From 8 to 11 September, NEOLAiA joined colleagues from across the international higher education community at the EAIE Conference in Glasgow. Our participation combined conversations at the exhibition, exchanges with other European University Alliances and a session focused on teaching and learning.
A shared space for conversation
Throughout the conference, visitors could meet NEOLAiA representatives at booth G54, which we shared with EU GREEN and INGENIUM.
The booth gave the three alliances a space to talk about their work and answer questions about the European Universities initiative. NEOLAiA representatives introduced some of our recent activities and achievements, while visitors shared their own interests and experiences.
These conversations covered subjects such as mobility, learning opportunities, cooperation between universities, research and regional engagement. They also helped people understand what university alliances do in practice and how students, staff and partner organisations can become involved.
Sharing the booth with EU GREEN and INGENIUM added another perspective to these discussions. Each alliance has its own members and priorities, but many of the questions we face are similar. Being together made it possible to present different approaches while showing the wider picture of cooperation across European higher education.
Learning from other alliances
EAIE was also an opportunity to meet representatives of other European University Alliances. We spoke openly about recent achievements, plans and the challenges involved in working across several institutions and countries.
The conversations were not only about finished projects or successful results. They also touched on the everyday work behind an alliance: coordinating people and institutions, communicating opportunities, involving university communities and turning shared plans into activities that people can take part in.
These exchanges allowed us to compare experiences, hear how others are approaching similar questions and make new contacts. Some meetings began with a short introduction at the booth and developed into longer conversations about possible future cooperation.
Bringing teaching and learning into the discussion
On 9 September, NEOLAiA also contributed to the conference programme through the session “From the margins to the centre: Repositioning educational developers in university alliances.”
NEOLAiA was represented by Hanan El Khadir from the University of Tours. She delivered the session together with Eveke De Louw from The Hague University of Applied Sciences and Nicole de Leeuw from Breda University of Applied Sciences, both in the Netherlands.
The session looked at the role of educational developers and pedagogical advisers within university alliances. Although their work is closely connected to teaching, curriculum development and educational change, they are not always included in wider conversations about internationalisation.
The speakers discussed how these colleagues can contribute more directly to alliance governance, educational strategy and the practical implementation of joint plans. They also explored how internationalisation can become part of everyday teaching and learning, rather than remaining separate from the regular work of universities.
The collaborative format encouraged participants to bring in their own examples and questions. This opened a wider discussion about the people who connect alliance-level ambitions with what happens in classrooms, programmes and university communities.
Conversations that continue
NEOLAiA’s presence at EAIE 2026 went beyond presenting information about the Alliance. It was a chance to listen, learn and speak honestly about both progress and challenges.
We left Glasgow with new contacts, ideas to share across our member universities and several conversations that can continue after the conference. EAIE may have lasted only a few days, but many of the relationships formed there are just beginning.
