EAIE Podcast
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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.
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May 24, 2023
67. Joana Westphal & John McNamara: Transnational education: UK perspectives
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
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May 10, 2023
66. Fanta Aw & LaNitra Berger: NAFSA turns 75!
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
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Apr 26, 2023
65. Adrienne Fusek & Adinda van Gaalen: International education, climate change and cognitive dissonance
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 Fusek
*Adrienne 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?
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Apr 11, 2023
64. Anna Beentjes & Isabel Joly: International education can be a circus!
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
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Mar 28, 2023
63. Nadja Greku and Valeria Redjepagic: Roma in European higher education today
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 Greku
*Nadja 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 Redjepagic
*Valeria 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 resources
*For 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
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Mar 15, 2023
62. Fernanda Leal & Marcelo Knobel: A briefing on Brazil
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 Leal
*Fernana 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 Knobel
*Marcelo 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
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Mar 1, 2023
61. Mirka Martel & Julie Baer: Developing data on mobility and disability
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 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 Julie Baer
*Julie 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
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Feb 15, 2023
60. Tomáš Varga: Supporting mobility across the ability spectrum
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 Varga
*Tomáš 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
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Feb 1, 2023
59. Nicole Williams and Helen Whitehead: Women changing the world of science
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
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Jan 25, 2023
58. Simon Marginson: Redefining internationalisation
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
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Jan 18, 2023
57. Encieh Erfani and Daniel Munier: What’s happening in Iran?
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 cu…
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Dec 14, 2022
56. Kirstin Edgar and Lucila Morales de Mittag: Stray cats and organic influencers
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…
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Nov 30, 2022
55. Manuel José Damásio: Internationalising film & media studies
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…
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Nov 15, 2022
54. Florin Zubascu: Tracking Europe's research and innovation agenda
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 Zubascu
*Florin is Executive Editor at Science|Business, leading news coverage on research and innovation policy in Europe. Specifically, he co…
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Nov 2, 2022
53. Fabrizio Bitetto: Fostering Entrepreneurship
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 internation…
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Oct 19, 2022
52. Stephanie Griffiths: Mental health: our shared responsibility
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…
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Oct 5, 2022
51. Rachel Brooks: Who are Europe’s students?
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 studen…
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Sep 21, 2022
50. Nannette Ripmeester: A love letter to Rotterdam
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 E…
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Aug 30, 2022
49. Alyona Ovchinnikova and Christof Van Mol: Language Proximity and Student Mobility
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 Inter…
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Aug 17, 2022
48. Ajibola Odukoya: Innovative Africa
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 Odukoya
*A graduate of Cranfield School of Management and Manche…
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Aug 2, 2022
47. Nikos Liolios: Student mobility’s digital infrastructure
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 Liolios
*Nikos Liolios is Erasmus+ Officer at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and Project Manager of the European Digital S…
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Jul 19, 2022
46. Alejandra Vicencio & Frank Ziegele: That first job in international education
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…
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Jul 5, 2022
45. Uilleam Blacker: Ukraine through a literary lens
* *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 Blacker
*Dr 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, an…
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Jun 22, 2022
44. Francesc Pedró: Insights from UNESCO
*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 *
Fran…
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May 24, 2022
43. Shanton Chang & Cat Gomes: International students’ digital experiences
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 Chang
*Shanton 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 are…
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May 10, 2022
42. Arunima Dey & Carmen Neghina: Admissions trends 2022
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…
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Apr 25, 2022
41. Femke Hermans: Students for tomorrow
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 Hermans
*Femke Hermans recently completed her bachelor’s degree in Future Planet Studies at the University of Amsterdam. In addition to worki…
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Apr 12, 2022
40.Karina Bilokon: One Ukrainian student’s story
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 Bilokon
*Karina Bilokon is currently studying Business at Zuyd University of Applied Sciences. S…
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Mar 29, 2022
39.Pankaj Mittal: Internationalisation in India
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 Vis…
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Mar 16, 2022
38. Sarah Todd: An Asia-Pacific Update
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…
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Mar 1, 2022
37. Malaika Marable Serrano & Karol Vieker: Let’s talk about discrimination
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 Vieker
*Malaika Marable Serrano is Vice-President for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at Guild…
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Feb 16, 2022
36. Bessie Dendrinos: Multilingualism matters
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 Multiling…
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Feb 1, 2022
35. Wen Wen: A chat about China
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 Wen
*Dr 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 educ…
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Jan 19, 2022
34. Ellen Hazelkorn: The plusses and minuses of university rankings
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…
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Dec 8, 2021
33. Rajika Bhandari: A life in international education
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 abou…
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Nov 24, 2021
32. Didi Griffioen: Teaching and research – a balancing act
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, R…
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Nov 10, 2021
31. Tatjana Söding: Erasmus by Train: gaining steam?
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…
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Oct 27, 2021
30. Larissa Bezo: Catching up on Canada
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-20…
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Oct 13, 2021
29. Bojana Ćulum Ilić: Advancing community engagement
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…
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Sep 22, 2021
28. Catherine Comiskey: Imagining sustainability, institutionalising change
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
→…
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Sep 15, 2021
27. Hala Dimechkie: A window on MENA - Lebanon’s challenges & opportunities
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…
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Sep 8, 2021
26. John Delap: Working at the crossroads of access, equity and inclusion
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…
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Aug 23, 2021
25. Tibor Ágotai: Student accommodation – a frontline view
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.
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Aug 10, 2021
24. Alexander Clark: A student perspective on European Universities
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…
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Jul 27, 2021
23. Matjaž Pečovnik: Let’s talk European university sports
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 t…
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Jul 13, 2021
22. Thomas Farnell: COVID-19 – taking stock of the impact
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 ep…
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Jun 30, 2021
21. Phil Honeywood: Australia’s post-pandemic path
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 Aust…
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Jun 15, 2021
20. Rubén Ávila Rodríguez: Celebrating pride, aiming for more
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 Rainb…
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Jun 2, 2021
19. Bernhard Streitwieser: Refugees – much work remains
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 mo…
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May 18, 2021
18. Maria Kelo: The big new world of micro-credentials
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…
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May 5, 2021
17. Sinead O'Gorman: Academic freedom in a complex world
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 Questi…
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Apr 21, 2021
16. Mette Morsing: Business education & the common good
*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) initi…
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Apr 7, 2021
15. Robin Matross Helms: The USA regroups
*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 topic…
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Mar 24, 2021
14. Fiona Hunter: Cultivating our way forward
*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 cra…
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Mar 10, 2021
13. Helena Nordenstedt & Ellen Toet: Health education amid a global pandemic
*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 e…
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Feb 24, 2021
12. Robert Buttery: A Swiss view on Turing
*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…
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Feb 10, 2021
11. Sarah Lamaison: Science – a woman's world
*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 t…
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Jan 27, 2021
10. Nico Evers: International schools: pipelines & possibilities
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 aro…
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Jan 13, 2021
09. Inma Martinez: Digital transformation 2021
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-m…
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Dec 9, 2020
08. Robert Coelen: Reflections on Resilience
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.
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*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 come…
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Nov 25, 2020
07. Goski Alabi & Orla Quinlan: Africa’s internationalisation agendas
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 advo…
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Nov 11, 2020
06. David Julien: Postcard from the Americas
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 m…
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Oct 28, 2020
05. David Crosier: It’s all in the numbers
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 thema…
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Oct 6, 2020
04. Josep Vilalta: Higher ed and the SDGs
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, engag…
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Sep 29, 2020
03. Allan Goodman: AI & student mobility
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?
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Sep 23, 2020
02. Ine Vandecasteele: The future of Europe's cities
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.
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Sep 15, 2020
01. Aminata Cairo: The stories we tell
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.
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