Internationalisation in the European arena

Authors: Piet van Hove (EAIE President 2022-2024) and Dyane Koreman (EAIE Chair of the Strategy & Management Expert Community 2022-2024)

Founded in 1989, the European Association for International Education (EAIE), is a non-profit, member-led association serving over 3,000 members from more than 95 countries. It is the European hub for knowledge, expertise, and networking in the internationalisation of higher education. The EAIE is supported by 38 staff members from 21 countries in its headquarters in Amsterdam. The EAIE is one community, working together to drive responsible international higher education now and in the future. The EAIE’s mission is to empower the international higher education sector, demonstrate the impact and value of internationalisation, and influence policymakers and the public. We achieve this mission through a rich mix of professional development opportunities, conferences, and knowledge sharing. 

Born during the early days of the Erasmus programme, the EAIE has grown and expanded its ecosystem to address the challenges faced by professionals in the field of internationalisation. The strength of the EAIE lies in the diversity of voices in the community, which helps make the ecosystem stronger and more prepared to tackle emerging issues in the education sector and the world. Our global community has a mission to make our world a better place. Guided by a robust strategy, shared values and a focus on excellence, our ambition is to foster deeper understanding and solidarity through international education. 

The EAIE provides a meeting place for people to exchange ideas, collaborate, and form professional relationships. It also facilitates knowledge exchange and peer-to-peer learning. The EAIE’s Academy training portfolio offers a diverse range of courses for both online participants and those attending in person in Amsterdam. The EAIE’s flagship event, the Annual Conference and Exhibition, broke records in Rotterdam in 2023 with 6,749 participants from 103 countries. Other activities the EAIE organised for the community last year include two community summits, a mentor system, partner in two EU-funded programmes, 21 podcasts, 55 blogposts, pathways to practice, three Forum magazines, other publications, a library, and a platform to connect in communities of practice. Overall, the EAIE produces approximately one piece of content for every day of the year!

The organisation also conducts extensive research to map the state of internationalisation every few years in the EAIE Barometer. These surveys and the resulting data and analyses are essential for demonstrating the impact of internationalisation, and are an important tool for effecting positive change and transformation. 

Strategic Agenda
In recent years, Europe and the world have faced significant changes, including the UK’s departure from the EU, the COVID-19 pandemic, the rise of AI, housing crises, geopolitical conflicts, political shifts, budget cuts, and the climate crisis. These events have greatly impacted higher education, creating a world of uncertainty, complexity, and scarcity. Yet, the importance of education remains steadfast.

The EAIE has been instrumental in supporting its community through these crises, providing a platform for dialogue and hope. The work of our community is about fostering human connections across cultures, generations, and disciplines, and finding allies in challenging times. Despite the hardships, it is heartening to see individuals and organisations stepping up to find solutions and support those in need. The EAIE serves as a vital hub for finding your community and enriching your professional life.

As the world rapidly advances towards new technologies, we must balance online and in-person activities. Our roles are increasingly influenced by digitalisation and AI, necessitating new skills. The 2018 Barometer predicted that distance learning, online or blended international learning, and internationalisation of the home curriculum would become more central to internationalisation at higher education institutes (HEIs). This prediction has come true, with the current Barometer survey (2023) highlighting the need for strengthening international and intercultural content of the curriculum and virtual internationalisation activities. Among respondents working in student mobility, partnerships and European programmes, the topics of great interest include student and staff well-being, digitalisation of administrative tasks, and inclusion and diversity. 

We are witnessing rapid changes within our institutes, necessitating creative tools to seize opportunities and address future challenges. International Offices are becoming more decentralised, yet the need for integrated services and a multidisciplinary approach is bigger than ever. Internationalisation is a complex undertaking, with limited resources and competing priorities. National level policymakers and universities are increasingly seeking proof of the impact of internationalisation, with measures ranging from rankings and reputation to student learning outcomes and research activities.

The EAIE plays a crucial role in sharing and enhancing knowledge on these topics. Community building is a strength, with everyone able to participate, share, and seek help. The EAIE’s new structure, with nine Thematic Committees and a wide range of Communities of Practice, supported by a new online Community Platform, aligns with the community’s needs, adapting to the changing world.

In 2023, the EAIE expanded its commitment to social responsibility and sustainability, introducing the Sustainability Corner at the annual conference for partners to showcase their initiatives and expanding corporate volunteering activities.

Comparisons within Europe
The EAIE’s members and conference participants come from all over the world, including about 70% from Europe. One of the key initiatives showing the broad reach of EAIE across Europe is the Barometer study, mentioned above. With 2,817 individual responses from 46 out of 49 European Higher Education Area countries (the exceptions being the Holy See, Moldova and San Marino), the EAIE Barometer is the largest, most geographically representative study of its kind. It provides insights into the state of internationalisation in European higher education. 

The Barometer study (2023) reveals regional differences. Western Europe prioritises ‘inclusion and diversity’, while Eastern Europe and Western Asia focus on ‘digitalisation of administrative tasks’ and ‘research collaborations and outputs’, respectively. Budget instability varies across regions, with Northern Europe (29%) and Eastern and Southern Europe (28%) reporting more unstable funding sources than Western Europe (23%) and Western Asia (22%). National authorities’ influence is high in countries like Czech Republic (77%), Norway (76%), Turkey (74%), Romania (69%), and the Netherlands (66%).

The emergence of the European University Alliances has significantly influenced the field in terms of strategic consortium management, legal entities, joint accreditation processes, and the introduction of a European diploma. Countries noting a positive effect of this initiative include Slovenia (80%), Romania (73%), Armenia (62%), and Serbia (60%), while Ireland has the highest percentage (6%) indicating a negative effect.

The urgency to prove the impact of internationalisation efforts is increasing, with 63% of respondents considering the debate ‘urgent’ or ‘very urgent’. The Netherlands has the highest percentage of respondents reporting this issue as ‘very urgent’, followed by Portugal, Italy, and Turkey. Conversely, Sweden and Norway have the highest proportions of individuals who consider this debate not urgent.

Concerns about internationalisation delivering impact in relation to ‘climate change/environmental sustainability’ range from 23% to 26% in Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, and the Netherlands, to just 2% to 4% in Azerbaijan, Croatia, and Czech Republic.

The EAIE in connection to the world
The EAIE collaborates with global partners to advance and increase the impact of international higher education in Europe and the rest of the world. The EAIE is connected to all other continents through sister organisations, like NAFSA, APAIE, and INHEA. The EAIE is an active participant in two key global international bodies specifically; the Association for Studies in International Education (ASIE) and the Network of International Education Associations (NIEA). ASIE, which was chaired by the EAIE from 2014 to 2023, is principally focused on the publication of the Journal of Studies in International Education. 

Additionally, the organisation maintains strategic partnerships with entities like Erasmus Student Network (ESN), Academic Cooperation Association (ACA), Scholars at Risk (SAR), International Association of Universities (IAU), International Management Development Association (CEEMAN), and the accreditation body for business schools EFMD Global. These partnerships ensure up-to-date, relevant content for members throughout the year. EAIE is a proud partner of Township and Trees for Life, and a signatory of the Climate Action Network for International Educators CANIE and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Accord, 

While international higher education’s basic components remain the same, their importance varies across associations and conferences. The 2024 EAIE Conference and Exhibition in Toulouse is set to break records, with preparations for the 2025 edition in Gothenburg already underway, expanding engagement options throughout the year.

This article was published in Uncover Magazine - Internationalisation. You can read the complete magazine via this link.