EAIE President Calls for Action Amid Uncertainty

Sarah Lopez Selga, president of the European Association of International Education (EAIE), told 7,000 delegates at its Glasgow conference that the international education sector is operating on unstable ground. She argued the field cannot afford to be vague about its values or passive in its response to policy shifts, funding pressures, and global conflicts.

Lopez Selga said the ground is moving faster than the sector's pace. Despite this volatility, she insisted international education holds unique use. The president framed the conference theme, 'the rhythm of revolution', as a practical call to action for how institutions engage with each other and a shifting world.

She stated that the community is at its best when choosing dialogue over avoidance and cooperation over mistrust. "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," Lopez Selga said.

The Return of the UK to Erasmus+

A key focus was the future of Europe's flagship student mobility scheme. Lopez Selga highlighted that the UK's return to Erasmus+ next year signals more than just renewed exchange numbers. For many, she noted, Erasmus 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," she told the audience. The EAIE president added that the sector will need to advocate for the program to remain the flagship initiative from 2028 onwards.

EU Vision for a More Inclusive Program

Roxana Minzatu, the European Commission's executive vice president for social rights and skills, addressed the conference with a vision for the next EU budget and Erasmus+. She confirmed that from 2027, the UK and Switzerland will rejoin, bringing the Erasmus+ family to 35 countries.

Minzatu emphasized that growth is not the sole objective. "We want an Erasmus+ that is not only bigger for budget, but also better, one that is more strategic and also more inclusive," she stated. Her stated ambition is for participation to become a standard opportunity, not an elite one.

"Erasmus should be for all, not only for the few." Minzatu said. She noted this vision needs to be upheld by stakeholders in the sector.

Addressing Skills Shortages Through Mobility

The European Commission is also positioning Erasmus+ as a tool to tackle Europe's skills shortages. Minzatu explained the goal is a stronger role for the program in developing and retaining European talent, as well as attracting more talent from around the world.

She expressed confidence that the forthcoming proposals would make a real difference for students and institutions. The push for a more strategic Erasmus+ comes as the sector handle what Lopez Selga described as a landscape of real uncertainty.