre for Modern Languages of the Council of Europe (ECML), and Gerit Jaritz, a language teacher and teacher educator at Thurgau University of Teacher Education (PHTG) in Switzerland. In the interview, we learn more about the ECML, the general health and well-being of language learning in Europe today, minority languages, and the role of languages for democratic culture in Europe.
We also hear from two young people with a passion for languages about why they decided to move into language education, and why learning a language is still important in the modern day and age.
About Susanna Slivensky, Gerit Jaritz, Evgenia Neftetzidou, Emma Phelan
Susanna Slivensky is the Deputy Director and Head of Programmes of the European Centre for Modern Languages of the Council of Europe (ECML). Before she joined the ECML in 2005, she worked at universities in Germany, Austria, and Japan as a lecturer, associate professor, and executive director of a university language and international study centre. She has more than two decades of experience in language teaching.
Gerit Jaritz has worked as a language teacher and educator at Thurgau University of Teacher Education (PHTG) in Switzerland since 2005. Before starting her professional career at PHTG, she worked as a language teacher at secondary school level in Switzerland and the UK. Gerit Jaritz is also the Head of PHTG’s international office and has extensive experience in the internationalisation of teacher education. She is part of the project team for the European project ‘Pluriwell: Fostering the plurilingual wellbeing of language teachers’, which runs from 2024 to 2026 and is supported by the European Centre of Modern Languages.
Evgenia Neftetzidou was born and raised in Thessaloniki, Greece. Growing up, she had the opportunity to travel extensively across Europe, which sparked her early passion for languages, cultural exchange, and adventure. While completing her Business Administration degree, she began working as an Operations Manager at a vacation resort. Her passion for human connections and cross-cultural interactions led her to intern at the European Centre for Modern Languages (ECML) in 2024-2025.
Emma Phelan is an English as a second language teacher, working specifically in higher education in English for Specialised Purposes (LANSAD - Langues pour Spécialistes d’Autres Disciplines). With a linguistics and theatre background and a keen interest in language learning and cross-disciplinary communication, she draws on her academic and professional experience in the arts to bring a dynamic, communicative approach to the classroom. Originally from Manchester, UK, she is currently based between the College of Human Sciences and the College of Health, University of Bordeaux, France.
Additional resourcesFor further insights into the topics touched on in this episode, the following resources may be of interest:
→ ECML website
→Intercomprehension: a linguistic bridge to intercultural understanding
→ English as a medium of inspiration
→ Bessie Dendrinos: Multilingualism matters
Going abroad for a study exchange or mobility period is often described as a positive and life-changing experience. While many take this wonderful experience with them throughout their lives, there are also cases where disaster strikes and a mobility experience has an unexpected outcome. Laura Rumbley talks to international HE professionals who went through such an experience together and were willing to share their stories with others to learn from.
Tineke van der Gaast (Head of International Relations, Coordinator Internationalization, lecturer of Intercultural Competence & Dutch Culture at Rotterdam Business School) and Lourdes Zilberberg (Director International Office and Confucius Institute Director at FAAP - Fundação Armando Alvares Penteado) talk about the importance of trusting your international partners, learning from difficult experiences and what they did when forced to deal with the ultimate mobility crisis. Laura is also joined by Dr Amelia Dietrich, Senior Director for Research and Publications at The Forum on Education Abroad, who shares useful information on data collected for the Student Risk Report.
About Tineke van der GaastTineke van der Gaast has worked at Rotterdam Business School, Rotterdam UAS, the Netherlands, since 1999. Currently, she manages international relations with universities worldwide, coordinates exchange programmes for incoming & outgoing exchange students (academic part), and teaches Intercultural Competence (3-year course) in the International Business programme. During her studies in Hotel Management, she went to Indonesia for a year in 1992 and worked there for another two years. Coming from a small village in Fryslân (northern Netherlands), it was a huge culture shock and a steep learning curve in terms of intercultural and personal/professional development.
About Lourdes ZilberbergLourdes Zilberberg is Director International Office and Confucius Institute Director at FAAP - Fundação Armando Alvares Penteado. Originally from Montevideo, Uruguay, her international relations background brought her to São Paulo, Brazil, where she began working at Fundação Armando Alvares Penteado (FAAP) as the Director of the International Office and, more recently, as the Local Director of the Business Confucius Institute at FAAP. Lourdes has lived abroad for over 23 years and completed an MBA in Brazil in partnership with a university in the United States, a master’s degree in Portugal, and a PhD in Argentina. As a practitioner, professor, and researcher, she has dedicated her entire professional career to supporting and studying the Internationalization of Higher Education, Interculturality, and Intercultural Competence.
About Dr Amelia DietrichDr Amelia Dietrich is the Senior Director for Research and Publications at The Forum on Education Abroad and Managing Editor of Frontiers: The Interdisciplinary Journal of Study Abroad. A former Mellon/ACLS Public Fellow, Amelia leads The Forum’s original research and publishing initiatives to highlight best practices, maximize the impact of education abroad for students, institutions and communities, and identify promising practices on the leading edge, including the State of the Field Survey, the Student Risk Report, and the Standards in Action book series. Amelia facilitates professional development workshops on the Standards of Good Practice for Education Abroad and lends her expertise to project-based consultancies and comprehensive reviews. She serves on the IIE Open Doors Study Abroad Working Group and the Advisory Board for the Center for Research on Abroad and International Student Engagement.
1925 was the year in which Europe found itself in an interwar period. It was also the moment when The German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) was established with big aspirations. Now, in 2025, DAAD is celebrating its 100th anniversary and taking a moment to look back at its century-long history filled with notable phases and inspiring developments. Why was the DAAD established in 1925, and how has the organisation evolved over time? What is currently important to know about the status of internationalisation in Germany? And what is on the horizon for DAAD in the coming years?
In this EAIE podcast episode, Laura Rumbley talks to Dr. Kai Sicks, the Secretary General of the DAAD, about this 100-year milestone. We also get to hear from two people across the globe for whom the DAAD made a big difference in their lives. Dr. Luis Pocasangre received a DAAD scholarship and now works as Director of the Tropical Agricultural Research and Higher Education Centre (CATIE) in Costa Rica. Dr. Dorothee Weyler also once received a scholarship from DAAD, which made her fall in love with Africa. She is still working as a director for the DAAD Regional Office in Eastern Africa. Join us in celebrating 100 years of the DAAD by listening to this latest EAIE podcast episode!
About Kai SicksDr. Kai Sicks has been Secretary General of the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) since April 2021. He studied German Studies and Political Sciences in Frankfurt/Main, Cologne and Vienna. In 2008, he completed his Ph.D. in German Literary Studies. He was a research scholarship holder at the German Historic Institute in Washington, D.C. and Cornell University (USA). From 2008 until 201,3, Dr Sicks acted as coordinator of the European PhD Network in Literary and Cultural Studies (PhDnet) at the International Graduate Center for the Study of Culture (University of Giessen). He also worked as managing director of the Bonn Graduate Center and director of the University of Bonn’s International Office.
About Prof. Dr Luis E. PocasangreProf. Dr. Luis E. Pocasangre is the Director of the Tropical Agricultural Research and Higher Education Centre (CATIE) in Costa Rica. He obtained an M Sc. in Plant Breeding at CATIE Costa Rica in 1992, and in 2000, he was awarded a PhD at Rheinische Friedich-Wilhelms Universitaet, University of Bonn, Germany, for his research on biological control of plant parasitic nematodes and Panama Disease using endophytes. He has worked as principal scientist of Bioversity Internationally for Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC)) and Director of Research at Del Monte and EARTH University. Dr. Pocasangre has a lot of experience in international agriculture and has been a mentor to over 90 young scientists from Africa, Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean.
About Dorothee WeylerDr. Dorothee Weyler is the Director of the DAAD Regional Office Eastern Africa in Nairobi. She studied Biology at the University of Bonn, where she was assistant to the Vice Chancellor for two years. She completed her PhD thesis in Cameroon on Medical Entomology as a DAAD Scholarship holder. She ran her own malaria research project, which has been published in multiple journals. She also holds a Diploma in European Environmental Law. Before taking over the position of Director of the DAAD Regional Office in Nairobi in January 2024, she oversaw DAAD scholarships in Africa. She worked as an expert on institutional building in higher education in Africa for the DAAD, where she gained a wealth of experience in implementing cooperation projects between German and African higher education institutions.
It all started in September 2020: the very first episode of the EAIE podcast series, titled ‘The Stories We Tell.’ We had no idea what our podcast adventure would look like and how long we would last. Yet, here we are: roughly 4,5 years later and still going strong! With a total of 142 individual guests from 36 different countries, the EAIE podcast has focused on all kinds of topics with one main thing in common: a link to international higher education. From marketing and recruitment to language learning and student mobility, we’ve covered a lot of ground, and in this special 100 episode of the EAIE podcast, we look back at the stories we’ve told.
Podcast host Laura Rumbley is joined by Jody Hoekstra-Selten, Knowledge Development Officer at the EAIE and one of the faces behind the podcast. Together they share facts and figures of the podcast series over the years, the episodes that were most listened to, and those that are particularly special to them. We also provide a peak behind the scenes, meeting EAIE team members involved in the podcast and some of their personal favourite episodes. And if you’re curious to hear what the podcast has in store for 2025, be sure to take a listen. Join us in celebrating the 100th episode of the EAIE podcast by tuning in now!
About Laura RumbleyLaura Rumbley is the Director for Knowledge Development and Research at the EAIE, and the host of the EAIE podcast series. With more than 25 years of experience in the field of international higher education, she has held a variety of different roles, including international student, practitioner, assistant professor, researcher, editor and consultant. Laura holds a PhD from the Center for International Higher Education (CIHE) at Boston College (USA), where her dissertation focused on internationalisation in the universities of Spain. From 2014 to 2024, Laura was a co-editor of the Journal of Studies in International Education (JSIE); she now serves on JSIE's editorial advisory board.
About Jody Hoekstra-SeltenJody Hoekstra-Selten is the Knowledge Development Officer at the EAIE. After obtaining a Master’s degree in Western Literature and Culture and a Research Master’s degree in Literary Studies, both at Utrecht University (NL), she has been working within the field of (international) education policy since 2012. Starting out as Policy Advisor for Higher Education at the NRTO (the Dutch Council for Training and Education), she also spent eight years at the British Council in various roles, including Exams Operations Manager and Head of Education for the Netherlands.
Additional resourcesFor further insights into the topics touched on in this episode, visit our podcast page to listen to and explore the entire catalogue of episodes.
As proclaimed by UNESCO in 2002, the third Thursday of November is World Philosophy Day. While philosophy and international higher education (IHE) might not immediately be considered a straightforward combination, there are many ways in which the art of philosophy can complement people’s personal and professional lives. During the 2024 EAIE Conference in Toulouse, France, a session was dedicated to the philosophical foundations of our work in international higher education, which gathered quite an audience. With World Philosophy Day just behind us, the EAIE podcast takes the opportunity to dive into this topic and see where philosophy and IHE can meet.
In this episode, host Laura Rumbley talks to Flora Bastiani, senior lecturer in Philosophy at Toulouse 2 Jean Jaurès University (France) and a specialist in the thought of Emmanuel Levinas and Henri Maldiney, and Piet van Hove, Programme Manager for the HEROES Alliance, at Thomas More University of Applied Sciences, Belgium, and former EAIE President (2022-2024). Why is philosophy important, and what can it bring to our daily life and work? In what ways is the work of Levinas especially relevant to the work of IHE? And how can IHE professionals use philosophy to help with the important balance between working and private lives? Tune in to this EAIE podcast episode to learn more!
About Piet van HovePiet van Hove is the Programme Manager for the HEROES Alliance at Thomas More University of Applied Sciences, Belgium. HEROES is part of the latest group of Alliances selected for funding by the European Commission under its flagship ‘European Universities’ scheme. It brings together nine professional higher education institutions across Europe, focusing on ‘smart regional resilience’. Piet has been active in international higher education for almost three decades, working for the University of Antwerp and taking up leadership roles in various international organisations. He served as Vice President and later President of the European Association for International Education (EAIE) from 2020 to 2024. Piet is a board member of Taith (Wales) and the NGO Apopo.
About Flora BastianiFlora Bastiani is a senior lecturer in philosophy at Toulouse 2 Jean Jaurès University, a researcher in health ethics and a specialist in the thought of Emmanuel Levinas and Henri Maldiney. In her work, she proposes a micro-philosophy of relationships and develops a new concept of the phenomenon of the "ensemble" (togetherness). She is also responsible for the Master's degree "Éthique du soin et recherche" (Philosophy, Law, Health) at the University of Toulouse.
Additional resourcesFor further insights into the topics touched on in this episode, the following resources may be of interest:
→ EAIE Toulouse 2024 - "A moment of reflection: The philosophical foundations of our work in international higher education"
→ ‘Philosophie du soin critique. Penser la relation en réanimation, en soins intensifs et dans le prélèvement d'organes‘
→ General introduction to the philosophy of Emmanuel Levinas
Alumni are an important stakeholder group in higher education institutions across the world. An engaged alumni network can not only help an institution to benefit from the experiences and skills of its graduates, but alumni can also make a significant impact on individual students by providing mentorship, advice, and networking opportunities. A possible alumni relationship starts the moment a prospective student engages with an institution and can be the key to a treasure box filled with possibilities and opportunities. But how does an institution build up an alumni network, and what is in it for the alumni themselves?
In this EAIE podcast episode, host Laura Rumbley talks to Sandra Rincon, a consultant on Global Stakeholder Engagement with Purpose, and Scott Darby, former President of the OCEANS Network, both experts on the topic of international alumni. So, what do we mean when discussing the international alumni lifecycle? Why should alumni matter to institutions? And what are some of the key challenges and opportunities within this area today?
About Sandra Rincon
Sandra Rinconworks as a consultant on Global Stakeholder Engagement with Purpose. She believes in building communities to promote diversity as a pillar to innovate a more inclusive, sustainable, and kinder world. She dedicates her professional time as a trainer, researcher and author. She has co-authored the book ‘Engaging International Alumni as Strategic Partners’; edited a resource guide, ‘Alumni Connection’; hosted Brite Ideas, a podcast for advancement professionals;, and founded the Holland alumni network-NL to support international students and alumni navigate the Dutch labour market. She is finalising her PhD research on the SDGs and student-alumni engagement at Tilburg University. As a recognised leader in international education (PIE, 2023) and consultant with +30 years of experience, Sandra advises and trains professionals in governments and higher education institutions. She often publishes in professional literature on global engagement.
About Scott Darby
Scott Darby works as a Solutions Engineer for Inenco Group in the UK, where he produces carbon reports and helps companies move towards net zero. Scott has two Masters degrees in Aird Land Studies and studied in Sheffield (UK), Lubbock, Texas (USA), and Berlin (Germany). He is passionate about restoring degraded land and has worked in Australia, Libya, Lebanon and Somaliland. After his studies, he was elected President of the OCEANS network, an Erasmus alumni organisation, and he is still heavily involved as a member of the Advisory Board. Scott is back in Sheffield, UK, to start and raise a family.
Additional resourcesFor further insights into the topics touched on in this episode, the following resources may be of interest:
→ Global communities driving the SDGs→ 4 tips for leveraging alumni networks for recruitment
→ 3 questions to ask before engaging alumni in virtual marketing and recruitment
→ How international alumni relations advance the agenda
→ OCEANS website
The 2024 EAIE Award winners were announced earlier this year, and at the conference in Toulouse, they were all given some of the attention they rightfully deserve. In this podcast episode, the EAIE is honoured to have had the opportunity to talk to not one but two of this year's award winners: Birgit Hernady, Head of the International Office at FH JOANNEUM University of Applied Sciences (Austria), and Sandra Soares, Vice-Rector for Education and Training and Internationalisation at the University of Aveiro (Portugal), who were, respectively, the winner and the highly commended institution for the EAIE award for Excellence in Internationalisation.
In this conversation between host Laura Rumbley and Birgit and Sandra, several topics are touched upon. What makes their two institutions special? What does winning an EAIE award mean to them personally and their institution? What are some good practices to share, but also some lessons learned of value from other professionals? Be sure to tune in to this episode of the EAIE podcast to hear more!
About Birgit Hernády
Birgit Hernády has been working at the International Office of FH JOANNEUM since 2003 and has been its head since 2013. She studied English and American Studies and "Europe: Languages, Business and Law" in Graz and Oxford and completed postgraduate studies in German as a Foreign Language and International Business. Before starting her professional career at FH JOANNEUM, she worked for LOGO jugendmanagement in EU Info&Service. Birgit Hernády has extensive experience teaching German as a foreign language in Austria and abroad and is a certified examiner for the Austrian German Language Diploma (ÖSD).
About Sandra SoaresSandra Soares holds a PhD in Psychology from the Karolinska Institute. She is currently the Vice-Rector for Education and Training and Internationalisation at the University of Aveiro and the Coordinator of the Specialized Commission for Internationalisation of the Council of Rectors of Portuguese Universities. She is also involved in several international projects related to internationalisation and pedagogical innovation, namely the European Consortium of Innovative University (ECIU University), under the European Universities initiative. Sandra has published several dozens of articles in international journals and has participated in several research projects, as well as in national and international conferences. She is an integrated member of the William James Center for Research and the coordinator of the EmoSenses Lab. In 2021, she was one of the Portuguese women scientists honoured by Ciência Viva.
Additional resourcesFor further insights into the topics touched on in this episode, the following resources may be of interest:
→ Celebrating excellence: Announcing the 2024 EAIE Award winners→ Ligia Deca: Outstanding vision and leadership 2023
→ FH Joanneum website
→ Universidade de Aveiro website
During the summer of 2024, many of us soaked up the energy and excitement of the Olympic Games in Paris, France. As a global event where people from all over the world come together to compete, collaborate, learn, and enjoy, the Olympics can, in some ways, be compared to international education, which also brings together individuals with shared interests and passions. Upon closer inspection, what are some of the key parallels between the worlds of international sports and international higher education? What particular opportunities do big sports events such as the Olympics bring to international students? And what are the challenges of being a student and a professional or highly competitive athlete?
In this EAIE podcast episode, host Laura Rumbley talks to two sports and IHE fans: Shanna Shaubert, who works as Associate Director of Research and Scholarship at NAFSA, and Dorothée Brac de la Perrière, European Projects Manager at INSA-Lyon. We take a moment to look back at Paris 2024 and ahead to Los Angeles 2028 and why the combination of sports and international higher education can be challenging but also makes a lot of sense.
About Shanna Saubert
Shanna Saubert, PhD, is the Associate Director of Research & Scholarship at NAFSA: Association of International Educators. She leads NAFSA’s thought leadership and resource development for scholars and practitioners in international education and collaborates with the Teaching, Learning, and Scholarship Knowledge Community.
About Dorothée Brac de la Perrière
Dorothée Brac de la Perrière has been the European Projects Manager at INSA-Lyon in France for the past seven years. As of September 2024, she is also a member of the EAIE’s Thematic Committee on European-funded Programmes.
Additional resourcesFor further insights into the topics touched on in this episode, the following resources may be of interest:
→ Matjaž Pečovnik: Let’s talk European university sports→ SAMEurope: facilitating mobility for student athletes
→ Shanna Saubert – Breaking Records and Building Bridges
→ International Olympic Committee (IOC), 2024 - “Olympic Values.”
Within the international higher education community, we see the celebration of achievements regularly. Successfully launching a new research project, reaching a milestone number of international students accepted and signing a new partnership. But what about learning from our failures? We tend not to share the lessons learned from a programme that failed or a collaboration gone wrong, while in some cases, there might be even more to learn than from our success stories.
In this podcast episode, host Laura Rumbley dives into learning from failure. How can we learn to embrace the willingness to make mistakes and leverage our community along the way? Laura is joined by five experienced IHE professionals from across Europe, all willing to share their experience with failure. Britta Piel, Richard Delahaye, Ceren Genc, Sabine Sainte-Rose and Kimmo Kuortti discuss what can be gained from talking about failure, how to pick ourselves up after a setback, and what wisdom can be shared with other colleagues.
About Richard Delahaye
Richard Delahaye currently acts as the University of East Anglia's School Manager for Politics, Philosophy and Area Studies and also the Interdisciplinary Institute for the Humanities.
About Ceren GencCeren Gencis the Team Leader for International Student Admissions at Utrecht University in the Netherlands.
About Sabine Sainte-Rose
Sabine Sainte-Rose is the Director of the Aurora European University Alliance Programme.
About Kimmo Kuortti
Kimmo Kuortti is Head of Global Education Solutions at the Oulu University of Applied Sciences, Finland.
Additional resourcesFor further insights into the topics touched on in this episode, the following resources may be of interest:
→ Helping students overcome their fear of failure
→ How Failing Well Can Help Companies Thrive
→ The CV of Failures
→ Robert Biswas-Diener - A Positive Look at Failure
→ Sanna Wenström - Do you work on your power zone?
"True peace is not merely the absence of tension; it is the presence of justice." Martin Luther King’s quotes still inspire many across the world when it comes to peacebuilding. But in a world of constant change, challenge and conflict, is peace a mere utopian dream or something tangible that we can and should actively strive towards? In this episode of the EAIE podcast, peacebuilding takes centre stage as our host, Laura Rumbley, tries to uncover some of the fundamentals of this fascinating work. How do we define and understand peacebuilding as a concept and a practice? What are some of the challenges and opportunities that come with addressing the work of peacebuilding from a diversity of perspectives? What does the academic world bring to the domains of peacebuilding and conflict resolution? And what can societies and individuals do in the face of the challenging realities we currently find ourselves in?
Our featured guests are Sonya Reines-Djivanides, the Executive Director of the European Peacebuilding Liaison Office (EPLO), the largest conflict prevention and peacebuilding network in Europe, and Ulrich Schneckener, Professor of International Relations & Peace and Conflict Studies at Osnabrück University, and Chairman of the Executive Board of the German Foundation for Peace Research. Tune in now to listen to this episode of the EAIE podcast!
About Sonya Reines-Djivanides
Sonya Reines-Djivanides is the Executive Director of the European Peacebuilding Liaison Office (EPLO), Europe’s largest conflict resolution network and peacebuilding organisation. With more than 20 years of experience in international conflict resolution, including working in the senior management of peacebuilding organisations like Search for Common Ground, Sonya has frequently commented on foreign policy and conflict issues. She received her Bachelor of Arts, cum laude, in Political Science and French from The University of New Mexico and her Master of Arts in International Relations, with a focus on International Conflict Negotiation and an advanced Certificate in International Conflict Management, from Syracuse University. She holds a graduate certificate in International Mediation and Conflict Analysis from the United States Institute of Peace and completed a Peace Mediation Course with the Swiss Department of Foreign Affairs. Sonya has taught Master’s level mediation and negotiation at Kent University and sits on the board of Directors of the Alliance for Peacebuilding and WeMove Europe.
About Ulrich Schneckener
Prof. Dr Ulrich Schneckener has been working as a Professor of International Relations & Peace and Conflict Studies at Osnabrück University in Germany since 2009. He is also the Co-director of the MA programme ‘Conflict Studies and Peacebuilding’. Since 2016, he has been the Chairman of the Board of the German Foundation for Peace Research. Between 2002 and 2009, he worked as a researcher at the German Institute for International and Security Affairs (SWP), Berlin. Some of his key research interests include international conflict management, peace- and state-building, political violence and European and global security.
Additional resources
For further insights into the topics touched on in this episode, the following resources may be of interest:
→ Ukraine support & resources→ Leaving no one behind: providing higher education in emergencies
→ Supporting international students in times of crisis and conflict
→ European Peacebuilding Liaison Office
2024 marks a special anniversary for the EAIE: the Association turns 35! A lot has happened within the world of international higher education in the decades since the EAIE’s founding in 1989, and the EAIE itself has also been on quite an evolutionary journey during this time. Current Executive Director Leonard Engel has been an important part of that journey for 14 years and is now getting ready to hand over the baton to Mervin Bakker.
In this special 35-year anniversary episode, Laura talks to both Leonard and Mervin about this EAIE milestone. It provides a wonderful opportunity to travel back in time (what were they doing all the way back in 1989?), to reflect on our changing sector (what are some of the important changes they've seen within the field of internationalisation over the years?), and to look toward the future (what will a successful conference in Toulouse look like in their eyes?). Join us in celebrating our 35th anniversary in this episode, where we say a big thank you to Leonard and give a warm welcome to Mervin!
About Leonard EngelLeonard Engel is the Executive Director of the European Association for International Education (EAIE). He holds a Master of Public Administration from the Dutch School of Public Administration (NSOB), The Hague, and an MA in Literature from Leiden University, the Netherlands. Leonard is an experienced manager in higher education and a specialist in internationalisation and student affairs, having worked as a director at Leiden University from 1995 to 2010. His areas of specialisation are cooperation theory and relations between Dutch and Chinese higher education. Leonard is invited regularly to speak about international higher education and Association management.
Leonard received the 2023 President's Award from Piet Van Hove in recognition of his service and commitment to the EAIE and the wider international education community. Since joining the EAIE in 2010, he has guided the Association to new levels of professionalisation and led EAIE’s commitment to operational excellence. About Mervin BakkerMervin Bakker has been working in international education for 25 years. Prior to joining the EAIE, he was the Director of International Strategy & Relations at the University of Groningen, where he is responsible for the university’s international strategy and the management of relations with strategic partners and networks globally. Before joining the University of Groningen, Mervin was Regional Director at Nuffic’s Netherlands Education Support Offices in South Africa and Indonesia. Before this, Mervin worked at the University of Amsterdam as Manager of International Programmes and Head of Marketing & Communications for the Faculty of Economics and Business. He has also worked for an education agent in Thailand and ran a student-related business in the Netherlands. Mervin holds an MSc in International Economics & Economic Geography from Utrecht University and an MBA in Higher Education Management from the Institute of Education in London. He will take over as Executive Director of the EAIE at the end of September 2024. Additional resourcesFor further insights into the topics touched on in this episode, the following resources may be of interest:
→ EAIE announces next Executive Director
→ Introducing the new EAIE leaders and volunteers to the EAIE ecosystem
→ The EAIE structure and how to get involved
We’re still 'En Route!' to the EAIE 2024 Conference and Exhibition, and we're getting closer and closer to that moment in September when we will meet in person in Toulouse! We’re looking forward to the numerous exciting sessions, networking events, informal gatherings and the opening and closing plenaries. After having had the pleasure several months ago of talking to this year’s opening plenary speaker, Élisabeth Moreno, EAIE podcast host Laura Rumbley also sat down with closing plenary speaker Zhang Zhang.
Zhang Zhang is a classical violinist and humanitarian who is planning to take the EAIE audience on a musical journey. In this conversation, she tells us more about her upbringing, her relationship with music, the importance of educators, and how we can all make a difference in someone’s life. Don’t miss out on this interesting conversation with one of the EAIE’s 2024 keynote speakers!
About Zhang Zhang
Zhang Zhang, a classical violinist and humanitarian, has been a member of the L’Orchestre Philharmonique de Monte Carlo since 2000 and the founder of The Monaco String Quartet Ensemble since 2021. She also serves as Soloist of the Royal Opera of Versailles. Zhang is a prolific opinion leader, publishing in major French outlets such as Le Figaro and Libération and appearing on Europe 1, TVMonaco and France 5. In 2023, she published her autobiography "La voie de l’Archet" detailing her journey from a challenging childhood in Beijing to becoming an accomplished artist and advocate for peace and equality.
A graduate of Rice University and the Lausanne Conservatory, Zhang is also an inspiring philanthropist. Her organisation, ZHANGOMUSIQ, supports over 70 projects across 36 countries, including schools in Afghanistan, disaster relief in South America, and environmental initiatives in Europe. In 2021, she received the Prix Jean Pierre-Bloch for her contributions to peace and universalism.
Additional resourcesFor further insights into the topics touched on in this episode, the following resources may be of interest:
→ EAIE 2024 Conference and Exhibition
→ En route to Toulouse and beyond: Élisabeth Moreno
In the modern day and age, especially technical developments continue to make it easier and easier to share knowledge across any type of border. However, sharing knowledge also has its dangers, as we’ve seen within the world of international higher education as well. Both institutions and organisations within the field are trying to figure out how to best approach this question of knowledge diplomacy: how to tackle these possible risks while still sharing knowledge with one another?
In July 2024, the EAIE was part of a conference organised by the University of London Institute in Paris titled ‘Shaping the future: rethinking the role universities play in international relations.’ EAIE podcast host Laura Rumbley is joined by two experts who spoke at this conference: Tim Gore, Chief Executive Officer of the University of London Institute in Paris, and Sakine Weikert, Head of Section at the Centre for International Academic Collaborations (KIWi) at DAAD – German Academic Exchange Service. How do they define the term ‘knowledge diplomacy’? What are some of the key issues or concerns that inject a level of urgency into the topic of knowledge development today? And is there anything on the horizon that we should be on the lookout for?
About Tim GoreTim Gore is the Chief Executive Officer of the University of London Institute in Paris. He has held senior leadership roles in career postings in France, the UK, India, Jordan, Dubai, Singapore and Hong Kong and has substantial experience in higher education in a global context, cultural relations, diplomacy and commercial enterprise. His main expertise is strategy applied within higher educational contexts as well as in the internationalisation of higher education and leadership. He has worked closely with a range of government organisations in the countries he has served and received the OBE for his work in India-UK bilateral relations while he was leading the British Council’s education work in India.
About Sakine Weikert
Sakine Weikert is Head of the Section Center for International Academic Collaborations (KIWi) at DAAD - German Academic Exchange Service. KIWi offers individual advice and networked expertise to German universities and research organisations in the field of international science cooperation and foreign academic policy. One focus topic is raising awareness on safety-relevant aspects, and the other one is knowledge diplomacy. Her regional expertise is in China: From 2018 – 2022, she has been Head of the DAAD office in Shanghai and a DAAD lecturer at the German Department of Fudan University Shanghai. She is trained as a scholar in Comparative Literature and Media Studies at Freie Universität Berlin and she has been a Visiting Researcher at The University of Chicago as well as at Princeton University.
Additional resourcesFor further insights into the topics touched on in this episode, the following resources may be of interest:
→ DAAD KIWi
→ University of London in Paris – Knowledge Diplomacy Project
→ Navigating new realities in international academic collaboration
→ Walking the line: the UK and China
Whether you are a student going on an exchange to a different country or getting involved in international learning in other ways, stepping out of your comfort zone for an intercultural experience can be both exciting and frightening. Will you find your place in this new community, and will others support you in finding a sense of belonging? In this episode of the EAIE podcast, we tackle the topic of student belonging with the help of two guests who have both professional and personal experience with this topic.
Tang Heng, Associate Professor at the National Institute of Education, Nanyang Technological University (Singapore), has been involved in various research projects looking at how sociocultural contexts shape the values, motivations, and behaviours of learners/teachers. Jimena Alvarez is a third-year Political Science and Economics student at Trinity College Dublin (Ireland). She moved from Peru to Ireland when she was 17 and has experienced the importance of belonging as an international student far from home. Tang and Jimena join host Laura Rumbley in looking at student belonging from both a research and a student perspective and sharing a few good practices and ideas on what deserves our attention when it comes to helping others find that place within their international community.
About Tang HengTang Hengis an Associate Professor at the National Institute of Education, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore. By studying what happens when people and ideas circulate across borders, she highlights issues related to diversity and education through a comparative and international education lens. Her research on how Chinese international undergraduates experience U.S. college education compels her to advocate for rejecting the deficit perspectives of international students. She received the 2021 NAFSA Innovative Research in International Education Award and the Comparative and International Education Society’s Study Abroad and International Students SIG Early Career Award in 2019.
About Jimena Alvarez
Jimena Alvarez is a third-year Political Science and Economics student at Trinity College Dublin. Born and raised in Peru, Jimena moved to Ireland at the age of 17 to pursue higher education. As a Global Ambassador at her university, she assists international students in integrating into university life, addressing immigration questions, organising cultural events, and providing campus tours. In addition to this role, Jimena was a panellist at the Inclusion via Diversity, Equity & Anti-Racism Deep Dive Workshop, organised by the Council of International Schools (CIS) at The Convention Centre Dublin (The CCD) and is continuously contributing to the exploration of the international student experience.
Additional resourcesFor further insights into the topics touched on in this episode, the following resources may be of interest:
→ Jenna Mittelmeier & Asuka Ichikawa: Research with international students
→ NAFSA student sharing about belongingness and inclusion
→ Council of International Schools: Inclusion via diversity, equity & anti-racism
→ Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education: how to improve the international student experience
Between 06 and 09 June 2024, European citizens cast votes to help shape the European Union’s future. Even though many of us might have read or heard about the general outcomes of this important election, is it clear what this may mean for international higher education in Europe? What can we take away from the election outcomes, and what do these results mean for Europe’s immediate future?
In this EAIE podcast episode, host Laura Rumbley chats with Anna-Lena Clays-Kulik, Deputy Director for Policy Coordination and Foresight at the European University Association (EUA). Together, they discuss the nature of the European elections' outcomes, what this might mean for (international) higher education interests in Europe and what we can expect in the next few months.
About Anna-Lena Clays-KulikAnna-Lena Clays-Kulikhas been working at EUA in different positions since 2011. As Deputy Director for Policy Coordination and Foresight, she works at the nexus of European policies, advocacy and futures thinking. She represents EUA in various working groups of the European education and research areas and is a frequent speaker and moderator at events. Before joining EUA, Anna-Lena worked at the European Commission’s Directorate General for Education & Culture. Anna-Lena holds a Master’s in European Political and Administrative Studies from the College of Europe in Bruges, Belgium and a Magister degree in Communication Science, Political Science and Philosophy from the University of Münster, Germany. During her studies, she spent one year at the Institute of Political Sciences in Bordeaux, France. Besides her position at EUA, Anna-Lena works as an independent self-leadership coach for women since mid-2023.
Additional resourcesFor further insights into the topics touched on in this episode, the following resources may be of interest:
→ EUA factsheet ‘European Parliament elections: 6-9 June 2024: Your vote matters to shape the future of Europe and its universities’
→ EUA policy input ‘A renewed social contract for Europe and its universities: How universities and policy makers can work together to shape a strong, open and future-proof Europe’
→ Youth engagement in European politics: Looking ahead to the European elections
→ EAIE Barometer: National and European-level influences
The countdown to the EAIE 2024 Conference and Exhibition in Toulouse has begun! Between 17 – 20 September 2024, many topics within the world of international higher education will be discussed during sessions, networking events, informal gatherings, and the opening and closing plenaries. As we look toward this exciting gathering, EAIE podcast host Laura Rumbley had the pleasure of interviewing one of our esteemed plenary speakers for this year, Élisabeth Moreno. Élisabeth Moreno is a politician, philanthropist and businesswoman, and a former French Minister in charge of Gender Equality, Diversity and Equal Opportunities from 2020 to 2022.
In this short conversation, a wide range of topics are addressed, such as working through differences, key lessons linked to effective leadership, women’s rights and empowerment, and how to maintain motivation. Join us as we get ‘en route’ to Toulouse, and don’t miss out on this interesting conversation with one of the EAIE’s 2024 keynote speakers!
About Élisabeth Moreno
Élisabeth Morenois a politician, philanthropist and businesswoman. She is a former French Minister in charge of Gender Equality, Diversity and Equal Opportunities from 2020 to 2022. Currently, she serves as Chairwoman of Ring Capital, where she empowers impact entrepreneurs and provides them with resources to thrive. She is also President of Ring Africa, where she actively contributes to shaping the entrepreneurial landscape within the continent of Africa.
Her expertise has led her to key positions in enterprises across four continents and to become a consular judge and Vice President of Hewlett Packard, overseeing operations in Africa. In addition to these roles, Elisabeth is also passionate about Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), and through her foundation, LEIA Partners, she supports organisations in developing their CSR strategies. Beyond her professional endeavours, Elisabeth is deeply engaged in philanthropic activities, most notably as the President of the Femmes@Numerique Foundation, where she strives to drive progress and empowerment for women in the digital sphere.
Additional resourcesFor further insights into the topics touched on in this episode, the following resources may be of interest:
→ EAIE 2024 Conference & Exhibition – Toulouse
→ Danica Purg: Reflections on Leadership
→ Hilary Lappin-Scott: Inspiring women to learn and lead
The international higher education field covers many different issues, and it can be a challenge to stay up to date on everything that’s being discussed. An important and relevant topic that can be linked to the core of the work we do is global citizenship. In a way, we are all global citizens, but what is exactly meant by the term ‘global citizenship’? How does this relate to international higher education and what are some key issues connected to global citizenship today, both in Europe and more broadly?
In this EAIE podcast episode, host Laura Rumbley speaks with two global citizenship experts who are connected to the Robert Schumann Centre for Advanced Studies at the European University Institute in Florence. Maarten Vink is Chair of Citizenship Studies and Director of the Global Citizenship research area within the Global Governance Programme, and Jelena Dzankic is a part-time professor in the Global Governance Programme. They are also Co-Directors of the Global Citizenship Observatory (or GLOBALCIT). Together, they answer some of our burning questions on this interesting topic. What is meant exactly by the term global citizenship? What does the Global Citizenship Observatory do? Are there any specific goals or aspirations linked to this field for the future? Check out this episode of the EAIE podcast to learn more!
About Maarten Vink
Maarten Vinkis Chair of Citizenship Studies and Director of the Global Citizenship research area within the Global Governance Programme at the Robert Schuman Centre for Advanced Studies at the European University Institute. He is also Co-Director of the Global Citizenship Observatory (GLOBALCIT). Maarten led the research project “Migrant Life Course and Legal Status Transition (MiLifeStatus)”, funded by a Consolidator Grant of the European Research Council (2016-2021). He co-edited the Oxford Handbook of Citizenship (OUP, 2017) and has published on immigrant naturalisation, comparative citizenship regimes, dual citizenship, and Europeanization, among others. Maarten is on leave from Maastricht University, where he is a Professor of Political Sociology and was one of the founders of the Maastricht Center for Citizenship, Migration and Development (MACIMIDE). He holds a PhD in Political Science from Leiden University (2003).
About Jelena DzankicJelena Dzankic is a part-time Professor in the Global Governance Programme at the Robert Schuman Centre of the European University Institute in Florence, Italy. She is Director of GGP Southeastern Europe and Co-Director of the Global Citizenship Observatory (GLOBALCIT). She holds a PhD degree in International Studies from the University of Cambridge and has taught and researched at the University of Edinburgh, University College London, University of Graz, and Passau University. She is the author of the Global Market for Investor Citizenship (Palgrave 2019), a leading study in the field of wealth-based citizenship acquisition, and has published widely on the topics of citizenship, migration and nation and state building.
Additional resourcesFor further insights into the topics touched on in this episode, the following resources may be of interest:
→ Global Citizenship Observatory
→ Launch of the new strategy paper on Global Citizenship Education by the Belgian EU Presidency
→ Myths and realities about global citizenship
What makes a successful leader? There are many different possible answers to this question, and some of them will be addressed in the upcoming Summer issue of Forum, the EAIE member magazine, which will focus on the theme ‘Leadership in international education.’ This podcast episode provides a sneak peek at the conversation the EAIE had with Summer Forum interviewee Professor Danica Purg, the President of IEDC-Bled School of Management in Slovenia and President of CEEMAN, the International Association for Management Development in Dynamic Societies. Professor Purg has authored and co-authored various books on the topic of leadership, and has been the recipient of numerous (international) awards for her achievements in the field of international business education.
In this conversation, EAIE podcast host Laura Rumbley asks several questions focusing on leadership in general. What are some of the intersections between management and leadership? To what extent are leadership skills generic across sectors and industries? Are there specific unique European approaches to leading? And what is there to say about ethical leadership and corporate social responsibility? Make sure to listen to this podcast episode, and if you’re interested in the topic and happen to be an EAIE member, also check out the 2024 Summer Forum issue focusing on this same topic.
About Danica PurgProfessor Danica Purg is the President of the IEDC-Bled School of Management, Slovenia, and President of CEEMAN, the International Association for Management Development in Dynamic Societies. Since January 2021, she has been President of the Alliance of Management Development Associations in Rising Economies, co-founded by CEEMAN, with the aim to accelerate the growth of relevant and excellent management education in the global markets that need it most.
Prof. Purg is a professor of leadership and effective management at the IEDC-Bled School of Management. She authored and co-authored several books and numerous articles on leadership issues. She has also received numerous national and international awards for her outstanding achievements in the field of international business education. She holds three Doctor Honoris Causa titles and two honorary professorship titles and is a frequent guest speaker at universities around the world and at international conferences.
Additional ResourcesFor further insights into the topics touched on in this episode, the following resources may be of interest:
→ Bringing global perspectives to leadership in business
→ Ligia Deca: Outstanding vision and leadership 2023
→ Horia Onita and Rita Dias. ESN and ESU: New leadership
There you are, a young professional within the field of international higher education. Perhaps you're just starting out in a new role, or maybe you already have a few years of experience within the sector, with ideas and ambitions for your future career. In these cases, it's always helpful to have someone to guide you or to meet people who find themselves in the same situation. What do you find rewarding about your work? What challenges or struggles are you or your fellow young professional colleagues facing and how are you handling these? What role do physical and mental well-being play in your professional life? What pieces of advice are you seeking or willing to share?
In this episode of the EAIE podcast, host Laura Rumbley talks to two young international education professionals. Irene Yagüe Sancho works as the Associate Director at the IE Center for Health & Well-being in Madrid, Spain, and Karine Gourlet works as the International Mobility Manager at CESI Graduate School of Engineering, France. These two young professional women tell us about their journey into the field, the challenges they encountered along the way, and their advice for other young professionals. Be sure to tune in!
About Irene Yagüe Sancho
Irene Yagüe Sanchois the Associate Director at the IE Center for Health & Well-being, where she passionately spearheads initiatives aimed at fostering holistic growth and well-being among students, staff and faculty. With a trilingual master's degree in international relations with a focus on Culture & Education from the Institut National Universitaire Jean-François Champollion (France), she leverages her expertise in crafting and executing innovative academic programs tailored to the global landscape of higher education.
About Karine Gourlet
Karine Gourlet works as International Mobility Manager at CESI Graduate School of Engineering, France. She obtained her Master’s degree in International Management with a specialisation in European Projects at the University of Picardie Jules Verne, and started working within the international higher education field in 2017. She has been working for the CESI Graduate School of Engineering for several years, starting out as an international relations assistant at the head office in Paris. These days, she organises and manages international students and staff mobilities and coordinates the community of international relations officers of the 25 CESI campuses in France.
Additional ResourcesFor further insights into the topics touched on in this episode, the following resources may be of interest:
→ IE Center for Health and Well-Being
→ EAIE Young Professional membership
→ Alejandra Vicencio & Frank Ziegele: That first job in international education
International students and their experiences are a frequent focus of research in the field of international higher education. But to what extent are researchers actively working to include international students in this work? What can research collaboration with international students look like? How should we consider inclusive definitions of international students? And what are some examples of good practices when it comes to research with international students that we can learn from?
In this EAIE podcast episode, we talk with Jenna Mittelmeier and Asuka Ichikawa, who have been closely involved in a 2023 Routledge publication focused precisely on this issue, titled ‘Research with International Students: Critical Conceptual and Methodological Considerations’. These knowledgeable guests provide expert and first-person insights into a range of issues linked to this fascinating subject, which is clearly rooted in research but connects so importantly and directly to practice in international higher education, as well. Be sure to tune in!
About Jenna MittelmeierDr. Jenna Mittelmeier (she/her) is a Senior Lecturer in International Education at the University of Manchester (UK). Her research focuses broadly on the internationalisation of higher education and, more specifically, on the experiences and treatment of international students. She is the co-founder and co-convenor of the Research with International Students Network and the Internationalisation Practitioner Network.
About Asuka IchikawaAsuka Ichikawa (she/her) is a Ph.D. Candidate in the Higher Education program at Boston College (US). Her research explores transnational student migration, intercultural mental health, and internationalization of higher education.
Additional ResourcesFor further insights into the topics touched on in this episode, the following resources may be of interest:
→ Research with International Students: Critical Conceptual and Methodological Considerations
→ Research with International Students network website
→ Research with International Students podcast
→ Hans de Wit & Santiago Castiello Gutierrez: New definitions and directions for internationalisation
Although the international student mobility sector has always been in flux, it feels as if change and disruption have been more acutely a part of our lives since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. ‘Policy rollercoasters’ have been apparent in a wide range of countries around the world, including the Netherlands, the UK, Canada, and Australia. A ‘whiplash effect’ brought on by changing policies has a huge effect on students, administrators, institutions and the sector as a whole. It also raises lots of questions, but who has the answers?
In this episode of the EAIE podcast, we welcome Alex Usher, President of Higher Education Strategy Associates and a well-known expert on the Canadian IHE sector, and Jogvan Klein, Director, Future Students, at the University of Queensland and Chair of the Australian Universities International Directors Forum (AUIDF). These two experts share some key insights into the how and the why of the shifting policy landscapes for international student mobility specifically in Canada and Australia. How do they understand the policy dynamics we’re witnessing in these major international student destination countries? And what would they do if they were in the policy driver’s seat?
About Alex Usher
Alex Usher is the President of Higher Education Strategy Associates. An internationally recognized expert on a range of fields within higher education, including student financial aid, quality measurement, rankings and public financing, he has wide experience in strategic planning at both the institutional and system level. Alex is the lead author of the annual higher education almanac The State of Post-Secondary Education in Canada and the co-author of the premier statistical handbook on global tertiary education: World Higher Education: Institutions, Students and Funding. He authors a free daily intelligence e-mail, One Thought to Start Your Day and regularly engages with fans and critics alike on Twitter (@alexusherhesa). Prior to founding Higher Education Strategy Associates, Alex served as the Director of Educational Policy Institute Canada and Director of Research and Program Development at the Canada Millennium Scholarship Foundation.
About Jogvan Klein
Jogvan Klein joined The University of Queensland (UQ) in July 2023 as the Director, Future Students, leading the University’s global student recruitment activities. Prior to joining UQ, Jogvan was the Director, International Recruitment at Swinburne University of Technology (2019-2023) and Director, International at RMIT University Vietnam (2016-2019) and has held previous senior positions at RMIT University and La Trobe University. He is also the current Chair of the Australian Universities International Directors Forum (AUIDF), a national membership-based organisation of Australian international university leaders and immediate past Chair of the Victorian Universities International Forum (VUIF). A native of the Faroe Islands, Jogvan holds an MA and a BA from Aarhus University in Denmark and has completed the Australian Institute of Company Directors course.
Additional Resources
For further insights into the topics touched on in this episode, the following resources may be of interest:
→ 3 steps to influencing policy development
→ Larissa Bezo: Catching up on Canada
→ Phil Honeywood: Australia’s post-pandemic path
→ One Thought to Start Your Day
→ The Koala News
→ Future Campus
In January 2023, the EAIE discussed internationalisation's definitions and the need for change with Oxford's Professor Simon Marginson. Following this, Hans de Wit critiqued existing definitions in a Journal of Studies in International Education (JSIE) essay, urging a shift in focus towards guiding the phenomenon's direction rather than defining it.
Which directions should we move in? What emerging views and different voices within the field should we pay more attention to? In this episode of the EAIE podcast, host Laura Rumbley talks to Hans de Wit, Professor Emeritus, Distinguished Fellow, and former director of the Boston College ‘Center for International Higher Education’ (CIHE) and Santiago Castiello Gutierrez, Assistant Professor of higher education at Seton Hall University in the United States How can we begin to shape a new and better definition of ‘internationalisation’ fit for the future? What excites or worries these two internationalisation researchers as they consider the current realities in policy and practice?
About Hans de WitHans de Witis Professor Emeritus, Distinguished Fellow, and former director of the Boston College ‘Center for International Higher Education’ (CIHE). He is a Senior Fellow of the International Association of Universities (IAU). He was director of the ‘Centre for Higher Education Internationalisation’ (CHEI) in Milan, and Professor of Internationalization of HE Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences. He is a Founding member/past president of the European Association for International Education (EAIE), founding Editor of the ‘Journal of Studies in International Education’, and consulting Editor Policy Reviews in Higher Education. He has published many books, articles and blogs on internationalisation of higher education and advised institutions, agencies, governments and international organisations such as the European Commission and Parliament, UNESCO, World Bank and OECD.
About Santiago Castiello Gutierrez
Santiago Castiello Gutierrez, Ph.D. is an Assistant Professor of higher education at Seton Hall University in the Department of Education Leadership, Management and Policy. He is also current co-chair of the Critical Internationalization Studies Network and Associate Editor for the Critical Internationalization Studies Review. Dr. Castiello-Gutiérrez is a scholar-practitioner whose work is centred on the intersection of organizational theory around higher education institutions, their global interconnectedness, and current global policies and practices of internationalization of higher education. As a practitioner he has 15 years of experience serving as administrator of international programs for institutions in Mexico and the United States. For his work as a scholar-practitioner, Dr. Castiello-Gutiérrez was awarded a 2019 Harold Josephson Award for Professional Promise in International Education by the Association of International Education Administrators (AIEA).
Additional Resources
For further insights into the topics touched on in this episode, the following resources may be of interest:
→ ‘Everything That Quacks is Internationalization’ - Critical Reflections on the Evolution of Higher Education Internationalization’→ Critical Internationalisation Studies Network
→ Research with International Students
→ Global Collective for Study Abroad Researchers and Administrators
→ Simon Marginson: Redefining internationalisation
Since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine by the Russian Federation in February 2022, the EAIE has engaged in a series of conversations with two Ukrainian higher education institutions, Ukrainian Catholic University (UCU) in Lviv and Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv (KNU), In observance of the two-year anniversary of the February 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine by the Russian Federation, the EAIE reconnected with these institutions, but this time in conversation with two students: Olha Tolmachova, an undergraduate at UCU, and Violetta Seleznova, a KNU doctoral student.
EAIE podcast host Laura Rumbley chats with Olha and Violetta about how their lives as students have been affected by the longer history of conflict between Ukraine and Russia, as well as the more recent events of the past two years. What have these students experienced during these intensely difficult times, and how do they deal with everything that is thrown their way? We also zoom in on two interesting projects Olha and Violetta have been involved in an English-language course organised at UCU called 'Road to Recovery,' which seeks solutions for Ukraine's renewal, and an internationally award-winning research project at (KNU), focused on mental health issues amongst Ukrainian students.
About Olha TolmachovaOlha Tolmachovais a fourth-year political science student at Ukrainian Catholic University (UCU). Leading the Model UN Club at UCU, Olha served as the Head Delegate for the Ukrainian delegation at the National Model United Nations conference in New York in April 2022. Earlier in 2023, Olha, together with her peers, received the New World Award from the Canadian Bureau for International Education (CBIE), recognising their outstanding leadership skills and commitment to global citizenship, fostering intercultural understanding within the NMUN Project. As a Ukrainian Catholic University Ambassador for the CIVICA for Ukraine project, Olha demonstrated dedication to international collaboration, specifically on Ukraine's Recovery and Modernisation topics. Currently, Olha is working on her BA thesis on the European Integration processes, focusing on EU accession negotiations.
About Violetta SeleznovaVioletta Seleznova has a Master of Arts diploma in Economics and is currently a PhD student at the Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv. She has been an internally displaced person since 2014, as her hometown continues to be under Russian occupation. She is working on a dissertation thesis about mental predictors of consumer behaviour and participating in a nationwide research project about mental health protection of Ukrainian students during and after the war. Next to her academic life, Violetta has been working as an analyst and marketing specialist for over seven years. She spent five years working at a media consulting agency studying Russian propaganda and for the last two years as a strategic marketing specialist at the Public Broadcaster of Ukraine.
Additional ResourcesFor further insights into the topics touched on in this episode, the following resources may be of interest:
→ The battle for mental well-being in Ukraine: mental health crisis and economic aspects of mental health services in wartime
→ UCU ‘Road to Recovery’ course
→ EAIE: Ukraine support and resources page
Over the past few years, the EAIE Podcast has paid particular attention to the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, celebrated annually on 11 February. This day promotes the full and equal access and participation of females in the fields of science, technology, engineering, medicine and mathematics. It also serves as a reminder that women and girls play a critical role in the global science and technology communities and that their participation should be strengthened.
In this podcast episode, host Laura Rumbley is joined by Professor Hilary Lappin-Scott OBE who is a standout example of a successful female scientist. While she has served as President of FEMS, the Federation of European Microbiological Scientists, and is now an Honorary Distinguished Professor at Cardiff University (Wales) and Visiting Professor at Bangor University (Wales), she has faced real challenges as a woman scientist over the course of her career. Professor Lappin-Scott shares her own experiences, while also reflecting on the importance of the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, the positive power of mentorship, and what remains to fight for when it comes to equity for women in the world of science moving forward.
About Hilary Lappin-ScottProfessor Hilary Lappin-Scott OBE is an Honorary Distinguished Professor at Cardiff University and a Visiting Professor at Bangor University. She has served as President of the Federation of European Microbiology Societies (FEMS), President of the Microbiology Society and President of the International Society of Microbial Ecology (ISME), the only person to have held the presidency of all three of these organisations. She was previously the Senior Pro Vice Chancellor of Swansea University, leading the research and innovation strategy, while as a Professor in Environmental Microbiology at the University of Exeter, she trained over 50 people to successfully complete research degrees in microbial ecology. In 2018, she was awarded an OBE (Order of the British Empire) in the 2018 New Year’s Honours List for services to Microbiology and the advancement of women in science, technology, engineering and maths. She has also received the WISE (Women in Science and Engineering) STEM Hero Award (2016) and Chwarae Teg 'STEM Pioneer' Award (2017).
Additional Resources
For further insights into the topics touched on in this episode, the following resources may be of interest:
→ United Nations: International Day of Women and Girls in Science
→ TEDx TALKS: MOVE OVER BOYS - Why we need more girls/women in STEM Careers
→ Nicole Williams and Helen Whitehead: Women changing the world of science
→ Expanding the roles of women in STEM
→ Gender inequality in higher education: lessons from Ireland
ChatGPT, artificial intelligence, chat prompts… It’s 2024, and whether we like it or not, artificial intelligence and all the challenges and opportunities that come with it are here to stay. Like many others, the EAIE is captivated by the developments in relation to artificial intelligence and what impact it will or could have on international higher education, in particular. During the 2023 EAIE conference in Rotterdam, a very successful Campfire session took place on the possible positive uses of ChatGPT in our daily work, and in this podcast episode, we once again take the opportunity to look at the uses of AI within the international higher education sector, from a practical perspective.
Where do people new to this topic get started? What are some of the guests’ personal experiences and tips to share related to AI? And what’s on the horizon, what are some developments worth paying attention to at this moment in time? Join podcast host Laura Rumbley and her guests to hear how real people in our field are experimenting with AI and thinking about its possibilities.
About Cynthia Alby
Cynthia Alby is a Professor of Teacher Education at Georgia College, USA, a public liberal arts university. Her primary research questions revolve around reimagining education and reenchanting learning so both teachers and students can flourish. She is co-author of ‘Learning that matters: A field guide to course design for transformative education’, and for more than 20 years, she has also developed Georgia faculty through the ‘Governor’s Teaching Fellows Program’ at the Louise McBee Institute of Higher Education at the University of Georgia.
About Sandra Slotte
Sandra Slotte is Senior Policy Advisor, Internationalisation, at Arcada University of Applied Sciences in Helsinki, Finland. She is Secretary of the institution’s Internationalisation Group and collaborates and presents regionally, nationally and internationally in matters regarding internationalisation of higher education. On top of her work, she is pursuing a PhD in the field. She chaired the EAIE Expert Community for Strategy and Management's well-visited campfire session on the positive side, and fun uses of, ChatGPT in international higher education, at the 2023 EAIE conference. She also uses generative AI tools in her administrative work and for research, as well as for collaborative and co-creative tasks as a project manager.
About Jeroen Ouburg
Jeroen Ouburg works at Wageningen University & Research for the department of Corporate Strategy & Accounts focusing on strategic international institute to institute collaboration in the field of higher education. He has been a member in different (inter)national networks stimulating the internationalisation of higher education from a policy and strategic point of view. For example, contributing to the integration of refugees in the higher education sector across Europe, developing ministerial funding programmes for collaboration with the Global South and developing European University Alliances. Jeroen has been active in different steering groups of the EAIE, most recently as a part of the steering group of the Strategy & Management Expert Community.
Additional Resources
For further insights into the topics touched on in this episode, the following resources may be of interest:
→ Allan Goodman: AI and student mobility
→ How AI is shaking up higher education
→ A curated list of resources on AI (as mentioned in the episode)
→ How to Write Better ChatGPT Prompts
Happy New Year! We find ourselves at the start of a new calendar year, 2024, which is usually a moment in time for people to think of (and try to stick to) new year resolutions. Many professionals in the international higher education field struggle with managing their workload, and it can feel as if there are not enough hours in the day. There's a whole new year filled with possibilities on our doorstep; how can we try and make the best of it in a professional context?
In this episode of the EAIE podcast, we talk to productivity coach Jim Hetherton who has helped many thousands of people to improve the way they work. Podcast host Laura Rumbley asks Jim several questions, including: can new year resolutions actually work? What are some of the life skills people could focus on trying to master in the new year, and what tips are there to accomplish this? And is there a particular secret to productivity that Jim thinks we should take to heart? Make sure to have a productive start to your professional year, and don’t miss out on this podcast episode!
About Jim Hetherton
Jim Hetherton is a successful consultant, lecturer, and trainer, having held leadership & management positions in the leading retailer in Europe – Tesco; prior to joining OnTrack, he established the Franklin Quest, later to become Franklin Covey Europe. He has extensive experience in sales, sales management and learning and development, including head office positions.
With a delivery style which is continually described by delegates as ‘inspirational and life-changing’, he has helped many thousands of people to improve the way they work. He has worked with people at all levels from a wide range of organisations, including GE, Jaguar Cars, Barclays Bank, Bass, Lehman Brothers, BP, Merrill Lynch HBOS, Hewlett Packard, Royal Bank of Scotland, Vodafone Merck & other FTSE 100 companies. He is particularly recognized for his efforts in developing individual performance and increasing personal productivity.
Additional Resources
For further insights into the topics touched on in this episode, the following resources may be of interest:
→ 6 ways to overcome stress while managing risk
→ Coaching students towards emotional health
→ Sabine Pendl & Wessel Meijer: Managing staff, cultivating talent
→ AI tool ‘Ask Graham’
In this last EAIE podcast episode of the year 2023, we are honoured to welcome a special guest who has made a real difference to the EAIE and the international higher education community over the years. Hans-Georg van Liempd is currently the Secretary of the University and Director University Services at Tilburg University, the Netherlands, and in the past, served as both Vice-President and President of the EAIE. More recently, he was the recipient of the 2023 EAIE Award for Outstanding Contribution in recognition of all his valuable contributions.
Volunteering can be a very rewarding effort but also one that takes up energy and time. In this episode, host Laura Rumbley talks to Hans-Georg van Liempd about his career and the give and take of involvement in the international higher education community. How did he start in the field? How did he become aware of the EAIE, and what encouraged him to get involved? What exactly keeps someone motivated to give their time and energy to volunteer? As the end of the year comes closer, we take some time to reflect on what we can gain by giving. Be sure to tune in to this episode of the EAIE podcast to hear more!
About Hans-Georg van Liempd
Hans-Georg van Liempd has been the Secretary of the University and Director University Services at Tilburg University, the Netherlands, since February 2021. He previously held the positions of Managing Director at the Tilburg School of Social and Behavioral Sciences, director of the International Office, senior programme manager for internationalising the campus and corporate social responsibility, and director of strategy and policy. He was involved as an expert on international strategy on a one-year project for the Romanian government for internationalising strategy at 21 Romanian universities. He holds a Master’s degree in economics.
From 2010 to 2014, Hans-Georg served as Vice-President and then President of the EAIE. Prior to being elected as Vice-President, he served on the Conference Programme and Professional Development Committees. After his presidency and time in the General Council, he has continued to actively contribute to the Association. He has been a trainer, member of the Awards and Talent Committee, and advisor to the Mentorship Programme, among other behind-the-scenes responsibilities. He has never hesitated in sharing his time or knowledge to support the EAIE community and wider sector.
Hans-Georg van Liempd is the recipient of the 2023 EAIE Award for Outstanding Contribution in recognition of all these valuable contributions.
Additional Resources
For further insights into the topics touched on in this episode, the following resources may be of interest:
→ EAIE Awards: recognising the extraordinary in our sector
→ ‘EAIE-ing’: a dedicated member’s personal journey
→ EAIE Mentorship Programme
Sustainability continues to be a topic that is top of mind within the international higher education field. Earlier this year, the winners of the International Green Gown Awards were announced, an initiative that recognizes exceptional sustainability initiatives being undertaken by higher education institutions across the world. In the category ‘Sustainability Institution of the Year’, there were two European winners: University College Cork (Ireland) won the award, while UniLaSalle (France) received the ‘highly commended’ honour. Two institutions with inspiring and practical examples of how international education can tackle climate action.
EAIE podcast host Laura Rumbley talked to Maria Kirrane, Head of Sustainability and Climate Action at University College Cork, and Thomas Hull, the Head of International Relations for the Rennes (France) campus of Institut Polytechnique UniLaSalle. What exactly are the profiles of these universities, and what are their environmental action highlights? How does each institution look at environmental sustainability in the context of international student and staff mobility, and are there particular synergies between their climate action aspirations and internationalisation agendas? And what are some of the key challenges and opportunities ahead for their HEIs and others to advance the work of environmental sustainability?
About Thomas Hull
Thomas Hull is the Head of International Relations for the Rennes (France) Campus of an Engineering school called Institut Polytechnique UniLaSalle. Thomas holds a Bachelor’s Degree from Concordia College, Minnesota, where he did a double major in Business Administration and French, and a Master’s Degree in Business from the Institut de Gestion de Rennes, France. Before arriving at UniLaSalle in 2009, Thomas was the director of an American cultural centre in Rennes.
About Maria Kirrane
Dr. Maria Kirrane is the Head of Sustainability and Climate Action for University College Cork. In this role, she oversees the delivery of the University’s Sustainability and Climate Action Plan, working with students and staff across campus to embed sustainability into teaching, research operations and engagement activities. Maria holds a BSc. in Environmental Science and a PhD in Zoology, both from UCC. She undertook her postdoctoral research at the University of Limerick on the role of higher education in the transition to a sustainable society.
Additional Resources
For further insights into the topics touched on in this episode, the following resources may be of interest:
→ UniLaSalle Uni4Change website
→ University College Cork website
→ Sulitest website
→ Glasgow to Rotterdam by bike: a green conference travelogue
→ Tatjana Söding: Erasmus by Train: gaining steam?
The use of agents by higher education institutions to support their international student recruitment efforts is a very accepted practice in some national and institutional contexts around the world, but it’s also considered quite controversial elsewhere. This debate has been ongoing for years, but what is currently at the heart of this discussion?
In this EAIE podcast episode, we talk to the three authors of a 2023 Routledge publication titled ‘Student Recruitment Agents in International Higher Education: A Multi-Stakeholder Perspective on Challenges and Best Practices': Pii-Tuulia Nikula, Vincenzo Raimo, and Eddie West. With these speakers, who all have extensive experience with and knowledge of the topic of education agents, host Laura Rumbley touches upon various aspects linked to this subject: how do we define the term 'education agents', and what exactly do they do? What can different perspectives and insights offer us in terms of understanding agents’ roles? What’s involved in getting off to a good start when working with agents? And what emerging trends and future directions for education agents and their stakeholders should we be on the lookout for?
About Pii-Tuulia Nikula, Vincenzo Raimo and Eddie West
Dr Pii-Tuulia Nikula is an Associate Professor at Eastern Institute of Technology (Te Pūkenga) in New Zealand. Most of Pii-Tuulia’s research focuses on international student recruitment and sustainability questions within the international education sector. One of her areas of expertise is education agent management and governance. Pii-Tuulia’s agent research has been published in journals including Studies in Higher Education, Journal of Studies in International Education, and Higher Education Policy. She also has relevant industry experience: before her academic career, Pii-Tuulia worked as an agent and held management and leadership roles within education agencies. Pii-Tuulia is a co-founder of CANIE: Climate Action Network for International Educators.
Vincenzo (Enzo) Raimo is a former Pro Vice-Chancellor for Global Engagement at the University of Reading where he is now a Visiting Fellow. He is a global higher education specialist with expertise in transnational education and the use of agents in international student recruitment. He combines work as an international higher education consultant with research on international education related topics.
Eddie West is Assistant Dean of International Strategy and Programs at San Diego State University (SDSU), where he provides leadership on international partnership development, collaborations, and transnational education programs, including SDSU in Georgia (Tbilisi). Previously, Eddie served as assistant dean of international programs at Berkeley Extension, the continuing education division of the University of California, Berkeley. Earlier, he led international initiatives at the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC) and served as Senior International Officer at the Ohlone Community College District.
Additional Resources
For further insights into the topics touched on in this episode, the following resources may be of interest:
→ Student Recruitment Agents in International Higher Education: A Multi-Stakeholder Perspective on Challenges and Best Practices (Routledge, 2023)
→ Monitoring of Education Agents Engaged in International Student Recruitment: Perspectives from Agency Theory (ASIE)
→ International education agents: the good, the bad and the ugly
It’s a turbulent time for students across Europe as they deal with pressing issues, such as the lack of student accommodation and the fight against climate change, alongside their studies. Two highly active and visible student organisations have their backs, though: the European Students’ Union (ESU) and the Erasmus Student Network (ESN). Both organisations work hard to ensure the student voice is heard and that students are given the chance to participate in important conversations about the current state and future of (international) higher education in Europe.
In this episode of the EAIE podcast, we talk to the new presidents of ESU (Horia Onita) and ESN (Rita Dias), who both started in their roles in the Summer of 2023. What motivated them to seek out these leadership opportunities? What do they see as the top challenges facing the students they represent today, and how will their organisations address these challenges? How do their organisations work together, and how do they engage with others beyond Europe? And how do they characterise the current state of student engagement and activism? Students are talking, and the EAIE is listening! We hope you’ll tune in for a listen, too.
About Horia Onita
Horia Onita serves as President of ESU, after 9 years of school and higher education student movement at the local and national levels in Romania. In ESU, he is working on overarching political priorities (Bologna Process, European elections, etc), quality assurance of education, learning and teaching policies, digitalisation and the social dimension of higher education. He represents ESU in positions such as co-chair of the Drafting Committee of the 2024 Tirana Communique or co-chair of the Bologna Follow-Up group on Social Dimension. He also follows EU developments on education funding and monitoring and has been representing ESU in the Steering Committee on the Education of Council of Europe. Horia holds a Bachelor of Law and a Master of Public Procurement degree from the University of Bucharest.
About Rita Dias
Rita Dias is 27 and comes from the coast of Portugal. She has a bachelor's in Political Science and International Relations and a Master's in Public Policy. Rita did her Erasmus in Leuven, Belgium, and worked at the United States Embassy in Lisbon in 2018 and in the Political Observatory in the Association for Political Studies and Scientific Research in 2020. She joined ESN in 2018 when she moved to Lisbon to start her master's. She held several positions in the network, such as President of Portugal and Liaison Officer for Inclusive Mobility. As current President of ESN, she is responsible for the general coordination of the organisation, external relations, policy, and advocacy. Her main priorities include increasing participation in learning mobility and fostering civic engagement and participation of young people through Erasmus.
Additional Resources
For further insights into the topics touched on in this episode, the following resources may be of interest:
→ ESN – preliminary results of ESN survey 2023
→ ESU - Survey on Academic Freedom, Institutional Autonomy and Academic Integrity from a Student Perspective
→ ESU & ESN joint publication - How are exchange students navigating the housing crisis?
→ Kelly-anne Watson: Student accommodation: key trends and considerations
In this episode of the EAIE podcast, host Laura Rumbley talks to two guests who have found themselves at this ‘back to school’ moment numerous times already in their careers and whose senior leadership roles require them to guide international office teams through many such key moments.
So how do seasoned team leaders like Sabine Pendl, Director of the Office of International Relations at the University of Graz (Austria), and Wessel Meijer, Senior Policy Advisor for Internationalisation at Leiden University (the Netherlands) prepare themselves every year for this ‘reboot’? What do they currently see as some of the main issues that international office staff will likely be facing this year? What are some of the key skills or competencies that they see as vital for managing an international office today? Get a sneak peek at Sabine and Wessel’s upcoming EAIE training on 13 and 14 November in Amsterdam, ‘How to manage an international office.’
About Sabine Pendl
Sabine Pendl is the Director of the Office of International Relations at the University of Graz, Austria and has served as President of the EAIE from 2018 to 2020. For almost 32 years she has been active in the field of internationalization. She has managed international projects and summer schools; has worked as a trainer on the development of joint degrees and the management of an international office; has authored numerous articles on internationalization topics such as benchmarking and teaching in English; and has participated actively in conferences around the world. In addition, she is Vice-President of the Utrecht Network, member of the steering committee of her University Alliance “Arqus” and currently acts as auditor for the German Rectors’ Conference for their internationalization project.
About Wessel Meijer
Wessel Meijer is an all-around international relations manager with 30 years of experience in the internationalisation of higher education, both as a manager and as a specialist. He is currently Senior Policy Advisor for Internationalisation at Leiden University, The Netherlands, responsible for strategic internationalisation issues. Recently, Wessel was Director of Strategy and Academic Affairs at Radboud University Nijmegen, responsible for the university’s strategic issues, institutional research and education policies. Before that, he led the International Office of the same university of 30 staff responsible for European projects, scholarship programmes, international admissions and corporate partnerships. As Head of the international office of Fontys University of Applied Sciences, he managed a team of 15 staff at three locations. At Utrecht University, his responsibilities were the Erasmus programme and the development and implementation of the international marketing strategy. He started his career at the Utrecht School of Arts in the early days of student mobility. Wessel is involved in several other international project activities as a trainer, speaker and expert in assessing projects at the EACEA in Brussels and auditing international courses.
Additional Resources
For further insights into the topics touched on in this episode, the following resources may be of interest:
→ EAIE Academy: How to manage an international office
→ Ten tools for managing an international office
→ 5 questions to ask during strategic internationalisation planning
The 2023 EAIE Award winners were announced in August 2023, and at the conference in Rotterdam, they will all be given some of the attention they rightfully deserve. In this podcast episode, the EAIE is honoured to have had the opportunity to talk to Ligia Deca, the current minister of Education for Romania and this year’s winner of the EAIE Award for Vision and Leadership.
Several topics are touched upon in the conversation between host Laura Rumbley and minister Deca. How she made her way into the field of international higher education; the lessons she learned from her past student leadership experience as President of the European Students' Union. But also what she feels are some of the top challenges facing international higher education in Europe at the moment, and what kinds of opportunities and challenges she sees for younger women today, to step into a leadership role like the one she currently holds. We also get to hear more about what winning this award means to her at this particular moment in time in her career.
About Ligia Deca
Ligia Decais the Minister of Education of Romania. Before ascending to this role in 2022, she served as Presidential Adviser for Education and Research. She is also a member of Romania's Fulbright Commission Board of Directors.
Ligia co-led ‘Action Track 3: Teachers, Teaching and the Teaching Profession’ within the framework of the 2022 United Nations Transforming Education Summit and, since June 2023, was co-opted by the UN Secretary-General as a member of the High-level Panel on the Teaching Profession. Between 2010 and 2012, she was head of the Bologna Secretariat, supporting the Bologna Follow-Up Group within the European Higher Education Area frame.
Ligia has worked as an expert for the Council of Europe, the European Commission, EQAR, DAAD and others and in 2014, she was invited to be a member of the ‘Science in Education’ Expert Group set up by the European Commission. From 2008 to 2010, she was the President of the European Students’ Union. Ligia holds a PhD in Political Science, awarded by the University of Luxembourg in 2016 for her research focusing on the internationalisation of higher education.
Ligia Deca is the recipient of the 2023 EAIE Award for Vision and Leadership for her remarkable achievements and contributions to international education throughout her career.
Additional Resources
For further insights into the topics touched on in this episode, the following resources may be of interest:
→ 20 years of extraordinary: 2023 EAIE Award winners
→ Recognising the extraordinary in our sector
Never graduated, eternally honoured. This is the guiding notion behind the ‘Unissued Diplomas’ project, set up by the Ukrainian Canadian Students’ Union (SUSK) and a group of volunteers with different backgrounds. The purpose of the initiative is to put the spotlight on a group of 36 Ukrainian higher education students who will never receive their diplomas because their lives were ended too soon by the ongoing war between Ukraine and the Russian Federation.
This powerful exhibition has travelled to more than 45 higher education institutions worldwide, with over 70 showings in 22 different countries. The EAIE is honoured to welcome the Unissued Diplomas project to Rotterdam in September 2023, as part of this year’s EAIE Conference and Exhibition.
In this podcast episode, host Laura Rumbley talks to Daryna Zavhorozhnya, project manager for the Unissued Diplomas project. We hear how the idea for this exhibition came about, the importance of partnerships and donations to the project, and how others can provide their support to Ukraine. Be sure to tune in to this EAIE podcast episode to learn more about this remarkable project.
About Daryna Zavhorozhnya
Daryna Zavhorozhnya is a fourth-year sociology student at the National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy (Kyiv, Ukraine), and the project manager of "Unissued Diplomas". She was an exchange student at the University of Toronto between September 2022 and April 2023.
Additional Resources
For further insights into the topics touched on in this episode, the following resources may be of interest:
→ Unissued Diplomas website & social media channels:
- Website
→ United24 – official fundraising platform for Ukraine
→ EAIE Ukraine support and resources page
→ Karina Bilokon - One Ukrainian student’s story
→ International education in Ukraine - continuing in the face of adversity
The International Education Association of South Africa (IEASA) is currently celebrating its 25th anniversary. Between 22 and 25 August the association organised its 25th annual conference, this time bringing together international higher education professionals from around the world in Durban, South Africa.
For Europe, partnership with Africa is a key priority – whether in terms of economic development, sustainability objectives or other activities. How should we view the current dynamics in EU/Africa partnerships in higher education? What are some of the core values and topics of interest for IEASA at the moment? And what can be seen as some fundamental challenges and opportunities for internationalisation in South Africa today?
In this episode of the EAIE podcast, host Laura Rumbley talks to Lavern Samuels, IEASA president for 2023-2024 and Director of International Education and Partnerships at Durban University of Technology, South Africa.
About Lavern Samuels
Lavern Samuels is a dental surgeon and medical scientist with a special interest in oral medicine and broader public health. Currently, he serves as the Director of International Education and Partnerships (IEP) at the Durban University of Technology (DUT). He is also the President of the International Education Association of South Africa (IEASA), a position he previously held between 2012 and 2014. He is also a past Chair of the IEASA Directors Forum. Additionally, Lavern Samuels is Chair of the Southern African Nordic Centre (SANORD), a consortium of 60 universities across 15 countries from the Southern African and Nordic regions. He is also a member of the Board of the International Virtual Exchange Consortium (IVEC) and represents South Africa in the Network of International Education Associations (NIEA), the peak global body for international education associations. Currently, he also serves as a Board Member of the International Centre for Non-Violence (ICON) and the ML Sultan Charitable and Educational Trust.
Having come from the field of Health Science, Dr Samuels has served as the academic head of the Departments of Dental Sciences and Environmental Health, as well as Deputy Dean and Acting Executive Dean, in the DUT Faculty of Health Sciences. He is a former board member of the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA), and also previously served on the Foreign Qualifications Committee of the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA).
Additional Resources
For further insights into the topics touched on in this episode, the following resources may be of interest:
→ IEASA
→ Collaborating with African universities through European University alliances
→ 2021 EAIE Spring Forum: Europe and the Global South
→ Ajibola Odukoya: Innovative Africa
The European Year of Skills will run from 9 May 2023 until 8 May 2024 and put the spotlight on skills. This year is all about helping people get the right skills and addressing important skills shortages in the EU. Since 2014 the United Nations has also observed World Youth Skills Day every July 15th. This month's podcast episode relevantly focuses on the synergies for skill-building within international education. We look at an example of a fruitful collaboration between Aeres Hogeschool (HE) in the Netherlands and Groupe Ecole supérieure d'Agriculture d'Angers (VET) in France. Institutions in different countries that have shared interests in the areas of agriculture and food systems education and have been working together for 25 years.
Hélène Rongeot, Bachelor Project Manager at ESA Angers in France, and Natasja Spaargaren, Head of the Internationalisation programme at Aeres University of Applied Sciences in the Netherlands, tell us more about their partnership and the importance of skill-building. What excites them about their work, the skill-building opportunities for their students, and for themselves? And what is the secret recipe to their successful partnership covering both HE and VET? Join us for this podcast episode to learn more about this topic!
About Hélène Rongeot
Hélène Rongeot is Bachelor Project Manager at Groupe Ecole supérieure d'Agriculture d'Angers (ESA Angers). She is in charge of the development of new Bachelor programmes in active and collaborative pedagogy, on two sites in Angers, France and near Paris in Saint Quentin in Yvelines. Both programmes are internationally oriented and in the fields of agro-ecological transition and food systems. Hélène obtained her PhD in plant breeding in Paris and worked as a breeder for flowering plants before moving into the field of international education.
About Natasja Spaargaren
Natasja Spaargaren is Head of the Internationalisation programme at Aeres University of Applied Sciences in the Netherlands, with 23 years of experience in internationalisation in education. In her role, she helps Bachelor and Master students as well as academic staff with internationalisation through mobility programmes, internationalisation at home, joint degree programmes and consultancy & training services in agribusiness and education.
Additional Resources
For further insights into the topics touched on in this episode, the following resources may be of interest:
→ European Year of Skills
→ Getting practical about vocational education
→ Global internships: preparation for the new world of work
→ Fabrizio Bitetto: Fostering entrepreneurship
→ Collaborative Europe
In April 2023, the EAIE published its annual international student admissions survey report, which includes interesting insights into current and future dynamics of (international) student admissions across the European Higher Education Area. The data from the survey showed, amongst other things, that the issue of inflation/cost of living is currently a ‘moderate’ barrier to international student enrolment for a majority of respondents (66%). But how big of an issue is affordability within the international education sector at the moment, especially when it comes to student housing?
In this episode of the EAIE podcast we talk to Kelly-anne Watson, Managing Director at The Class Foundation, Europe’s leading platform for the student housing sector. She tells us more about some of the key challenges the European market is currently facing, the importance of communication and collaboration between higher education institutions and local accommodation providers and whether there are any other mid- to longer-term trends or issues we should be on the lookout for when it comes to student living-learning dynamics. Tune in to this episode to learn more!
About Kelly-anne Watson
Kelly-anne Watson is the Managing Director at The Class Foundation, with a wealth of experience in events, politics, higher education and real estate. Her passion for education and quality housing for students is at the core of her work. She understands that a positive and supportive living environment is crucial for students’ success and has dedicated her career to improving access to the sector. As a former member of the National Code, Kelly-anne implemented the first health and wellbeing clause into the UK national accreditation scheme in 2016. In her current role, she has been instrumental in connecting the largest network of private and public stakeholders covering €298 billion in assets across Europe and driving positive change in the student living sector. Kelly-anne is focused on continuing to champion social value, investment, sustainability, wellbeing, community and policy reform within university cities across Europe.
Additional Resources
For further insights into the topics touched on in this episode, the following resources may be of interest:
→ What’s happening in higher education regulation and what does this mean for transnational education
→ The Value of Transnational Education Partnerships
→ UK higher education: time for an international rebrand?
→ Transnational education
Several months ago, Universities UK International (UUKi) and the British Council released a report titled ‘The scale of UK higher education transnational education 2020-21’. This report offered a snapshot analysis of what’s happening with UK transnational education (TNE) across the globe. Since the UK’s departure from the EU, TNE programmes have become more attractive to European students as access to the UK has become more challenging. However, there continue to be critiques of this phenomenon, for example as being a heavily commercially-driven model.
In this episode of the EAIE Podcast, host Laura Rumbley is joined by Joana Westphal, Head of Transnational Education (TNE) at UUKi, and John McNamara, Global Head of Research for the Education Insights Hub at British Council, to address the latest developments related to UK TNE in Europe and beyond. Is there a need for an EU-wide TNE strategy? What are some of the opportunities and challenges on the horizon? And are there particular good practices to share? Take a listen to this episode to learn more!
About Joana Westphal
Joana Westphal is Head of Transnational Education (TNE) at Universities UK International (UUKi). She works within UUKi's Policy and Engagement Team leading the TNE programme to support universities in building sustainable, scalable partnerships across the globe. Joana has worked in international higher education across different areas, including recruitment, research and TNE, with a particular focus on the Middle East and North Africa.
About John McNamara
John McNamara is Global Head of Research, British Council’s Education Insights Hub, and manages a broad portfolio of sector facing research. Key outputs include market intelligence briefs, thought leaderships reports, data tools, blogs and regular presentations to the UK education sector, HMG colleagues and international partners. Prior to joining the British Council in 2019, John ran his own international education consultancy, and before that worked as a senior economist with the Economist Intelligence Unit in London.
Additional resources
For further insights into the topics touched on in this episode, the following resources may be of interest:
→ What’s happening in higher education regulation and what does this mean for transnational education (TNE)?
→ British Council: The Value of Transnational Education Partnerships
→ UK higher education: time for an international rebrand?
→ Transnational education
It’s time to light the candles on the cake for NAFSA: Association of International Educators, as they celebrate their 75th anniversary this year! Founded in 1948, the main aim of the originally named ‘National Association of Foreign Student Advisers’ was to promote the professional development of U.S. college and university officials responsible for assisting and advising the 25,000 foreign students who had come to study in the United States after World War II. Since then, there has been a name change, a move to a much broader scope, and year after year of highly successful annual conferences.
To commemorate this impressive milestone, EAIE podcast host Laura Rumbley talks to Fanta Aw, CEO and Executive Director at NAFSA, and LaNitra Berger, NAFSA President and Chair of the Board of Directors. What does the work of building and sustaining a diverse and thriving community of professionals look like to NAFSA today? From their US perspective, what’s capturing their attention within the European context and how do they see the transatlantic dimensions of international education playing out now and moving forward? And what are they most looking forward to at the 75th NAFSA Annual Conference and Expo taking place May 30 - June 2 in Washington, DC? Tune in to this celebratory episode to learn more!
About Fanta Aw
Fanta Aw, PhD, is the Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of NAFSA: Association of International Educators. Aw previously served the association as President and Chair of the Board of Directors from 2013–2016, the longest tenure of any individual in that role in NAFSA’s history. Dr. Aw has deep experience in both international education and higher education administration. She spent both her academic and professional careers at American University in Washington, D.C. She most recently served as Vice President of Undergraduate Enrolment, Campus Life, and Inclusive Excellence. She received her BS in accounting, MA in public administration with a focus on organizational development, and PhD in sociology with a focus on international education, social stratification, and transnational migration. Aw held many leadership positions in her decades at AU, most recently as Vice President of Undergraduate Enrollment, Campus Life, and Inclusive Excellence.
About LaNitra Berger
LaNitra Berger, PhD is the President and Chair of the Board of Directors of NAFSA: Association of International Educators. She is also the Associate Professor of Art History and Director of African and African American Studies at George Mason University (GMU). She has helped students secure more than 60 prestigious fellowships such as the Fulbright, Boren, Gilman, Truman, Udall, and Critical Language Scholarship awards. In 2015, she received the GMU Spirit of King Award for diversifying study abroad. She is an active member of the Diversity Abroad Network and volunteers with Globalize DC. Dr. Berger received her BA in art and international relations from Stanford University and her PhD in art history from Duke University.
Additional resources
For further insights into the topics touched on in this episode, the following resources may be of interest:
→ 75th NAFSA Annual Conference and Expo
→ Engaging communities: internationalisation of higher education for society
→ Robin Matross Helms: The USA regroups
→ Opening doors across the Atlantic
→ America on our minds
With a nod to the recent observance of Earth Day on 22 April, this episode of the EAIE Podcast takes a look at the complicated relationship between the internationalisation of higher education and climate change. One way to understand the dilemmas baked into this relationship is to consider the notion of cognitive dissonance, a concept that takes centre stage in an article published recently in the Journal of Studies in International Education by Pii-Tuulia Nikula, Adrienne Fusek and Adinda van Gaalen.
Two of this article’s authors – Adinda van Gaalen, team leader of the research policy team and advisor to the board at InHolland University of Applied Sciences in the Netherlands, and Adrienne Fusek, Executive Director and Founder of In Good Company (based in the United States) – join host Laura Rumbley to address some key conceptual and practical questions at the intersection of international education and climate action: What is cognitive dissonance? How do we deal with the struggle of moving from climate action plans on paper to actual on-the-ground implementation? What are the differing roles of individuals versus organisations when it comes to tackling climate action? And what could be, or should be, the next big development within the field of international education when it comes to addressing the sector’s environmental impacts? Intrigued? Listen in to learn more!
About Adrienne FusekAdrienne Fusek, Ed.D. is the Executive Director and Founder of In Good Company (IGC.earth), a climate justice nonprofit organization based in San Diego, California. After 18 years in international higher education, she shifted her professional focus to advance climate justice solutions in her local community. She co-chaired the Forum on Education Abroad working group that wrote the guidelines aligning education abroad with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and she is the lead author of CANIE’s Glasgow Paper and the CANIE Accord.
About Adinda van Gaalen
Adinda van Gaalen is a member of the management team of the Department of Education and Research Policy & Legal Affairs at Inholland University of Applied Sciences. In this capacity, she is the team leader of the research policy team and advisor to the Inholland board on both research and internationalisation. Adinda is also a part-time PhD candidate at Ghent University in Belgium. Her research focuses on dilemmas in internationalisation strategies including the carbon footprint. Previously she was a policy advisor and researcher at Nuffic. Adinda has been involved in the development of a Green Travel Policy at Nuffic, Ghent University and Inholland UAS.
Additional resources
For further insights into the topics touched on in this episode, the following resources may be of interest:
→ Internationalisation of Higher Education and Climate Change: A Cognitive Dissonance Perspective
→ CANIE (Climate Action Network for International Educators)
→ EAIE Spring Forum 2022 – Our Changing Climate
→ Clear skies, blue seas, green trees and us
→ Tatjana Söding: Erasmus by Train: gaining steam?
The European higher education sector is a diverse, inspiring and collaborative field where we can learn and discover new things every day. In this EAIE podcast episode, we invite the listener into the wondrous world of Circus Arts education, where students train to become (international) professional circus artists. Although these performing arts programmes are often considered unique, there are various similarities with 'regular' higher education programmes and the willingness to overcome the same challenges.
What defines success for these types of institutions and organisations in terms of serving students and advancing the circus education agenda? What about international experiences for students and staff? What impact do issues such as climate change, equality and injustice have within the sector and how are they addressed? In this episode, we talk to Anna Beentjes, Head of the Bachelor programme Circus Arts at Codarts University for the Arts in Rotterdam, and Isabel Joly, Director of FEDEC (the international network for professional circus education known as the European Federation of Professional Circus Schools). Tune in to learn more about this creative, collaborative corner of the international higher education field!
About Anna Beentjes
Anna Beentjes is Head of the Bachelor programme ‘Circus Arts’ at Codarts University for the Arts, Rotterdam. She is also vice-president of FEDEC (the international network for professional circus education) and the chair of circus company Monki Business. Anna graduated with a master in Spanish Language and Literature after studies at the University of Groningen and the Universidad Complutense in Madrid. In the past, she has worked as a translator, book seller, executive producer for various dance, theater and music productions with international tours, and was Director for the Performing Arts at the Consulate General of the Netherlands in New York.
About Isabel Joly
Isabel Joly is the Director of FEDEC, the international network for professional circus education. After a Master degree in communication at the University of Lille, Isabel joined the European Commission in the Directorate General for Education and Culture (EAC), and this immersion in cultural issues at European level gave her professional life a decisive direction. Since January 2018, Isabel has answered the call of FEDEC where she shares her passion for arts education with nearly 80 members worldwide, professional schools but also organisations placing circus education at the heart of their project. Passionate about the development of contemporary circus, she is a Board member of the International network Circostrada, (Paris, FR), of the European platform Circusnext (Paris, FR) and the non-profit organisation UP - Circus & Performing Arts (Brussels, BE).
Additional resources
For further insights into the topics touched on in this episode, the following resources may be of interest:
→ FEDEC’s EU project SPEAK OUT
→ Clowning around: relieving stress at the international office
→ Karol Vieker & Malaika Marable Serrano: Let’s talk about discrimination
Since 1990, 08 April has been designated as International Romani Day, a significant day for Roma people across the world. An estimated 10 to 12 million Roma live in Europe, comprising the continent’s largest ethnic minority, yet rough estimates indicate that just 1 to 4% of the Roma population have a higher education degree, making it one of the most underrepresented groups at this level of education. What are some barriers to access to, or success, in higher education for Roma people that the international education community should be aware of?
In this podcast episode, we talk to Nadja Greku and Valeria Redjepagic, both young European Roma women with higher education degrees keen to encourage more Roma people in general – and women and girls specifically – to consider entering the higher education system. From gender dynamics in relation to participation in higher education for Roma people to examples of European universities actively working to promote the inclusion of Roma students, there is much to celebrate and aspire to when it comes to Roma in European higher education today.
About Nadja GrekuNadja Greku serves as a consultant at the World Bank. She studied International Relations at the Central European University in Vienna, holds a BA-level degree in Sociology from the University of Novi Sad, and completed the International Interdisciplinary Romani Studies Postgraduate Specialization Program with distinction at CEU Budapest. Her research interests include governmentality and (in)securitization of Roma, as well as impactful policy-making in the fields of regional development and Roma inclusion. For the past ten years, she has volunteered with various Roma organisations in the Western Balkans region. She is currently researching the eviction of Roma during the Kosovo War of 1998-1999 to provide space for the collective memories of Kosovo Roma. She has published op-eds for LeftEast, European Roma Rights Centre, UDAR as well as a book chapter for the Roma Civil Monitor on Roma inclusion strategies and governmentality. About Valeria RedjepagicValeria Redjepagic works as an adjunct teacher at Södertörn University, Sweden and as a researcher at Swedish Television (SVT). Her academic journey began at University West, Sweden, with a bachelor's degree in political science, followed by a master's degree in Human Rights from the University of Gothenburg. Valeria has also completed the international interdisciplinary research program for Romani studies at the Central European University in Budapest. Currently, she is involved in a research project on antigypsyism, homophobia and the rights of LGBTQI Roma and Traveller in the Nordic countries. Her research interest is how a modern nation-state with a universal welfare system with an egalitarian policy contrary to the promise to include everyone rather excludes certain groups of people, e.g. minorities and indigenous groups. In the last three years, she has been involved in other fields, for instance, leading a non-governmental organization focusing on Roma youth and children, producing podcasts (Romer i Fokus) to promote Roma inclusion, and presenting different Roma role models via Instagram account (Romska Förebilder).
Additional resourcesFor further insights into the topics touched on in this episode, the following resources may be of interest:
→ Call for applications for the Roma Graduate Preparation Program 2023/24
→ EAIE Blog: Breaking the silence: encompassing Roma voices in Europe
→ EAIE Blog: Walking the talk in inclusion and diversity
What’s new these days in (international) higher education in Brazil, home to the largest higher education system in Latin America? For starters, in 2022, the country elected a new president, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who returns to the role after having served as president from 2003 to 2010. In the face of many challenges, he’s also making a promise: to deliver 'more books in place of guns.' What does his return to office mean for Brazilian HEIs and what is on the horizon when it comes to internationalisation in particular?
In this podcast episode we talk to Fernanda Leal, Director of International Relations at the Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina (UFSC), and Marcelo Knobel, President at Insper Institute of Education and Research. Interested in learning about the importance of digital learning and the role of inclusion, equity and diversity in this highly diverse society? Or how Brazilian institutions deal with international ranking systems, and what exactly the place of English or other foreign languages in the country’s higher education system is? Tune in to this podcast episode to find out more!
About Fernanda LealFernana Leal is Director of International Relations at the Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina (UFSC), Brazil. She has a PhD in Administration from Universidade do Estado de Santa Catarina (UDESC), Brazil and is a former visiting scholar at the Center for International Higher Education (CIHE), Boston College (BC), United States. She is also former temporary faculty at the Universidade Federal de Sergipe (UFS), Brazil, as well as leader of the theme "University, Society and State in Contemporaneity" of the Division of Organizational Studies of the Associação Nacional de Pós-Graduação e Pesquisa em Administração (ANPAD), Brazil. She is also a member of the interinstitutional research groups "Multiple Perspectives on the University: People, Territories and Projects"; and "Education, Multilingualism, Internationalization, and Technology". Fernanda has written several articles and book chapters on internationalization of Higher Education, with a focus on South-South Cooperation and decoloniality.
About Marcelo KnobelMarcelo Knobel is President at Insper Institute of Education and Research. He held other leadership roles, including: Rector of the University of Campinas (Unicamp), Executive Director of the Unicamp Exploratory Science Museum, Vice-Rector for Undergraduate Programs, Vice-President of the Brazilian Physics Society and Executive Director of the Brazilian Nanotechnology National Laboratory (LNNano). Knobel has already published more than 300 scientific papers, in addition to numerous opinion pieces in both national and international newspapers and magazines. He is the editor-in-chief of the Journal of Magnetism and Magnetic Materials (Elsevier). Knobel is an Eisenhower Fellow (2007), Fellow of the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation (2009) and Lemann Fellow (2015). He is Member of the Governing Council of the Magna Charta Observatory.
Additional resources
For further insights into the topics touched on in this episode, the following resources may be of interest:
→ University World News article: Cautious optimism in universities greets new president Lula
→ Internationalisation: rooted in resilience
→ 2021 Spring Forum: Europe and the Global South
In our previous podcast episode, we talked to a representative from the Teiresias Centre (part of Masaryk University) in Czechia about the opportunities and challenges of providing maximum accessibility for all (international) students with a disability. There are still quite a number of challenges to overcome when looking at this particular part of the student and staff population, and one of these challenges is collecting valuable data to help influence future institutional strategy and policy. The Institute of International Education (IIE) is poised to publish a report on the mobility of students with disabilities. What are some of the challenges the researchers encountered in collecting this data? What was the aim of this research exercise, and how can we work together to establish a more effective collection of this important data in the future? Because one thing is clear: there is still a lot of progress that can be made when it comes to collecting useful data on international students with a disability and leveraging that information to enhance practice.
In this podcast episode we talk to Mirka Martel, IIE's Head of Research, Evaluation & Learning, and Julie Baer, a Research Specialist at IIE, to learn more about their latest research report on this important global topic.
About Mirka Martel
Mirka Martel is Head of Research, Evaluation & Learning at the Institute of International Education. She manages research and evaluation projects specializing in international education, leadership, and development. Dr. Martel’s oversight of key resources, including the historic Open Doors Report on International Educational Exchange and the Project Atlasresearch initiative on global student mobility, advances the field and provides strategic insight into the future of academic mobility flows in the United States and worldwide.
About Julie BaerJulie Baer is a Research Specialist on IIE’s Research, Evaluation, and Learning (REL) Team, where she serves as an expert on trends in international education mobility. She leads the Open Doors Report on International Educational Exchange, a comprehensive resource on international students and scholars in the United States and American students studying abroad for academic credit. She also manages IIE’s signature snapshot survey series, which provides critical insights about the current landscape of international educational exchange designed to provide insights to higher education institutions, the press, and other stakeholders.
Additional resources
For further insights into the topics touched on in this episode, the following resources may be of interest:
→ IIE/Open Doors website & link to research report
→ Mobility International USA (MIUSA)
→ Working at the crossroads of access, equity and inclusion
→
Issues of inclusion, diversity and equity continue to be top of mind for many higher education institutions across Europe and elsewhere. There are still quite a number of challenges to overcome when looking at this particular part of the student and staff population, for example linked to reaching international students with disabilities, providing them with the correct services, and collecting valuable data to help influence future institutional strategy and policy. In this podcast episode, we are able to take a look inside at the Teiresias Centre, a support centre for students with special needs, established in 2000 at Masaryk University, Czechia. The centre’s primary task is to provide maximum accessibility to all accredited degree programmes at Masaryk University for the visually impaired, the deaf and hearing impaired, people with limited or restricted mobility and people with other types of disabilities.
But how exactly is the centre able to support international students with disabilities? What are some of the key achievements the centre has achieved, and what exactly are the challenges that continue to face internationally mobile students and staff? How much of a struggle is, for example, data collection in this particular context? We talk to Tomáš Varga, Mobility Coordinator for Students with Special Needs & Student Services Advisor at Masaryk University. Be sure to take a listen to find out more! Special note: Masyark University was an EAIE Award winner in 2022!
About Tomáš VargaTomáš Varga graduated from Masaryk University in 2016 in English Philology and English Language Teaching with a specialization in African American (popular) culture. Throughout his studies, complemented by a Cambridge CELTA course, he has developed a set of communication skills that have helped him in fulfilling the tasks at the Support Centre for Students with Special Needs (Teiresias Centre). He first joined the Centre in 2013 as an external employee entrusted with the adaptation of study materials (mainly mathematics and informatics) into an accessible format. Since 2019, he has been a full-time employee in the Studies Section responsible for coordinating services for students with special needs at the Faculty of Arts, mobility for incoming and outgoing students, and organizing MUST Week as well as other (study) visits at the Teiresias Centre.
Additional resources
For further insights into the topics touched on in this episode, the following resources may be of interest:
→ Teiresias Centre website & podcast
→ Breaking down barriers to make physical mobility possible for all
→ No one left behind: increasing access for all students
→ Karol Vieker & Malaika Marable Serrano: Let’s talk about discrimination
Saturday 11 February 2023 is International Day of Women and Girls in Science. This day promotes the full and equal access and participation of females in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering, Medicine and Mathematics. This year, the day is focused on the theme 'Bringing everyone forward for sustainable and equitable development', looking at the role of women and girls in science in relation to the UN's SDGs. Two topics important to higher education institutions across the world at the moment. How do we encourage more girls and young women to be interested in STEMM programmes? Are there any good practices we can share? And what kind of progress would we like to see made before we reach 2024?
In this podcast episode, we talk to Nicole Williams, Director of Outreach at 500 Women Scientists, and Helen Whitehead, Lecturer in Environment and Sustainability at the University of Salford, UK. Both women scientists who are keen to encourage more girls to become scientists, but also to improve the position of women within the world of STEMM.
About Nicole Williams
Nicole Williams is a marine scientist, social justice advocate, and DEIJ expert. She received her Master’s of Science degree in Marine Science in 2014 at Hawaii Pacific University. Nicole worked in academia for five years before transitioning to the nonprofit sector. In 2018, she managed the Brown University Science Center where she helped restructure and implement peer mentoring and tutoring programs for underrepresented STEM students. Nicole is currently the Co-Executive Director at 500 Women Scientists, a global non-profit organization with a mission to make science more open, inclusive, and accessible by fighting racism, the patriarchy, and oppressive societal norms. She is responsible for securing strategic partnerships for the organization while also managing the Gage platform, the world’s largest free directory of women and gender diverse individuals in science, technology, engineering, math, and medicine.
About Helen Whitehead
Helen Whitehead is a Lecturer in Environment and Sustainability at the University of Salford, UK. She graduated from the University of Salford with a First Class honours degree in Wildlife and Practical Conservation in 2018. Following her undergraduate degree, she started a PhD at the University of Salford, studying the use of ecoacoustics to investigate avian biodiversity within the Chornobyl Exclusion Zone. Her areas of research include Ecoacoustics, Biodiversity Monitoring, Ornithology, Environment, and Ecosystems. Helen is currently a coordinator for the 500 Women Scientists pod in Manchester, where the aim is to make science open, inclusive and accessible.
Additional resources
For further insights into the topics touched on in this episode, the following resources may be of interest:
→ 500 Women Scientists website
→ Sarah Lamaison: Science: a woman's world
→ Expanding the roles of women in STEM
Perhaps the world’s most widely accepted definition of the concept of internationalisation in higher education is attributed to Jane Knight, in work she published between 1994 and 2004. Since then, many attempts have been made to come up with new definitions, but this has been challenging, especially when looking at staying power and uptake. But how do we begin to shape a new and better definition for internationalisation fit for 2023 and beyond? And how exactly can we take this conversation forward in a meaningful way?
Simon Marginson, Professor of Higher Education at the University of Oxford, decided to tackle this controversial topic in one of his most recent papers titled ‘Is the idea wrong or is the flaw in reality? On the definition of ‘internationalisation’ of higher education.’ In this podcast episode, he joins us to talk about the need for change, the flaws in the current definitional approach to internationalisation, and what the future holds. Join us for this podcast episode to find out more!
About Simon Marginson
Simon Marginson is Professor of Higher Education at the University of Oxford, Director of the ESRC/RE Centre for Global Higher Education (CGHE), Joint Editor-in-Chief of Higher Education, and a Professorial Associate with the University of Melbourne. Simon’s research is focused primarily on global and international higher education, the global science system, higher education in East Asia, the contributions of higher education and higher education as a public good, and higher education and social inequality. At Oxford he team teaches in the MSc Education pathway on Higher Education. Book include Changing Higher Education in East Asia (edited with Xin Xu, Bloomsbury 2022, and Assessing the Contributions of Higher Education (edited with Brendan Cantwell, Daria Platonova and Anna Smolentseva, Edward Elgar February 2023).
Additional resources
For further insights into the topics touched on in this episode, the following resources may be of interest:
→ Is the idea wrong or is the flaw in reality? On the definition of ‘internationalisation’ of higher education
→ What’s in a name? Refocusing internationalisation of higher education
On 16 September 2022, Mahsa Amini died after having been arrested in Tehran for not wearing her hijab in accordance with government rules. Months of ongoing protests followed, with the situation now reaching new heights, including Iran’s removal from the UN Commission on the Status of Women and the use of death penalty charges by Iranian courts to try and crush the protests. While Iranian students and academics want to fight for academic freedom and social justice, they are also afraid of jeopardising their careers and personal lives. How did we get here? What do these recent events in Iran mean for the freedom of scholars/academics globally? And what actions can be taken by the international community to show support?
In this first podcast episode of 2023, we talk to Daniel Munier, Senior Program Officer for the Scholars at Risk Advocacy team, and Encieh Erfani, who resigned from her academic post at an Iranian university in September 2022 in protest. They tell us more about the current situation in Iran, why this matters beyond Iran, and what might happen next.
About Encieh Erfani
Dr. Encieh Erfani was an Assistant Professor of Physics at the Institute for Advanced Studies in Basic Science (IASBS), Iran. She resigned on 23 September 2022 due to the events in Iran. She obtained her Ph.D. from Bonn University, Germany (2012). Her research area is theoretical physics with a concentration on cosmology. She is a Junior Associate of the International Centre for Theoretical Physics (ICTP), Italy, a Young Affiliate member of The World Academy of Sciences (TWAS), co-chair of the "Preservation of Science" task team of Science in Exile, and an executive committee member of the Global Young Academy (2021-2023). She is the founder of the Yar-e-Danesh Fund (2019) which provides financial support to students. She was on the board of directors of the Astronomy Society of Iran and the founder of its female branch.
About Daniel Munier
As a Senior Program Officer for the Scholars at Risk (SAR) Advocacy team, Dan oversees SAR’s reporting of attacks on higher education communities for SAR’s Academic Freedom Monitoring Project, conducts case advocacy for the Scholars-in-Prison Project, and produces reports and publications, including SAR’s Free to Think report series, to raise awareness of global and regional issues. Before joining SAR, Dan worked in refugee resettlement at Catholic Charities Community Services, interned for the Global Coalition to Protect Education from Attack, and worked in international education and English language programming in France and the US. He holds an M.A. in International Education from New York University and a B.A. in Economics and French from Nazareth College.
Additional resourcesFor further insights into the topics touched on in this episode, the following resources may be of interest:
→ Scholars at Risk website: Host a scholar
→ Scholars at Risk website: Free to think 2022
→ The International Community of Iranian Academics (ICOIA) report on the government crackdown on university students and academics in Iran
→ Dangerous questions: Why not keep quiet?
→ Sinead O’Gorman - Academic freedom in a complex world
In the current age of social media, we see influencers popping up everywhere, including in the field of (international) student marketing and recruitment. Influencer marketing is evolving rapidly, and the Covid pandemic has sped up this process considerably. Higher education institutions are using micro- and nano-influencers to raise awareness of their educational programmes, activities, initiatives and even institutional values, in different ways. But what exactly leads to the decision to invest in this particular form of marketing and visibility raising? How does an institution deal with these “stray cats” of the marketing world? And what is next in the world of influencer marketing?
In this podcast episode we speak with Kirstin Edgar, Communications & Content Coordinator for the Anglo-American University in Prague (Czech Republic), and Lucila Morales de Mittag, International Office Coordinator at Europa-Universitaet Flensburg (Germany). Both work at institutions that have built up considerable experience working with student influencers and join us to share their good practices and lessons learned. What advice do they have in terms of managing the messages that influencers put out there? How do you strike the right tone in the messaging? Listen to this last podcast episode of 2022 to find out more!
About Kirstin Edgar
Originally from Glasgow, Scotland, Kirstin studied at the University of Edinburgh and graduated with an MA in Chinese Studies in 2019. After moving to Prague, Czech Republic, Kirstin assumed a variety of roles before joining Anglo-American University as a copywriter in the Marketing Department. In her position, she primarily writes articles, and video scripts, and oversees content creation within the Marketing team for the main website and various social media channels.
About Lucila Morales de Mittag
Lucila Morales de Mittag is an International Coordinator and Intercultural Trainer with 19 years of experience working within the International Center of Europa-Universität Flensburg, Germany. Before moving to Europe, she spent 13 years in the US working in media communications and marketing.At Europa-Universität Flensburg, Lucila specializes in project management and concept development, student integration and support, and marketing for international and incoming students. She is responsible for helping international students of all backgrounds to integrate into the university culture.
Additional resourcesFor further insights into the topics touched on in this episode, the following resources may be of interest:
→ Education Marketer
→ Branding and bonding: the key to competing in the digital age
→ The metaverse: the next frontier of marketing and recruitment
Who doesn’t like the movies, and don’t we all spend time every day pouring over media of different sorts? The world of film and media studies plays a key role in producing the professionals who make these resources and cultural artifacts possible – and it turns out there’s a European University alliance focused specifically on these fields: FILMEU. So, what’s driving film and media studies in Europe today? What are the strengths and challenges currently facing these fields? And how does a highly specialised European University alliance like FILMEU position itself in the complex, dynamic and competitive field of higher education in Europe?
Our guest in this podcast episode is Manuel José Damásio, professor at Lusófona University in Lisbon, Portugal where he leads the Film and Media Arts Department and serves as Coordinator of FILMEU. He is also chair of the European Association of Film and Media Schools (GEECT). Manuel José provides us with the perfect lens through which to explore this culturally significant and quite internationalised field within the European higher education sector.
About Manuel José DamásioManuel José Damásio is a Professor at Lusófona University in Lisbon, Portugal where he leads the Film and Media Arts Department (DCAM) in addition to sitting on the management board of CICANT, the Centre for Research in Applied Communication, Arts and Information Technologies. He is also the Coordinator for FilmEU – The European University of Film and Media Arts. Manuel José Damásio holds a PhD in Communication and Multimedia Systems from Universidade Nova de Lisboa. He has worked extensively both in industry and academia as a trainer, consultant and producer in the audiovisual industry at European and international levels for more than twenty years. He also has experience as head researcher and project manager in several national and European research projects, along with being the author of more than 80 papers and chapters in international peer reviewed journals and publications.
Additional resources
For further insights into the topics touched on in this episode, the following resources may be of interest:
→ FILMEU website
→ FILMEU YouTube channel
→ European Universities: balancing excellence, exclusiveness and inclusion
→ 2022 Summer Forum - Collaborative Europe
A lot has been happening in Europe within the field of research and innovation policy. Horizon Europe, European Universities alliances and science diplomacy are just a few of the programmes and topics that continue to grab the attention of the higher education sector. But how can we best describe the current state of the European research and innovation field? Which important developments should we be aware of and what does the future hold?
In the latest episode of the EAIE podcast, we sat down with Florin Zubascu to ask him some of these questions. Florin is Executive Editor at Science|Business, leading their news coverage on research and innovation policy in Europe. With the help of his expertise, we take a closer look at the opportunities and challenges within the European research and innovation field at this moment in time.
About Florin ZubascuFlorin is Executive Editor at Science|Business, leading news coverage on research and innovation policy in Europe. Specifically, he covers EU R&D policy, the Horizon Europe programme, Europe’s ‘innovation divide’ and R&D policy reforms in central and eastern Europe. He has managed the Science|Business newsletters since 2014 and, in 2017, he helped implement a complete redesign of www.sciencebusiness.net. Previously, Florin worked as a political science researcher and web producer for various organisations and think tanks in Romania and Hungary. He holds degrees in political science from Central European University in Budapest and Babeș-Bolyai University in Cluj-Napoca.
Further readingFor further insights into the topics touched on in this episode, the following resources may be of interest:
→ Science|Business
→ Collaborating with African universities through European University alliances
→ Didi Griffioen: Teaching and research – a balancing act
Students are often encouraged these days to think more seriously about entrepreneurship. Entrepreneurship advances innovation, results in job creation for others and helps students engage creatively beyond their specific fields of study to meet new needs and solve persistent problems. Higher education generally – and international education, specifically – has a role to play in fostering entrepreneurship, but how exactly do we encourage young people in Europe to engage in entrepreneurial activities and what are the challenges and opportunities that complicate and enrich this work?
In this latest podcast episode, we talked to Fabrizio Bitetto, Chief Executive Officer of the garagErasmus Foundation and a former Erasmus student and young entrepreneur. garagErasmus is the professional network of the Erasmus Generation that aims to support the shaping of a better-integrated, and of course more entrepreneurial, Europe. Their mission is to improve the lives of people who have international study or work experiences by enabling them to access opportunities that can make their careers more impactful within and for Europe.
About Fabrizio Bitetto
Fabrizio Bitetto has been Chief Executive Officer of the garagErasmus Foundation since August 2017. A former Erasmus Student in 2008, he went on to earn a Master's degree in Urban Planning and Policy Design at the Polytechnic University in Milan in 2013. While still a university student, Fabrizio began to undertake some entrepreneurial activities and decided to continue his Erasmus experience by supporting Erasmus students, first at the Polytechnic University in Milan and then as President of Erasmus Student Network Italy. During his term as ESN Italy National President, he coordinated the participation of ESN in EXPO 2015 as Civil Society participants and promoted the approval of a national law to grant Italian Erasmus students abroad the right to vote remotely. He started his adventure with garagErasmus Foundation in 2016.
Further readingFor further insights into the topics touched on in this episode, the following resources may be of interest:
→ garagErasmus
→ Erasmus Skills: unpacking the employability benefits of mobility
→ Education abroad and the student employability gap
→ The employability dimension in joint programmes
→ EAIE 2020 Summer Forum: Employability for the 21st century
The ‘COVID era’ has had a significant and challenging impact, particularly on young people’s mental health and wellbeing. The 2022 International Student Barometer (ISB) found that more than one-third of international students responding to that survey were feeling stressed, yet only 1 in 6 students reported turning to the counselling services at their institution. With wellbeing now an issue of critical concern in higher education, the need to address these challenges and adopt effective support strategies is acute. But how do we ensure staff are well equipped to respond to student needs and take care of themselves?
For this week’s podcast episode, we talked to Stephanie Griffiths, former Associate Director for Counselling and Mental Health Support at King’s College London and an expert who has worked in the field of psychological counselling for over 30 years. During the pandemic, Stephanie provided input to various EAIE events and resources on student wellbeing and mental health and has proven to be a great source of knowledge on this topic.
About Stephanie Griffiths
Stephanie Griffiths is an intercultural consultant/trainer at her own intercultural consultancy for higher education institutions. She recently retired from the position of Associate Director for Counselling and Mental Health Support at King’s College London, after having worked in the field of psychological counselling for over 30 years. Stephanie has developed several outreach and training programmes to enable home and international students, academics and frontline administrative staff to respond constructively to the psychological pressures they may encounter, particularly post-pandemic. She recently received the 2022 EAIE Award for Outstanding Contribution in recognition of her important work in the field of international education focused on ensuring that the students and staff within our institutions can thrive.
Further exploration
For further insights into the topics touched on in this episode, the following resources may be of interest:
→ Coronavirus: the consequences for mental health (Mind, 2021)
→ EAIE Pathways to Practice: Fostering positive coping and resilience among international students
→ The door is open… but are international students coming in?
→ Supporting international students in times of crisis and conflict
→ How to help students cope with mental health challenges
Europe's student population consists of a broad and diverse group of people. This is a group that many are interested in learning more about, but also a group that cannot be so easily defined, despite often simplified messages in the media about who exactly 'the European student' is and what they are interested in. So, how did this idea of a shared identity among European students come about? What is it that European students really want and need? And what role do expectations from society play in this?
To answer some of these questions, we turned to Rachel Brooks, Professor of Sociology and Associate Dean for Research and Innovation for the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences at the University of Surrey (UK). Dr. Brooks has recently done research precisely on the topic of the identities of students in Europe, exploring how Europe's 35 million students are understood in different European countries, and by different social actors. If you're keen to learn more about who Europe's students are, don't miss the latest episode of the EAIE Podcast!
About Rachel Brooks
Rachel Brooks currently works as Professor of Sociology and Associate Dean for Research and Innovation for the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences at the University of Surrey in the UK. She has previously held roles as Head of the Department of Sociology (2012-16) and Associate Dean for the Doctoral College (2017-19). She is also editor-in-chief of Sociology, an executive editor of the British Journal of Sociology of Education, co-editor of the 'Research into Higher Education' book series, a member of Governing Council of the Society for Research into Higher Education, and a member of Council of the ESRC (Economic and Social Research Council). She was also a member of the education sub-panel for REF (Research Excellence Framework) 2021.
For further explorationFor further insights into the topics touched on in this episode, the following resources may be of interest:
→Constructing the Higher Education Student: Perspectives from across Europe
→EAIE blog: Students as key collaborators
→EAIE blog: Understanding international student needs: ESN Survey results
→EAIE blog: Students on the frontlines: transnational student rights
After a successful EAIE conference in Barcelona last week, we’re now looking forward to the 33rd Annual EAIE Conference and Exhibition, taking place 26-29 September 2023 in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. The conference theme, ‘Connecting currents’, celebrates the maritime history of Rotterdam and embodies the importance of water to the city, providing economic opportunities as well as existential threats. Rotterdam is the gateway to Europe, a place where river meets sea, ships reach the shore and people from all walks of life come together.
In this episode of the EAIE Podcast, we talk with long-time EAIE member Nannette Ripmeester who has lived in the city of Rotterdam for almost 20 years and can help us learn more about this interesting place. We explore how someone born and raised in Amsterdam ended up in the rival city of Rotterdam, what makes Rotterdam interesting in relation to the field of international education, and generally what makes the city so special. Tune in to the EAIE Podcast to find out more!
About Nannette RipmeesterNannette Ripmeester is the Director of Expertise in Labour Mobility (ELM), a consultancy firm specialised in international labour mobility, and Director of Client Services Europe at i-graduate – a leading benchmarking organisation responsible for the International Student Barometer (ISB). She is considered an expert on global mobility trends and graduate employment. Nannette holds an MA degree from the University of Amsterdam, and has previously worked at the European Commission, where she was responsible for setting up the EURES database on living and working conditions in the EU Member States.
For further explorationFor further insights into the topics touched on in this episode, the following resources may be of interest:
→ Rotterdam 2023: 33rd Annual EAIE Conference and Exhibition
→ EAIE announcements blog for all info on the 2023 conference
→ Get to know Rotterdam quiz
→ Nannette's guide to Rotterdam
Glossary of terms and places mentioned in this episode
Boijmans van Beuningen – Art museum in Rotterdam which was permanently closed in 2019. However, its storage facility (i.e. depot) has been open to the public since 2021 and attracts many visitors.
Kunsthal – Exposition space in Rotterdam, hosting different collections and exhibitions.
Het Nieuwe Instituut – The Netherlands’ national museum for architecture, design, and digital culture.
Delfshaven – Picturesque yacht marina that is one of the few parts of the old city that survived the 1940 bombardment of Rotterdam.
Witte de Withstraat – Street in Rotterdam known for its broad offer of bars and restaurants.
Kapsalon – A fast food dish created in Rotterdam, consisting of a layer of French fries placed into a disposable metal take-away tray, topped with döner or gyro meat, covered with slices of Gouda cheese, and heated in an oven until the cheese melts. Then a layer of shredded iceberg lettuce is added, dressed with garlic sauce and sambal.
The factors influencing international students’ choice of their destination country are various and complex. Affordability, quality of education, future opportunities, and quality of life go hand in hand with personal preferences such as interest in a specific culture, or existing personal ties.
So, what role does language play in the many pieces of this mosaic? This was the question guiding the research conducted by our guests in the latest episode of the EAIE Podcast.
Working from the premise that languages are more or less similar to each other, could “language proximity” influence student choices around international mobility experiences? And, if so, how influential is this consideration compared to other factors?
Join us as the EAIE Podcast explores the ins and outs of language proximity and student mobility with researchers Alyona Ovchinnikova and Christoph Van Mol.
About Alyona Ovchinnikova
Alyona Ovchinnikova is a PhD student at the Center for Higher Education Internationalisation (CHEI) at the Catholic University in Milan. Her doctoral research, under the supervision of Elspeth Jones and Christof Van Mol, seeks to understand the role of languages in the decision-making process and destination choices of international students. Alyona has been serving as Director of the International Affairs Office at the New Economic School (NES) in Moscow since 2015. She is also a member of the NES Department of Foreign Languages and Humanities and an international project coordinator at the Center for the Study of Diversity and Social Interactions.
About Christoph Van Mol
Christof van Mol is Assistant Professor at the Department of Sociology at Tilburg University, the Netherlands and leads the ENIS network (enisnetwork.com, funded by the COST Association), which brings together scholars and practitioners working on international student mobility. He extensively published on different aspects of international student mobility in leading journals in different disciplines, such as Geoforum, Higher Education, the Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies, the Journal of Studies in International Education, Population, Space and Place and Studies in Higher Education. His work received several academic awards, including the 2016 Best Book Prize in Sociology of Migration of the International Sociological Association, the 2020 ASHE CIHE Award for Significant Research on International Higher Education, and the 2021 SIG International Students Best Article Award of the Comparative and International Education Society.
For further explorationFor further insights into the topics touched on in this episode, the following resources may be of interest:
→ The role of language proximity in shaping international student mobility flows
→ Bessie Dendrinos: Multilingualism matters
→ Balancing local mother tongues with international languages
In February of this year, the African Union and the European Union launched their joint AU-EU Innovation Agenda to strengthen collaboration in scientific and technological research and innovation. Africa’s R&I sector is growing fast, with start-ups and technology hubs growing in numbers across the continent. A strong driver of economic development, innovation has tremendous transformative potential.
But what will it take to support and grow the innovation movement to make the most of its untapped potential? What are the challenges? And how can Europe and Africa work together in this area? In the newest episode of the EAIE Podcast, we sat down with Ajibola Odukoya to ask him these and other questions. Ajibola is the Chief Operations Officer of Afrilabs, Africa’s largest community of technology hubs, innovators, and entrepreneurs. Through his expertise, we take a tour of Africa’s innovation ecosystem.
About Ajibola OdukoyaA graduate of Cranfield School of Management and Manchester Metropolitan University in the UK, Ajibola Odukoya is today Chief Operating Officer of AfriLabs. In addition to founding several business enterprises, he has served as a Global Jury member for the United Nations Capital Development Fund’s (UNCDF) Agritech Challenge 2021 and held several leadership roles in national-level agencies and initiatives in Nigeria focused on e-government and e-authentication. A past winner of the UK National Apprentice Challenge, he is a member of the ID4Africa movement and a thought leader in National Identification and Authentication in Africa.
For further explorationFor further insights into the topics touched on in this episode, the following resources may be of interest:
→ AfriLabs
→ AfriLabs Ecosystem Report 1: Building a Conducive Setting for Innovators to Thrive (2019)
→AfriLabs Ecosystem Report 2: Bolstering Innovators in Africa (2021)
→ EAIE Podcast: Africa’s internationalisation agendas
Commissioner Mariya Gabriel has said that, with the new Erasmus+ programme 2022-2027, “Paper officially belongs to the past”. Indeed, higher education administrators across Europe are actively working to achieve this goal, coming together to establish the infrastructure and processes that can enable the flawless exchange of student data.
So what exactly is going on right now to provide students and staff with an easier and more efficient experience of the administrative component of Erasmus+ mobility? In this episode of the EAIE podcast, we sit in conversation with a veteran of Erasmus+ digitalisation, Nikos Liolios of Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. Join us as we hear from him what novelties we can expect in the future, what challenges are yet to be overcome, and how to avoid feeling lost in this new world of digital bureaucracy.
About Nikos LioliosNikos Liolios is Erasmus+ Officer at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and Project Manager of the European Digital Student Service Infrastructure (EDSSI) project. He has over 10 years of experience in the fields of student and staff mobility, cooperation partnerships and management of European projects. Nikos holds a BA in International and European, Economic and Political Studies and an MA in International Relations from the University of Macedonia, Greece.
Additional resources
For further insights into the topics touched on in this episode, the following resources may be of interest:
→ European Digital Student Service Infrastructure (EDSSI)
→ European Student Card Initiative (ESCI) knowledge base
→ EAIE Podcast: International students’ digital experiences
It's that time of the year again when recent graduates begin to make the transition from education to the world of work. For some of them, a fulfilling, successful career in international education is about to take off. All international education professionals have a story to recount about how it all started for them: perhaps an experience abroad, a meaningful encounter, or the recommendation of a supervisor.
But taking a step back from personal experience, what routes into international education are most typically available to graduates and young professionals? And what skills and competences are most in demand? How can they be acquired? We have asked these and other questions to two experts with decades of experience in international education: Alejandra Vicencio, Head of International Mobility at Northumbria University, and Professor Frank Ziegele, Executive director of the Centre for Higher Education and Professor for higher education and research management at the University of Applied Sciences Osnabrück. If you’re keen to find out more about how newcomers to our field can step into that first job in international education, don’t miss the latest episode of the EAIE Podcast!
About Alejandra Vicencio
Alejandra Vicencio is Head of International Mobility at Northumbria University. She has more than 20 years of experience in international education, having previously served as International Partnerships Manager at Northumbria, and Country Development Manager at Anglia Ruskin University. In 2008, she founded a Spanish immersion school in Santiago, Chile. In her current role, she manages all aspects of international mobility programmes for students and staff, funding and partner relations.
About Frank ZiegeleProfessor Frank Ziegele is executive director of the Centre for Higher Education (CHE), and Professor for Higher Education and Research Management at the University of Applied Sciences Osnabrück. Among his several contributions to higher education, he is responsible for large-scale research projects such as the European U-Multirank project, as well as for master and vocational training programs for higher education management such as MariHE. He holds a Master’s degree in Economics and Business Studies from University Hohenheim and a Ph.D. from Ruhr-University Bochum.
For further explorationFor further insights into the topics touched on in this episode, the following resources may be of interest:→The EAIE Mentorship programme: beyond networking
→ 5 steps to success with the EAIE Mentorship programme
→ Master in Research and Innovation in Higher Education (MaRIHE)
Amidst the devastating loss of life and physical destruction of Ukraine brought about by the Russian invasion, it’s easy to lose sight of the country’s less tangible assets, ie its multifaceted cultural heritage and deep literary tradition.
Indeed, most Europeans, to whom the media coverage of the recent events has made Ukraine’s geography a familiar subject, know very little of its history and culture. To guide us through this multilayered story of languages, religions, politics and culture, this episode features the voice and expertise of Ukrainian literature expert Dr. Uilleam Blacker.
About Uilleam BlackerDr Uilleam Blacker is Associate Professor in Comparative East European Culture at University College London. He is an expert in Ukrainian literature and culture, and has also worked on Poland and Russia. His research interests are numerous: most recently, he has investigated how the massacres and deportations of World War II are remembered across Ukrainian cities, and how the war in Donbas is being represented in Ukraine (and beyond).
For further explorationFor further insights into the topics touched on in this episode, the following resources may be of interest:→What Ukrainian Literature Has Always Understood About Russia
→ Ukrainian Tales
→ EAIE Ukraine resource page
44. Francesc Pedró: Insights from UNESCO
The United Nations Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development has set a clear target for education: “ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all” (SDG Goal 4). To achieve this objective, work at UNESCO – the UN agency responsible for education – is going on tirelessly.
On 18-20 May, higher education experts and leaders gathered at the UNESCO World higher Education Conference in Barcelona to collectively reflect on the right course of action to ensure tertiary education meets its 2030 deadline. To find out what was discussed at the conference, the EAIE chatted with Francesc Pedró, the Director of UNESCO IESALC, to learn more about how global higher education is expected to change in order to achieve SDG Goal 4, what strategies and action plans are being considered to attain this extraordinary goal and why it is important that all voices are heard.
About Francesc Pedró
Francesc Pedró is the Director of the UNESCO Institute for Higher Education in Latin America and the Caribbean (IESALC), the sole specialised institute of the United Nations system with the mission to contribute to the improvement of higher education in member States. Prior to taking up his role in 2019, Francesc led UNESCO’s education policy team in Paris, where he worked on ensuring member states’ education policies aligned with SDG 4-Education 2030. Prior to UNESCO, he was Senior Policy Analyst at the OECD Centre for Educational Research and Innovation (CERI), Professor of comparative education and public policies at Pompeu Fabra University, and Pro-Vice-Chancellor of Educational Research and Innovation at the Open University of Catalonia.
For further exploration
→ UNESCO World Higher Education Conference
→ Futures of Higher Education
→ Futures of Higher Education
Over the last two years, the extent to which our students rely on digital tools for almost every single aspect of their studies, life and activities, has become all too apparent to us. To two people down under, it didn’t come as a surprise.
Based in Melbourne, Australia, Professors Shanton Chang and Catherine Gomes investigate the digital experiences of international students, and what universities are doing and can do to create and maintain accessible and equitable digital environments. Now that we have been “pushed” into this overwhelmingly digital world, their expertise and insights can help identify areas of intervention to ensure better student experience, teaching, and learning. And it all started with two friends having coffee.
About Shanton ChangShanton Chang is a Professor in the School of Computing and Information Systems at the University of Melbourne, where he is also Associate Dean (International) at the Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology. His area of research is human information behaviour, and the use of information by organisations and businesses in the health and business domains and in the public arena.
About Catherine GomesCatherine Gomes is Associate Professor and Deputy HDR (Higher Degree by Research) Coordinator in the School of Media and Communication at RMIT University. Her research investigates the evolving nexus between migration, mobility and digital media, with a special focus on transient migrants, especially international students. Her latest book is Parallel Societies of International Students in Australia: Connections, Disconnections, and a Global Pandemic.
Further Exploration
→Journal of Studies in International Education: Special Issue on “The Digitalization of International Education”
→Digital Journeys: A Perspective on Understanding the Digital Experiences of International Students
Will the start of a new academic year in Europe in autumn 2022 witness a post-pandemic bounce-back? Recent research and analysis by the EAIE, The Class Foundation and StudyPortals may give some indications.
This episode of the EAIE Podcast brings together The Class Foundation’s Programme Curator, Arunima Dey, and StudyPortals’ Deputy Director Analytics & Consulting Team, Carmen Neghina, to compare data, methodologies and findings, as we explore current trends in international student mobility in Europe and beyond.
About Arunuima Dey
Arunima Dey is a former academic of literature, who recently shifted gears to focus on youth education and development. She currently works as Programme Curator for The Class Foundation, which is dedicated to improving the state of student living, as well as transforming and future-proofing university cities in Europe. Within the student housing sector, Arunima is particularly interested in promoting sustainable practices, creating social value and fostering inclusive communities.
About Carmen Neghina
Carmen Neghina is a Deputy Director Analytics & Consulting Team at Studyportals, having previously served as its Head of Intelligence, and as Thought Leadership Manager. Her research interests cover international education, student mobility patterns, online study choice behaviour, international student satisfaction, and the growth of the pathway sector. Carmen has a PhD degree in services marketing from the Open University in the Netherlands, and a Master’s degree in Marketing and Business Administration from Radboud University.
Further explorationFor further insights into the topics touched on in this episode, the following resources may be of interest:
→EAIE Snapshot report on international admissions: 2022–2023 →5 Key Takeaways from The Class Foundation’s Spring 2022 Student Demand Survey
The fight for a sustainable future is a matter of generational equity. Although we are all experiencing the effects of climate change and environmental degradation, it is the younger generations who will bear the burden of the decisions made now and before their time. No wonder, then, that they want to play a key role in the struggle to set things right.
Students at higher education institutions across Europe have shown extraordinary capacity to coordinate and mobilise to take the lead on sustainability activities at their universities. In this episode of the EAIE Podcast, we speak with Femke Hermans, head of Students for Tomorrow, a Netherlands-based network of 14 student organisations promoting sustainability in higher education. Tune in to discover more about their initiatives, achievements, and ambitions for a greener future.
About Femke HermansFemke Hermans recently completed her bachelor’s degree in Future Planet Studies at the University of Amsterdam. In addition to working on her pre-master's in International Law, she has been the President of Studenten voor Morgen (Students for Tomorrow) for the past year. Within this role, she represents over 40 youth organisations in the Netherlands in debates around sustainability in higher education.
Additional resources
→ Green Office Model
→ SustainaBul
→ How do you make your future proof
In the EAIE’s recent 01 April 2022 Community Moment webcast, we had the opportunity to learn about how Ukrainian higher education institutions, their students and staff are being impacted by the Russian invasion at a general level. Today, we turn our attention to the specifics of how the war in Ukraine is being experienced by one student, who happened to be studying abroad when it all began.
Karina Bilokon is currently pursuing her bachelor’s degree in business in the Netherlands and is working to help Ukraine from afar by trying to make people in her host country and in Europe more broadly aware of what's happening in her country. One person can’t speak for an entire population, but Karina’s thoughtful, compassionate and optimistic voice offers an important perspective on how other young Ukrainians might be thinking about the future for themselves and their country.
About Karina BilokonKarina Bilokon is currently studying Business at Zuyd University of Applied Sciences. She is interested in fashion management and is also pursuing a parallel career as a model and actress. Since the war in Ukraine began, her life will never be the same. Every moment of free time is spent thinking about how she can help her home country and people.
Bilokon has been working hard to bring awareness of war by giving interviews to Dutch radio programmes, posting as much as possible across her social media accounts and contacting people that are still left in Ukraine. She is providing them with information about military operations around Ukraine and where to get help. Bilokon has now started to help refugees in the Netherlands. She has been meeting and welcoming them as they arrive, supporting with food and clothes, and providing emotional and mental support where possible. Her University helped her and other students build a fundraiser to collect money and materials for fleeing refugees and Ukrainians who are still in Ukraine, including the military.
Additional Resources
→ Supporting Ukraine: the EAIE’s next steps
→ Supporting international students in times of crisis and conflict
→ Standing in solidarity with Ukraine
Projected to become the most populous country in the world, and with more than 200 officially recognised languages, India is home to an extraordinarily large and diverse student population. Its size and variety make providing higher education a significant challenge, but a crucial issue to address in order to achieve further social and economic development.
How can internationalisation support the ambitions of Indian higher education institutions? And what lessons can we learn from both India's successes and the challenges the country faces? In this episode, we are in conversation with Pankaj Mittal, Secretary General of the Association of Indian Universities, to find out more.
About Pankaj Mittal
Dr Pankaj Mittal is Secretary General of the Association of Indian Universities (AIU). She previously served at the University Grants Commission of India (the country’s higher education regulatory body) for more than three decades, and as Vice-Chancellor of Bhagat Phool Singh Mahila Vishwavidyalaya, Khanpur, the first rural women’s university in North India. Pankaj is a Fulbright Scholar, and holds a PhD in Agricultural Statistics from the Indian Agricultural Research Institute.
Additional Resources
→ Study in India
→ The Association of Indian Universities’ Global Collaboration portal
→ SIU-AIU Annual Conference on Internationalisation of Higher Education
If there is one word that captures the essence of the Asia-Pacific region, that is “diversity.” Spanning multiple continents from one pole to the other, and connected by the largest ocean in the world, the region encompasses countless languages and cultures, as well as profoundly diverse demographics, levels of wealth, and different educational systems.
For international higher education, the challenge is how to leverage such variety so that cooperation and exchange can be enriched and flourish, rather than being hindered. Between the pandemic-induced closing of borders and various geopolitical rivalries, the challenges are real. Nonetheless, there is room for optimism and innovation, as we hear from Sara Todd, President of the Asia-Pacific Association for International Education (APAIE).
About Sarah Todd
Professor Sarah Todd is the current President of APAIE and Vice President (Global) at Griffith University. Prior to joining Griffith, she was the inaugural Pro Vice-Chancellor (International) at the University of Otago, and Professor of Marketing and Academic Dean at Otago's Business School. Professor Todd sits on the board of the International Education Association of Australia (IEAA), and serves as a member of the Association for Commonwealth Universities (ACU) International Steering Group.
Additional Resources
→ APAIE Conference 2022
→ A chat about China
→ Australia’s post-pandemic path
In honor of Zero Discrimination Day, 01 March, we take this opportune moment to reflect on the urgent and compelling issue of discrimination in international higher education. To help us further these important discussions, we’re joined in this episode by two professionals with deep expertise in this area. Malaika Marable Serrano is Vice-President for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at Guild Education, and Karol Vieker is Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Manager at the Stockholm School of Economics.
In line with the spirit of Zero Discrimination Day, aiming at stimulating conversations on “how people can become informed about, and promote inclusion, compassion, peace, and above all a movement for change”, Karol and Malaika show us how we can all take a stand against social injustice in all aspects of our roles in international higher education.
About Malaika Marable Serrano & Karol ViekerMalaika Marable Serrano is Vice-President for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at Guild Education. She has nearly 20 years of experience in leading diversity and inclusion initiatives in academic, non-profit and private sector spaces, having served, among other roles, as Vice-President for Diversity and Inclusion at WorldStrides, and Associate Director for Global Communities at the University of Maryland, College Park. Malaika holds a BA from the University of Southern California, and an MA from the University of Maryland. She is currently completing her PhD at the Centre for Higher Education Internationalisation of the Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, researching institutional barriers and unconscious biases in study abroad program design.
Karol Vieker is Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Manager at the Stockholm School of Economics. Originally a choral music educator, Karol has over 15 years experience of in diversity, equity and inclusion issues related to working life and the educational sector. She is passionate about DEI and human rights and has dedicated her working life to making the world a better place by striving to create open and inclusive environments where everyone is welcome. She strongly believes that this is best achieved through a norm-critical approach where the status quo and imbalances of power are exposed, reflected upon, and changed on both an individual and a structural level.
Further Reading→ Norm Criticism
→ How to question norms in your organization
→ Working at the crossroads of access, equity, and inclusion
On 21 February, UNESCO celebrates International Mother Language Day, part of a wider set of initiatives to promote the preservation and protection of all languages used by peoples of the world.
Language diversity is a signal of multiculturalism and makes the world colorful and richer. But now that globalisation and technological innovation have increased the volume and speed of communications, wouldn’t it be easier if we all spoke the same language? If so, is there a way for all of us to understand each other without giving up the incredible assortment of the world’s languages? And how can international education stimulate cross-cultural communication in ways that are respectful of multilingualism?
To reflect on these and other questions connected to plurilingualism, multilingualism and more, we’re joined in this episode by Bessie Dendrinos, Professor Emerita at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens and President of the European Civil Society Platform for Multilingualism. Tune in to the newest episode of the EAIE podcast for a conversation – alas, just in one language! – about the richness of linguistic diversity around the world that begs for our attention and support.
About Bessie DendrinosBessie Dendrinos is Professor Emerita of English Studies at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens and President of the European Civil Society Platform for Multilingualism. Her research interests include language politics in the European Union, foreign language pedagogy, curriculum materials development, testing and assessment.
Further Reading→ A quiz on languages (by the Living Tongues Institute for Endangered Languages)
→ European Civil Society Platform for Multilingualism
→ European Language Equality (ELE) Project
As the largest source of international students in the world, and among the three most popular study destinations, China is a powerhouse to be reckoned with on the international education global stage. To make sense of the many intersecting phenomena that are reshaping international higher education in China today – including student mobility, geopolitics and key research agendas – EAIE’s Laura Rumbley is joined by Dr Wen Wen of Tsinghua University.
Their conversation takes us on a quick journey across a country of 1,270 universities and more than 20 million students. Tune in to the latest episode of the EAIE podcast for a timely “chat about China".
About Wen WenDr Wen Wen is an Associate Professor in Higher Education at Tsinghua University’s Institute of Education, and Vice-Director of the University's Centre for Asian Studies. Her latest research examines higher education internationalisation, comparative and international higher education, and curricula in higher education. Dr. Wen has been Fulbright Scholar at Harvard University and a Visiting Scholar at the Center for International Higher Education at Boston College. She also serves as the associate editor of Studies in Higher Education.
Further readingFor further insights into the topics touched on in this episode, the following resources may be of interest:
→ International student recruitment in non-Anglophone countries (2022)
→ China-Global Relations: A Higher Education Cold War? (2021)
→ The Emergence of a Regional Education Hub: Rationales of International Students’ Choice of China as the Study Destination (2018)
Every year, university leaders around the world anxiously await the publication of the latest university rankings. Whether their institutions improved their performance and gained positions, will determine their success (or failure) as administrators.
In principle, the element of competition can be a powerful driver of improvement and innovation. And yet, there is hardly a more fiercely contested topic in international higher education than university rankings. Why? What are the problems and consequences (intended or not) of pitting universities against each other? Are there better ways? And – perhaps more fundamentally – why are rankings so hugely important, if everyone seems to be unhappy with them? To answer these and many other questions, we are joined in conversation today by Professor Ellen Hazelkorn, one of the leading experts on international higher education (not that we would dare to rank them!).
About Ellen Hazelkorn
Ellen is a Joint Managing Partner of BH Associates, Professor Emeritus at the Technological University Dublin, and Joint Editor of Policy Reviews in Higher Education. She has worked as higher education policy consultant and specialist with international organisations and governments, such as the European Commission, UNESCO and many more, for over 20 years. Ellen regularly undertakes strategic and research evaluations for European and national research/scientific councils and universities. She is a member of numerous boards and commissions and is internationally recognised for her writings and analysis of ranking and other forms of quality and transparency instruments within higher education. Additional biographical information on Ellen can be found here.
Further readingFor further insights into the topics touched on in this episode, the following resources may be of interest:
→ Research Handbook on University Rankings: Theory, Methodology, Influence and Impact
→ EAIE Podcast: Didi Griffioen: Teaching and research – a balancing act
→ January blog on rankings in University World News by Ellen Hazelkorn and Georgiana Mihut
Traditionally, major international student receiver countries like the US have enrolled international students by the tens of thousands. Many of these mobile students have opted to stay on in their host countries, contributing to national stocks of highly skilled professionals, driving innovation and sustaining economic growth. The general arc of this phenomenon, and its scale in numbers, has been well documented for decades. However, the stories of the individuals living through these experiences – what they have lost and gained through academic mobility and skilled migration and what this means to the societies in which they live and work – have been much less apparent.
In this episode, Rajika Bhandari, an international higher education expert and specialist on international student mobility as well as a former international student and skilled migrant to the United States, reflects with us on her experiences of living through these complex dynamics and what she has learned about the power and relevance of storytelling in our field today.
About Rajika BhandariRajika Bhandari is a scholar-practitioner in international higher education, expert on international student issues and global talent and skilled mobility. Through Rajika Bhandari Advisors, she offers strategic guidance to nonprofits, multilateral organizations, and higher education institutions globally. She previously led the Institute of International Education’s (IIE) research, evaluation and thought leadership portfolio, including the Open Doors Report on International Educational Exchange. Her new book, America Calling: A Foreign Student in a Country of Possibility was published earlier this year.
Further readingFor further insights into the topics touched on in this episode, the following resources may be of interest:
→ Rajika Bhandari’s website
→ Rewriting the narrative of the international student experience by Kara Golembeski
→ America Calling: The Legacy Of Barack Obama, Kamala Harris, And A Million Students by Rajika Bhandari
In order to realise their full potential, higher education and research should be in constant dialogue. Connecting curricula to research, can maintain its relevance amidst the rapid advancements of knowledge, and can educate students about the scientific method and critical thought.
While everyone agrees that education and research must co-exist, how to combine them is a tricky question. Synergies do not develop spontaneously with the simple co-existence of the two elements within the same institution. Clear goals, strategies, tasks and processes are necessary. Who should be responsible for these? How can university administrators contribute? Providing answers to these questions is even more relevant now, given the ambitions of the 41 European University Alliances to establish meaningful education and research partnerships.
In this new episode of the EAIE podcast, host Laura Rumbley is joined in conversation by Didi Griffioen, Professor and Head of Department of Higher Education, Research, and Innovation at the Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences.
About Didi GriffioenDidi Griffioen is Professor and Head of Department of Higher Education, Research, and Innovation at the Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences. She is a current Comenius Leadership Fellow of the Netherlands Initiative for Education Research (NRO), and is one of the 1000 international Principal Fellows of the British Higher Education Academy.
Her research focuses on the connections between education, teaching and professional practice at all levels. She is the former Chair of the higher education special interest group of the Netherlands Educational Research Association (VOR-HO), and a former member of the governing council of the British Society for Research into Higher Education (SRHE).
Further readingFor further insights into the topics touched on in this episode, the following resources may be of interest:
→ U!REKA Alliance
→ Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the European Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions on achieving the European Education Area by 2025 – European Commission
→ Griffioen, D. M. E., Groen, A., & Nak, J. (2019). The Integration of Research in the Higher Education Curriculum: A Systematic Review. The Higher Education Journal of Learning and Teaching, 10-1, (2019).
→ Griffioen, D. M. E. (2018). Building Research Capacity in New Universities during Times of Academic Drift: Lecturers Professional Profiles. Higher Education Policy, 33, 347–366, (2020).
When it comes to student mobility, train travel doesn’t seem to be very popular. According to a 2020 survey by the Erasmus Student Network, three out of four Erasmus students are still flying to their exchange location.
Transport accounts for almost one quarter of Europe's greenhouse gas emissions. In order to reduce this worrying amount, the European Commission is promoting initiatives to encourage the use of rail instead of more polluting modes of transport like air and road travel, and has declared 2021 to be the European Year of Rail.
Could trains be the key to ‘green’ student mobility? What can be done to motivate students to travel sustainably? Is the new Erasmus+ programme going in the right direction?
As world leaders gather in Glasgow for the UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26), we hear the voices of European students who are advancing concrete proposals to make European students travel sustainable. In the new episode of the EAIE podcast series, we are joined by Tatjana Söding of the Erasmus by Train initiative to discuss what the future holds for the way students travel.
About Tatjana SödingTatjana Söding is a member of the Erasmus by Train initiative, where she works in the public outreach team. She is currently completing a Master's in Human Ecology at Lund University.
Further readingFor further insights into the topics touched on in this episode, the following resources may be of interest:
→ Erasmus by Train
→ EAIE Podcast “Catherine Comiskey: Imagining sustainability, institutionalising change”
→ Taking action towards ecosystem restoration
→ Forum Magazine Spring 2022 Issue “Our changing climate” - Call for Paper
As the Canadian Bureau for International Education (CBIE) prepares for its annual conference in November, we sit down with its Chief Executive Officer, Larissa Bezo, to catch up on how Canada’s international higher education has emerged from the COVID-19 pandemic and is gearing up to navigate the complex dynamics of today’s international scenario.
Drawing on her 15-year long experience in the international development and education sector, Larissa reminds us that by being true to its values and mission, and nurturing its community, international higher education can take on any challenge and turn it into a meaningful opportunity.
For further insights into the topics touched on in this episode, the following resources may be of interest:
- Canadian Bureau for International Education: https://cbie.ca/
- Canada’s International Education Strategy 2019 – 2024: https://www.international.gc.ca/education/assets/pdfs/ies-sei/Building-on-Success-International-Education-Strategy-2019-2024.pdf
- EduCanada: https://www.educanada.ca/index.aspx?lang=eng
No university is an island. Every higher education institution sits within a dense network of local actors, such as public administrations, industry, media, cultural institutions, NGOs and civil society. To each of them, universities have a lot to offer – support, knowledge, expertise, and even inspiration – to help them create sustainable, equitable and inclusive economies and democracies. Proactively engaging and serving the local community, universities can be drivers of positive societal change.
In the new episode of the EAIE podcast series, we are joined in conversation by Bojana Ćulum Ilić, Associate Professor at the University of Rijeka. In our conversation, Prof Ilić shares her insights on how to embed community engagement in education and research, how staff and students can contribute, what benefits universities can receive from becoming engaged, and much more.
For further insights into the topics touched on in this episode, the following resources may be of interest:
→ Share your service learning experience in response to COVID-19 (European Observatory of Service-Learning in Higher Education)
→ Towards a European Framework for Community Engagement in Higher Education (TEFCE)
→ Latin American Center for Service-Learning (CLAYSS)
→Croatia: leading community engagement efforts at EU level (EAIE blog)
A summer of scorching fires and devastating floods has made it all too apparent that immediate action must be taken against climate change. However we envision the transition to lower carbon emissions, it will take no less than a revolution of the global economy – including the higher education sector – to achieve this goal.
Under the aegis of the European Universities Initiative, the CHARM-EU alliance has emerged as one example of how to institutionalise and coordinate our shared climate ambitions across countries and curricula. Catherine Comiskey, Academic Director of the CHARM-EU Master’s Degree in Sustainability, joins this episode of the EAIE podcast to discuss the alliance’s aspiration to “reconcile humanity with the planet,” exploring some of the possible approaches to teaching sustainability and advancing the sustainability agenda.
For further insights into the topics touched on in this episode, the following resources may be of interest:
→ About CHARM-EU
→ CHARM-EU Master's in Global Challenges for Sustainability
→ Universities and the global sustainability agenda: a view from Bologna (EAIE blog)
→ Taking action towards ecosystem restoration (EAIE blog)
Mobility is a key feature of higher education in Lebanon. Its universities have traditionally been extremely popular among international students from all over the MENA (Middle East and North Africa) region and Asia, whilst every year Lebanese youths flock to Europe and North America to participate in exchange programmes or pursue full degrees. Lebanon also caters to many students who belong to the large community of refugees currently hosted in the country. However, Lebanon has recently faced a series of challenges that not only complicate daily life but also present real difficulties in the execution of internationalisation activities.
In this episode of the EAIE podcast, Hala Dimechkie, Director of the Office of International Programs at The American University of Beirut (AUB), helps us better understand the unique set of issues currently facing Lebanon. Hala offers a number of insights into how her own university and other Lebanese higher education institutions are continuing to serve their local and international students and staff, administer key programmes, and plan for the future, despite the uncertainties and challenges of the moment.
For further insights into the topics touched on in this episode, the following resources may be of interest:
→ Office of International Programs (American University of Beirut)
→ 'Never waste a good crisis' in 2021 Spring Forum (Hala Dimechkie)
→ Bolder, braver internationalisation in the Southern Mediterranean (EAIE blog)
In order to drive societal change, higher education institutions must first address internally those same problems they want to solve in the outside world. In order to enable all individuals to realise their full potential regardless of their physical, racial, and socio-economic backgrounds, universities must first of all ensure that all students can thrive.
Despite the progress made, access and inclusion still have a long way to go. In the latest episode of the EAIE podcast, we are joined in conversation by John Delap, Diversity and Inclusion Project Analyst at Princeton University, to discuss how higher education institutions can identify and remedy existing biases and inequalities.
For further insights into the topics touched on in this episode, the following resources may be of interest:
→ Learning from Flanders’ inclusive mobility roadmap (EAIE blog)
→ National Plan for Equity of Access to Higher Education 2015–2021 (Irish government)
→ 'Moving up without losing your way' by Professor Jennifer Morton (Inside Higher Ed)
As students prepare to return to their dormitories and apartments for the beginning of the new academic year, we examine the long and sometimes complex processes they have to follow to secure lodgings suitable to their needs and expectations.
Reckoning with budgets and priorities, coming to grips with university bureaucracies and navigating intricate housing markets can present serious challenges, and even more so for international students. What are the best available options to find accommodation? How are institutions supporting international students? How has the pandemic changed the picture? Join us for this episode of the EAIE podcast as we ask all these questions and many more to our new podcast guest, Tibor Ágotai, the international coordinator of dormitories at Eötvös Loránd University in Budapest.
Over the past few years, over 41 alliances of European Universities have been established under the European Universities Initiative, the ambition of which is to create and amplify opportunities for physical, virtual and blended mobility, as well as to share curricula and award joint degrees. Although proposals are ultimately approved by the European Commission, all decisions, planning and preparation are made by the alliances themselves, with no strict directives coming from the top.
Students are the ultimate beneficiaries of the Initiative. It is only natural, then, that they should be involved in the decision-making processes. Indeed, student representatives have been involved in the governance structure of most alliances, in different forms and with varying degrees of autonomy and power. What are the most successful models? And how are they spreading a feeling of belonging and commitment across the whole student population? We are joined today by Alexander Clark, President of the Student Board of the Una Europa alliance, to hear his insights from participating in the governance of that alliance and his thoughts on how we can develop university alliances that are truly for the students and by the students.
The 2020 Summer Olympic Games recently kicked off exactly 364 days after their originally scheduled start in Tokyo, but most other international sporting events continue to face severe restrictions. According to Matjaž Pečovnik, the importance of sport in society is being demonstrated now more than ever in the midst of the pandemic. In this episode of the EAIE podcast, we sit down with the President of the European University Sports Association (EUSA), the umbrella continental organisation for sport in higher education, to discuss the role of sports in fostering friendship, goodwill and understanding across national borders and across cultures.
Sports have an innate power to connect, and international sport seeks to foster many of the same outcomes as international education. For more than two decades, the European University Sports Association (EUSA) has been creating opportunities for connection and friendly competition for thousands of student athletes across Europe – but due to COVID-19, 2021 is the second year in which it will not host any international sport events for students. Join us in our conversation with Matjaž Pečovnik as we explore the challenges faced by student athletes and the delicate balance between safety and maintaining strong international bonds.
For further insights into the topics touched on in this episode, the following resources may be of interest:
→ European University Sports Association (EUSA)
→ European University Sports Association Year Magazine
→ European University Sports Association Books
When lockdowns and restrictions to movement were introduced across Europe and around the world in March 2020, it was hard to imagine how universities would manage these unprecedented circumstances. Some eighteen months later, we’re still juggling shifting conditions, but much has been done by our higher education institutions in an effort to rise to the challenges imposed by the pandemic.
A major study produced earlier this year examines how successful these attempts have been. Based on a wealth of evidence and data, the research examines the trends currently taking shape, predicts their potential development over the next few years, and makes recommendations as to how to seize such a unique “opportunity to radically rethink how higher education functions”. To help us navigate the report, we are joined today by one of its authors, Thomas Farnell, Higher Education Expert at the Institute for the Development of Education.
For further insights into the topics touched on in this episode, the following resources may be of interest:
→ The impact of COVID-19 on higher education: a review of emerging evidence (NESET Analytical report)
→ Coping with COVID-19: International higher education in Europe (EAIE report)
→ A year of COVID-19: Resources and emerging practices (EAIE blog)
Australia has a unique global profile in the world of international education, featuring strong connections across Asia and the Indo-Pacific region and a notably robust international student community. Yet, Australia’s borders have been shut for more than a year now due to the COVID-19 pandemic, leaving international students in limbo and presenting Australian higher education institutions with unprecedented challenges.
As this complex situation continues to evolve, one thing is already clear: whatever its outcome, this crisis is going to shape the future of Australian higher education for some time to come. To bring us up to speed on these developments and help us understand what lies ahead, we are joined in conversation by Phil Honeywood, Chief Executive Officer of the International Education Association of Australia (IEAA).
For further insights into the topics touched on in this episode, the following resources may be of interest:
→ International Education Association of Australia (IEAA)
Every June, Pride Month celebrates the visibility, self-worth and dignity of the LGBTQI community across the world. Europe has come a long way toward becoming a place “where you can be who you are and love who you want – without fear of recrimination or discrimination” (State of the Union Address 2020 by President von der Leyen). And yet much work remains. Legal protections are incomplete, discrimination and bullying are still all-too-common, and people’s opinions about LGBTQI rights show disturbing discrepancies across European countries (Eurobarometer 2019).
In this episode, IGLYO Policy and Research Manager Rubén Ávila Rodríguez shares insights into the experiences of LGBTQI students in today’s Europe, and offers suggestions for what higher education institutions can do to help ensure that this community thrives.
- Our gendered world (EAIE Forum)
- Equal rights and equal opportunities: inclusive internationalisation of higher education and the future of the Rainbow community (EAIE Conference Conversation Starter 2019, pp 29-32)
- Don't look away: no place for exclusion of LGBTQI students: (UNESCO and IGLYO)
- Guidelines for Inclusive Education (IGLYO and OBESSU)
- LGBTQI Inclusive Education Report (IGLYO)
- LGBTQI Inclusive Education Index (IGLYO)
The displacement of people as a consequence of war and persecution has sadly become a regular fixture in the daily news, making us accustomed to such humanitarian crises and perhaps less alert to the urgency of immediate response.
For international higher education professionals, taking action means facilitating refugees’ access to higher education. Despite the tremendous efforts made in the past decade, the numbers show that only a small percentage of refugees find their way into higher education. To discuss what is being done to remedy this, and why this work is crucial for the success and wealth of our own societies, we are joined by Dr Bernhard Streitwieser of George Washington University, a keen observer on refugees’ inclusion in higher education in an international perspective.
→ World Refugee Day
→ Inclusion via education: integrating refugees in German society (EAIE blog)
→ Qualifications Passport: a global recognition for refugees (EAIE blog)
→ A university mobilised in the refugee crisis (EAIE blog)
→ UNHCR 15by30 target
→ Easier Said than Done – Still, Germany and the U.S. Need to Break the Cycle on Migration (American Institute for Contemporary German Studies)
Just imagine an educational system that is student-centred, flexible, virtual, quality assured, and that increases the employability of students and adult learners alike. This is what micro-credentials promise to be, and what policymakers are pushing for.
Although micro-credentials have been around for some time now, their large-scale adoption is still in an early phase. At least on paper, their disruptive potential is enormous. In many respects, the thrilling mix of excitement and uncertainty surrounding micro-credentials is similar to that experienced by the higher education community when MOOCs came about one decade ago.
Will micro-credentials live up to the expectations? How will higher education be transformed, and how will institutions adapt? Only someone at the forefront of the policy debate can attempt such an exercise in foresight. In our latest podcast episode, we are joined by precisely such a person. Tune in and listen to our conversation with Maria Kelo, Director of the European Association for Quality Assurance in Higher Education, in this episode of the podcast.
For further insights into the topics touched on in this episode, the following resources may be of interest:
→ Microcredentials.eu: contains key outputs from the recently completed MicroHE project and ongoing MICROBOL project.
→ A European approach to micro-credentials (European Commission)
→ Micro-credentials and the role of external quality assurance (ENQA webinar)
→ Employability for the 21st century (EAIE Forum)
This year’s World Press Freedom Day (03 May) marked the 30th anniversary of the UNESCO Declaration for the Development of a Free, Independent and Pluralistic Press. As our guest Sinead O’Gorman reminds us, freedom of expression is intertwined with freedom of movement.
Over the past 20 years, Scholars at Risk has worked at the intersection of these two fundamental rights, steering scholars who have been forced to leave their countries towards safe havens for their research and their personal safety. As Sinead puts it, “the job of the scholar is to write and say things that others might not want to hear”. In our conversation, she sheds a light on how Scholars at Risk is fighting for academic and personal freedom.
For further insights into the topics touched on in this episode, the following resources may be of interest:
→ All hands on deck: delivering academic freedom for Europe (EUA Expert Voices)
→ Dangerous questions: Why not keep quiet? (EAIE blog)
→ Dangerous Questions: Why Academic Freedom Matters (Online course from Scholars at Risk)
→ Free to Think 2020 (Scholars at Risk)
→ Academic Freedom Index
→ Pathways to practice: Welcoming scholars at risk (EAIE members only)
With Earth Day just around the corner, the climate and environmental crises have never been more relevant to the global political agenda and public debate. Collective mobilisation has acquired an unprecedented sense of urgency, as the scientific community warns us that only an adequate and immediate response can avert cataclysm.
However, this is by no means the only challenge that mankind has to overcome, as reflected by the 17 Sustainable Development Goals: eradication of poverty and hunger, peace, access to resources, health services, and education are other crucial items in the list. With the stakes increasingly higher, the new generation of business leaders are being called upon to step up their game. How is international business education equipping future leaders with the necessary skills and perspectives, and what impact are they having on the sector? Join us in conversation with Professor Mette Morsing, Head of the Principles for Responsible Management Education (PRME) initiative at the UN Global Compact, as we discuss this and more in this week's podcast.
For further insights into the topics touched on in this episode, the following resources may be of interest:
→ United Nations SDGs
→ Principles for Responsible Management Education
→ A. Rasche, M. Morsing & J. Moon, Corporate Social Responsibility. Strategy, Communication and Governance, London 2017.
→ Streamlining sustainability within the university (EAIE blog)
→ Linking hands in pursuit of the SDGs (EAIE blog)
→ The SDGs: our new north star (EAIE blog)
The past few months have been rich in extraordinary events for the USA. A global pandemic, nation-wide protests calling for racial justice, and one of the most divisive presidential campaigns in the country's history conjured up a perfect storm from which the USA is slowly re-emerging. Indeed, the challenges faced by American higher education institutions have been no less complex, with the looming threat of tightening immigration laws and growing suspicion towards China hampering their capacity to attract top international talent.
Thus, when the American Council on Education convened online in March 2021 for its annual meeting, the landscape had drastically changed. In this episode of the EAIE podcast, we welcomed Robin Matross Helms to discuss how American higher education institutions have grown and evolved over the past year, as well as how these changes will reverberate in European institutions and the wider field of international education.
For further insights into the topics touched on in this episode, the following resources may be of interest:
→ Toward Greater Inclusion and Success: A New Compact for International Students (ACE, 2021)
→ America on our minds (EAIE blog)
It’s March 2021 and Spring is in the air in Europe. So, what does this season of new growth and new potential mean to those of us working in international higher education? As governments all over the world work to roll out vaccination programmes that will hopefully take us all out of lockdown, this may be a key moment to step back from the frontline of crisis management and consider a measured approach to the work that lies ahead.
For former EAIE president and international higher education educator and consultant Fiona Hunter, the metaphor of the garden and its cultivation always offers an apt perspective from which to consider institutional development. As we emerge now from a season of ‘hibernation’, this metaphor may make even more sense for many of us today.
In this episode of our podcast series, we explore some of Fiona’s perspectives on the fundamentals of institutional development, many of which align with the skills and virtues that a gardener brings to their craft. Of course, like the gardener, we are subject to some variables that are simply beyond our control. Ultimately, however, our commitment to certain principles can allow us to ensure that international higher education is well-positioned to ride out any crisis.
For further insights into the topics touched on in this episode, the following resources may be of interest:
- Fiona Hunter's website
- → Transforming Internationalization Through Partnerships (Susan Buck Sutton)
- F. Hunter & N. Sparnon, An Illustrated Guide to Managing Institutions of Higher Education, Leiden 2021
On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization declared the COVID-19 emergency a pandemic. Reaching the one-year milestone on this global health crisis in 2021 offers a salient moment to reflect on how health educators have undertaken the challenges of educating the next generation of medical professionals under difficult circumstances and how this worldwide phenomenon has affected them both personally and professionally.
For healthcare professionals and health educators around the world, the COVID-19 pandemic has had a unique set of powerful impacts. These individuals have been on the frontline of care giving as well as the work of training new care givers under very challenging circumstances. At the same time, their roles and the systems of healthcare in which they work have achieved extremely high visibility, as societies across the globe have worked to fight the pandemic's spread and its impact on public health. This episode allows us to explore some of the effects of this extraordinary year with Swedish physician Helena Nordenstedt, and Dutch nurse Ellen Toet, whose work in healthcare education and delivery has given them front-row perspectives on this global phenomenon playing out in local communities around the world.
Further reading
→ EAIE Expert Community Health and Welfare Education
→ WHO Covid-19 Dashboard
The UK’s departure from the European Union has in most ways been unprecedented, but there has been at least one instance in the past when a country lost the right to participate in the Erasmus+ programme: Switzerland.
Back in 2018, the EAIE published an essay in its annual Conference Conversation Starter publication on this very subject. 'Switzerland’s imperative to face outward' was authored by then-member of the EAIE General Council Robert Buttery. Among other insights, it offered ideas on what might lie ahead for the post-Brexit UK, with the Swiss example particularly in mind. Fast forward three years and we caught up with Robert Buttery to gather his impressions on what the Turing Scheme now offers the UK and where things stand today with international mobility and global engagement in his adopted country of Switzerland.
Born and educated in the UK but living in Basel, Switzerland and the immediate environs for the last twenty years, Robert Buttery is in a unique position to consider the parallels and differences that may exist between the UK and Switzerland’s ‘outsider’ status when it comes to Erasmus+. Our conversation in this episode of the EAIE podcast allows us to explore some of these considerations just as the UK’s new Turing Scheme comes online and as Switzerland considers its place in relation to the 2021–2027 Erasmus+ framework.
Further reading→ Turing Scheme (official website)
→ Making the most of the UK's new Turing Scheme (EAIE blog)
→ 2018 EAIE Conference Conversation Starter: Facing outward
→ A plea for Switzerland to re-join the Erasmus+ programme (swissuniversities)
→ Movetia (Swiss national agency)
Noting that 11 February has been designated by the United Nations as the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, episode number eleven in the EAIE podcast series puts us in direct conversation with a rising young scientist, Sarah Lamaison. Sarah’s work in the field of artificial photosynthesis was recognised with an award from the L'Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science programme in 2020 and has been shaped by educational experiences and research collaborations in both France and the United States. Our conversation with Sarah provides a window into the world of ‘next generation’ thinking about the future of women in science and the contributions that research like Sarah’s can make to our common well-being.
A wealth of data suggests that, even in 2021, women are significantly underrepresented in the sciences around the world, from enrolment in higher education to professional roles as researchers. And when women do enter these fields, there are clear indications that they face particular challenges as they move through their careers. So, what is it like to be a young woman working at an international level in the sciences today? Our conversation with Sarah Lamaison gives voice to a young female scientist reflecting on her inspirations, her educational journey, and insights into the future of women in science. And why should we care? As we increasingly rely on scientific talent and the sheer persistence of scientists to help us navigate the major challenges of the 21st century – from the climate crisis to healthcare emergencies like the COVID-19 pandemic – understanding what motivates and sustains diverse pools of young scientific talent is vital to our collective future.
Further readingFor further insights into the topics touched on in this episode, the following resources may be of interest:
→ L'Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science programmes website and Twitter
→ International Day of Women and Girls in Science
→ Enabling gender equality through education (EAIE blog)
→ Bauer, A. F. & Zweifel, P. (2018). ‘Female researchers leap ahead’. EAIE Forum: Our gendered world, 2018(Spring), 18-20.
→ Jacobson, M. Z. (2020). 100% Clean, Renewable Energy and Storage for Everything. Cambridge University Press: Cambridge.
International schools, which cater to the needs of children who require or simply desire an international educational experience at the primary or secondary level, serve as natural feeders for students into higher education institutions focused on internationalisation. This episode of the EAIE podcast series explores some of the current work and perspectives of the Council of International Schools (CIS), a leading organisation in the international school community. Our conversation with Nico Evers, who serves as CIS’s Director of Higher Education Services, sheds light on the ways that the work and interests of international schools parallel closely many of the key concerns of international higher education professionals, highlighting compelling synergies.
Discussions of internationalisation in higher education typically play out in isolation from what may be happening in terms of international education at the level of primary and secondary schools. Yet, in international schools around the world, there is a long tradition of educating younger students in highly internationalised settings and through internationally-oriented curricula. This has implications for higher education. Most immediately, graduates of international secondary schools are typically perceived as very welcome recruits into higher education institutions eager to cultivate an ‘internationalised’ student body. Beyond this, the commitments made by international schools to such issues as the cultivation of global citizenship may make them natural allies with their international higher education counterparts. Join us in conversation with Nico Evers to learn more about CIS’s work and its ongoing efforts to engage international schools and higher education institutions in mutually beneficial activities.
Further readingFor further insights into the topics touched on in this episode, the following resource may be of interest:
→ What does ‘Shaping the Future of International Education’ look like in practice? (Evers, 2020)
Episode number nine of the EAIE podcast series takes up the topic of digitalisation, a matter that was of immense importance in 2020 and that’s certain to continue featuring prominently in the field of international higher education in 2021. Guest Inma Martinez, a globally recognised digital pioneer and artificial intelligence scientist, weighs in on key issues of how technology can support the work of higher education, and how very real human needs and interests sit at the heart of all technological innovation.
For quite a number of years now, the many and varied possibilities of technology to play a game-changing role in higher education have been widely discussed, hotly debated and eagerly anticipated. But 2020 truly marked a watershed moment for rhetoric to meet reality: technology-based solutions were deployed rapidly by higher education institutions around the world to fill the gaps in our ability to convene in-person meetings and face-to-face classes as a result of the fast-moving COVID-19 pandemic. What have we learned from this experience? And where are we headed next in terms of digital developments? Join us in conversation with technology expert Inma Martinez as she reflects on these remarkable recent events and the transformational effects they have already rendered – and may yet enable – in our relationship with digitalisation.
Further readingFor further insights into the topics touched on in this episode, the following resources may be of interest:
→ Top IT Issues, 2021: Emerging from the Pandemic (EDUCAUSE, 2020)
→ DIGI-HE Webinar series: A strategic reflection on digitalisation in higher education (European University Association, 2021)
→ 2020 Spring EAIE Forum: ‘Digitalisation’
→ AI in international education: redefining who ‘we’ are (EAIE blog)
→ Virtual exchange and Internationalisation at Home: the perfect pairing (EAIE blog)
Episode number eight of the EAIE podcast series features personal and professional perspectives on surviving–and thriving–during a year of extraordinary challenges. Guest Robert Coelen, who spent 23 days in a coma in the spring of 2020 while battling coronavirus-related health complications, speaks from deep personal experience about the meaning of resilience and offers insights into how the field of international education can gain from our collective experience of unprecedented disruption and our shared aspirations for recovery.
Reaching the final month of 2020 offers a timely and important opportunity to reflect on what we as individuals and professionals in the field of international education have weathered over the course of this extremely challenging year. The COVID-19 pandemic has dominated most aspects of our lives for the last ten months, and as we consider all that has been lost or disrupted, we also have an opportunity to reflect on what we have learned and what comes next. Resilience is the theme of this conversation with Robert Coelen, whose 25 years of professional and academic experience in international education, as well as his personal experience as a COVID-19 survivor, are brought to bear on considerations of what it means to face adversity and imagine a better, brighter future. For those of you with a special interest in this topic, 'Resilience in uncertain times’ is also the theme of the Winter 2020 issue of EAIE’s member magazine, Forum.
A huge landmass, a massive youth population and a burgeoning middle class: Africa is a dynamic and complex world region by any measure. Viewed through the lens of international higher education, and specifically under the challenging circumstances presented by the COVID-19 pandemic, there is much to explore in relation to the sector’s current realities and future aspirations. Episode number seven of the EAIE podcast brings us into conversation with the leaders of two flagship international education organisations on the continent, offering insights into the multiple agendas and interests currently in play.
This episode of the EAIE podcast brings us key perspectives on internationalisation in Africa by way of the African Network for Internationalisation of Education (ANIE) and the International Education Association of South Africa (IEASA). Headquartered in Kenya, ANIE is a pan-African non-governmental organization working to advance high-quality research, capacity building and advocacy in relation to the international dimension of higher education in Africa. It focuses its efforts both on informing policy and in supporting the development of institutions and individuals in relation to international education. For its part, IEASA serves as the premier association advancing the international education agenda in South Africa, through a mix of activities focused on influencing policy, serving the needs of member institutions, networking opportunities and resources, training opportunities and more. Goski Alabi and Orla Quinlan, who currently head ANIE and IEASA, respectively, share their thoughts on how individuals and higher education institutions in Africa have been responding to the unique challenges and opportunities presented by the global pandemic in 2020 and provide indications of new and ongoing priorities for the sector moving forward.
Episode number six of the EAIE podcast takes us across the Atlantic and into a discussion about higher education throughout the vast region of the Americas. At a time of significant stress, disruption and uncertainty in higher education around the world, we touch base with a region-wide higher education association—with particularly deep roots in Canada and Latin America—whose members are focusing on solidarity, creativity and innovation to find ways forward through uncharted territory.
The Inter-American Organization of Higher Education (OUI-IOHE) is an association of more than 350 higher education institutions in 28 countries across North, South and Central America, as well as the Caribbean, with a common interest in advancing an equitable and innovative agenda for higher education in that shared geographic space. Its Secretary General, David Julien, sat down with us to reflect on how higher education institutions in this very large and diverse world region are acting on that mission, particularly in light of the challenges (and opportunities) of the global COVID-19 pandemic. From embracing online teaching and learning to exploring collaborations with associations and national agencies around the world, to planning for the 2021 iteration of the biennial Conference of the Americas on International Education (CANIE), this audio “postcard” offers a sense of some of the many things currently afoot in higher education in the Americas.
The fifth episode of the EAIE podcast is all about data - numbers and data of many sorts have a powerful role to play in helping us make sense of the world today. The right kind of data, collected and interpreted in meaningful ways, can offer key insights into vital aspects of European higher education and exert real influence on policy and practice. It may not be “all in the numbers”, of course, but data and statistics have a great deal to offer if we leverage them wisely.
This episode features the voice and perspectives of David Crosier, higher education system and policy analyst at Eurydice, the education information network of the European Union. Celebrating 40 years in 2020, Eurydice is a network of 43 national units based in all 38 countries of the Erasmus+ programme. Its remit is to provide policymakers in education systems across Europe with information and insight that will support robust decision-making processes by publishing descriptive materials, comparative and thematic reports, statistical information and news updates focused on how education systems are organised in Europe and how they work. From this vantage point, a conversation with David Crosier offers a unique window on the forthcoming 2020 Bologna Process Implementation report and other recent research of interest to practitioners and policymakers in the international higher education community.
The EAIE podcast turns its attention the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which together sketch out a vision for a world where good health, vibrant societies, and environmental stability prevail. Education, and specifically international higher education, sits at the nexus of a great deal of the work that may deliver results when it comes to making real progress against the SDGs.
In this episode, we are joined by Josep Vilalta, Director of the Global University Network for Innovation, or GUNi, as it’s commonly known. The GUNi network consists of higher education institutions, research centres and higher education organisations who all share a common commitment to ‘strengthen the role of higher education in society’, with a particular orientation toward public service, relevance and social responsibility. In fact, the SDGs are one of three core topics that the GUNi Network is focusing on in its current three-year cycle of research, engagement and knowledge development. So, if anyone has its finger on what the SDGs mean to international higher education and what higher education means to the SDGs then it is GUNi’s director.
Allan Goodman has had a long and distinguished career in both international relations and international education. The current pandemic is the 12th in the century-long history of the Institute of International Education (IIE), where he currently serves as President and CEO, and after each past pandemic, academic mobility has resumed and grown.
At a moment when people and societies are struggling to assure their health, vitality and equity, and where technology is stepping into the breach – particularly to connect people as international mobility is dramatically curtailed – it’s timely to ask: what’s ahead when it comes to the dynamics between artificial intelligence and international educational exchange?
With three quarters of the global population living in urbanised areas, cities frame the daily realities of billions of people around the world. In Europe and elsewhere, cities are also home to many higher education institutions as well as the knowledge networks and labour market dynamics with which higher education institutions are so closely connected.
So how much do we really know about cities, and how do their realities and prospects connect to our work in international education? In this episode of the EAIE podcast, Ine Vandecasteele joins us to talk about some of the key findings emerging from recent research on urban centres, and how many of the creative pathways forward lead through Europe's cities.
Aminata Cairo discusses the impact of the Black Lives Matter protests, the greater context of inequality framing our current moment, and the power of the stories we tell ourselves.