Written by Sarah Turner
In September, I was delighted to attend this year’s EAIE Conference held in Gothenburg, Sweden. EAIE is a non-profit community where higher education professionals come together to share ideas and support international connections in their institutions. The annual conference brings together members and newcomers alike to share insights, exchange best practices, and foster growth within the global international education community. I had been fortunate to attend previously in 2023 and was excited to attend once more!
Heading into the conference, I was excited not only to reconnect with some of our current study abroad partners but also to explore new long- and short-term partnership opportunities for our students. In particular, I sought to engage universities in Asia, aiming to create more summer school opportunities for Bath students who may otherwise miss out due to undertaking industrial placements (in the UK) or financial constraints. These short-term international experiences encourage students to grow culturally, network globally, and develop into engaged global citizens.
After a connecting flight in Copenhagen—where it seemed like everyone on board was headed to the conference—my colleague Amy and I arrived just in time for the Opening Reception held at the famous Liseberg theme park. At the reception there was a real party atmosphere, with live music, rollercoasters and fairground games. I even happened to bump into a few people I had met at my last EAIE – it is always fun to be reminded how small the world really is!
The next day, the conference kicked off in earnest with a classic Swedish vibe as the ABBA tribute band, Björn Again, got everyone up and dancing before the inspiring opening plenary by Indonesian climate activist, Melati Wijsen. Combined, it was a fantastic way to ignite the conference atmosphere.
What followed was an intensive three days filled with meetings alongside partners from Spain, Germany, Hong Kong, Austria, and South Africa, as well as promising new prospective universities from Norway, South Korea, and Japan. The conference schedule was packed with engaging talks, panels, roundtable discussions, campfire cafés, and self-development sessions. Covering a broad spectrum of themes—from Student and Staff Mobility and Marketing and Admissions to Social Responsibility and Partnerships—there was a wealth of knowledge to explore and absorb. Standout sessions for me included those on cultivating memorable visits, strategic partnership development, and leveraging seed funding to build robust research collaborations.
One of the highlights of my experience was connecting with fellow international office professionals from around the globe, both in formal meetings and in more relaxed settings like networking lunches and speed-networking sessions. Anyone who knows me will agree that conversation is one of my strengths, and it certainly came in handy—whether I was showcasing our latest initiatives at Bath, exchanging perspectives on shared challenges, or learning about the creative approaches other universities are taking to similar problems.
This year’s theme of "GO-create" — actively pursuing collaboration opportunities both formally and informally — has inspired me to engage virtually with professional services colleagues from both the UK and international universities since I returned from Gothenburg. Through these exchanges, I have gained valuable insights into their organisational structures, work practices, and approaches to problem-solving. This active engagement not only reciprocally broadens our perspectives but also opens up possibilities for Bath to collaborate with new international partners beyond teaching and research. Potential areas include professional services cooperation on process automation, partnership development, and staff self-development. I believe that getting to know colleagues from universities across the world helps us all generate fresh ideas and approaches, in addition to developing professionally side by side.
Attending these global events is something I truly value, as they offer a fantastic opportunity for me to stay on top of worldwide trends, expand my international network, understand the challenges faced by other universities, and explore ways we can work together to create outstanding opportunities and outcomes for Bath students. I left the conference feeling energised, inspired, and motivated to make positive changes at Bath. Thank you to the International Relations Office for this opportunity!
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