Opening the European Association of International Education (EAIE) conference in Glasgow, president Sarah Lopez Selga told 7,000 delegates that the sector is operating on unstable ground but cannot afford to be vague about its values or passive in its response.
“Our sector is facing real uncertainty, with policy shifts and funding pressures, with old and new conflicts emerging over the world,” she said. “We have a general sense that the ground keeps moving under our feet faster than our pace.”
Despite that volatility, Lopez Selga argued that international education still has unique leverage, especially if the sector leans into its core strengths.
“We are locally based and globally exposed,” she said. “Being here, surrounded by thousands of colleagues who believe in what we do, coming from all different parts of the world, is proof that showing up in person for each other still matters.”
Lopez Selga framed this year’s conference theme – ‘the rhythm of revolution’ – as a practical call to action on how institutions engage with each other and with a shifting world.
“When we gather face to face across distance and borders, when we engage in human and candid conversations across cultures and identities, and when we create opportunities for experiential learning… I think we can really be revolutionary,” she said.
“Our community has always been at its best when we choose dialogue over avoidance, even when the conversations are difficult, and when we choose cooperation… over mistrust, even when the stakes are high.”
On Europe’s flagship mobility scheme, Lopez Selga argued that the return of the UK to Erasmus+ signals more than just renewed exchange numbers.
“Next year, the UK rejoins Erasmus+ and we need to make it work… For many of us, Erasmus was never just a mobility scheme, it was the connective tissue of a generation of European cooperation.”
“Watching the UK return to it is a small but powerful sign that doors we thought were closed for good can open again if enough people keep pushing – people like us.”
“We will still need to make the case for it to continue being the flagship program from 2028 onwards, and there we will stand as EAIE.”
Addressing delegates, Roxana Minzatu, executive vice president for social rights and skills, quality jobs and preparedness, at the European Commission, set out a vision for the next EU budget and the future of Erasmus+.
“From 2027, the UK and Switzerland will rejoin the Erasmus+ program, bringing our Erasmus family to 35 countries.”
Growth is not the goal itself. We want an Erasmus+ that is not just bigger in terms of budget, but also better – one that is more strategic and also more inclusive
Roxana Minzatu, EU Commission
“Growth is not the goal itself. We want an Erasmus+ that is not just bigger in terms of budget, but also better – one that is more strategic and also more inclusive.”
Her stated ambition is that participation in Erasmus+ becomes a standard opportunity, not an elite one.
“Erasmus should be for all, not just for the few. Absolutely, every European must have the opportunity to undergo an Erasmus mobility program at least one time in their life.”
“That is the ambition behind our proposal for the next EU budget… but that is a vision that needs to be upheld also by stakeholders such as you.”
Erasmus+ is also being positioned as a tool to address Europe’s skills shortages.
“We want a stronger role for Erasmus+ in tackling skill shortages, so that Europe can develop and keep its own talent, so that Europe can attract more talent from around the world,” said Minzatu.
“I am quite confident that we will deliver something that will make a real difference for our students and for our educational institutions.”
