Catholic University of Croatia participates in the EAIE Conference and Exhibition in Glasgow

The Catholic University of Croatia participated in the EAIE Conference and Exhibition 2026, held from September 8 to 11, 2026, at the Scottish Event Campus (SEC) in Glasgow. The EAIE (European Association for International Education) is one of Europe’s leading organizations dedicated to the internationalization of higher education. Its annual Conference and Exhibition is one of the most important international gatherings of representatives of universities, higher education institutions, international offices, national education authorities, and other organizations involved in developing international cooperation in higher education.

This year’s EAIE brought together more than 7,300 professionals from over 100 countries, while more than 1,200 organizations were represented at over 250 exhibition stands. The programme featured more than 240 sessions and activities, as well as numerous bilateral meetings and opportunities for networking and developing international partnerships.

Croatia was represented at the national Study in Croatia stand (C83), organized by the Ministry of Science, Education and Youth and the Agency for Mobility and EU Programmes. A total of 19 Croatian higher education institutions were represented at the national stand, presenting the Croatian higher education system, their study programmes, areas of expertise, and opportunities for international cooperation to international partners. Study in Croatia is a national initiative aimed at promoting Croatian higher education internationally and attracting international students, lecturers, and researchers. The joint presence of Croatian higher education institutions increases Croatia’s international visibility and provides opportunities for Croatian institutions to connect with potential partners from around the world.

The Catholic University of Croatia was one of the 19 Croatian higher education institutions represented at the national stand. The University was represented by Vice-Rector for International Cooperation Professor Jasna Ćurković Nimac, PhD, and Secretary General Branka Roščić, PhD. During the exhibition, they held a series of bilateral meetings with representatives of universities and higher education institutions from Europe, Asia, and North and South America, as well as senior representatives of international university networks, including IAU and UNICA. They presented the Catholic University of Croatia, its study programmes, and areas of expertise, with particular emphasis on opportunities for international students, student and staff mobility, the development of international partnerships, academic cooperation, and participation in international research and educational projects.

Participation in the EAIE provided an important opportunity to present the Catholic University of Croatia to the international academic community, strengthen its visibility and existing network of partners, and establish new contacts that may lead to future forms of cooperation – from Erasmus+ mobility and international partnerships to joint study programmes, summer schools, research projects, and other forms of academic cooperation.

In addition to the exhibition, an important part of the EAIE was its extensive conference programme featuring more than 240 sessions and activities. Topics included international mobility, the development of international partnerships, strategic management of internationalization, marketing and international student recruitment, curriculum development, social responsibility, student support, and research on the internationalization of higher education.

Particular attention was given to the future of European international cooperation and the new opportunities expected in the European Union’s next programming period. Of particular importance to representatives of higher education institutions were presentations and discussions related to the future of Erasmus+, Horizon Europe, Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions, Erasmus Mundus, and other instruments that will support mobility, education, research, and international cooperation in the coming period.

One of the important topics was preparation for the new European Union programming period from 2028 to 2034. The European Commission has proposed a new Erasmus+ programme with a projected budget of EUR 40.8 billion, compared with EUR 26.2 billion for the 2021 - 2027 period.

According to the guidelines presented, student and staff mobility and international experience will remain at the heart of the future programme, alongside a stronger focus on inclusion, skills development, institutional capacity building, and cooperation among European institutions. Greater emphasis will also be placed on strengthening links between education, research, and innovation and increasing access to international educational opportunities. For higher education institutions such as the Catholic University of Croatia, it is particularly important to identify new funding and partnership opportunities in a timely manner and prepare for more active participation in projects under the new programming period.

The participation of the Catholic University of Croatia in the EAIE Conference and Exhibition in Glasgow forms part of the University’s continued efforts to strengthen its international visibility, expand its network of partner institutions, and develop new opportunities for mobility, academic and research cooperation, and the internationalization of the University. The numerous bilateral meetings held during the event opened opportunities for further discussions on specific forms of cooperation, while participation in one of Europe’s largest gatherings of internationalization professionals enabled the University to keep abreast of trends and developments that will shape international higher education in the coming years.

Text: Professor Jasna Ćurković Nimac, PhD, and Branka Roščić, PhD