From 9–12 September 2025, NEOLAiA proudly took part in the European Association for International Education (EAIE) Conference and Exhibition in Gothenburg, Sweden. The event gathered more than 7,000 participants from across the globe, providing a vibrant platform for higher education professionals to exchange ideas, strengthen partnerships, and explore the future of international collaboration.

At the heart of the exhibition, NEOLAiA joined forces with two other European University alliances – INGENIUM and EU Green – to host a shared booth. This marked the second consecutive year of such collaboration, reflecting the alliances’ commitment to working together, exchanging good practices, and promoting the European University initiative in a united voice.

Beyond the exhibition space, NEOLAiA actively engaged in discussions that highlighted both opportunities and challenges of international cooperation. Representatives from the alliance met with communication leaders from other alliances, including FOREU4ALL, to address the common struggles faced when communicating complex alliance activities to diverse audiences. This peer exchange proved to be both candid and constructive, offering new perspectives on how to improve outreach and visibility.

A particular highlight came from NEOLAiA partner universities, Örebro University (Sweden) and the University of Ostrava (Czechia), which delivered a joint presentation together with a representative of the Hague University of Applied Sciences (the Netherlands), entitled “Swedish Fika in Professional Learning Communities: How to Build Informal, Open, and Trusting Spaces.” The session demonstrated how cultural traditions—such as Sweden’s beloved coffee break—can inspire inclusive and innovative ways of building academic communities.

Overall, NEOLAiA’s presence in Gothenburg underlined the alliance’s ongoing commitment to strengthening European higher education, fostering intercultural exchange, and sharing knowledge across borders.

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Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.