RU International Office at the EAIE Conference in Glasgow

Four staff members from the International Office at Reykjavik University recently attended the annual conference of the European Association for International Education (EAIE), held in Glasgow under the theme Rhythm of Revolution. The conference is one of Europe’s largest and most important forums for the internationalisation of higher education.

A central theme of the conference was how universities can respond to rapid changes on global level. Discussions addressed, among other topics, the impact of geopolitical shifts and global uncertainty on university cooperation and the mobility of students and staff between countries. Particular emphasis was placed on the importance of building flexible and resilient international activities that can adapt to changing circumstances.

Sessions on student mobility focused on more flexible forms of study abroad, digital solutions, academic recognition and ways of making international experiences accessible to more students. Discussions also addressed changing student expectations, the quality of student services and the growing influence of AI on how prospective students obtain information and choose a university and study destination. Clear, accessible and up-to-date information on university websites is therefore becoming increasingly important.

Important forum to strengthen relationships

European university alliances and networks also featured prominently in the programme. Discussions explored how these forms of cooperation can support joint education, increased mobility, innovation and stronger links between universities. At the same time, careful attention must be paid to governance, responsibilities, funding and how cooperation is embedded within each institution. The International Office team also met colleagues from NeurotechEU, the European university alliance of which RU is a member.

Immediately before the conference, some members of the group took part in a two-day visit to the University of Glasgow, one of RU’s partner universities. According to these members, the visit was both informative and valuable, providing an opportunity to learn about the university’s activities and discuss shared priorities and challenges in internationalisation. Members of the group also had a campus tour of University of St Andrews.

During the conference, the group held several meetings with both existing RU partner universities and representatives of institutions interested in establishing cooperation.

“The EAIE Conference is therefore not only an important forum for sharing knowledge, but also a valuable opportunity to strengthen relationships with partner universities, establish new connections and learn about innovations and good practices in international university cooperation, student mobility and strategic internationalization,” says Guðlaug Matthildur Jakobsdóttir, director of RU’s International Office.