From 8 to 11 September, representatives from seven EMERGE partner universities joined the EAIE 2026 Conference in Glasgow, bringing perspectives from across the Alliance into one of Europe’s largest gatherings for international higher education.
The conference, held at the Scottish Event Campus under the theme “The Rhythm of Revolution”, brought together higher education professionals from across Europe and beyond to exchange ideas, share practice and discuss the changes shaping international education.
EMERGE was represented by colleagues from the University of Limerick, Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences, Univerzita Mateja Bela v Banskej Bystrici, Université Rennes 2, Université de Bretagne Sud, Universidade da Coruña and Europa-Universität Flensburg.
For EMERGE, participation in EAIE was an opportunity to connect with the wider European higher education community and to exchange experiences with colleagues working across European University Alliances. EMERGE colleagues also took part in information-sharing activities focused on European University Alliances, including activities connected with FOREU4ALL, the community of practice bringing Alliances together to exchange experiences and strengthen cooperation.
These exchanges connect closely with EMERGE’s ambition to build a European University shaped by the needs and strengths of regions and communities at the margins of Europe. The Alliance brings together nine universities with different geographical contexts, institutional profiles and areas of expertise, with a shared commitment to engaging, educating and connecting the margins while reimagining how universities work together.
The conversations in Glasgow are also feeding into the Alliance’s own work. In October, all nine EMERGE partners will come together for the EMERGE Staff Week, hosted by Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences from 5 to 9 October across its campuses in Lillehammer, Evenstad, Hamar and Elverum.
Following last year’s Staff Week at Université Rennes 2, the gathering will provide an opportunity for colleagues from across the Alliance to reflect on the progress made over the past year, share experiences from their work and discuss how EMERGE should move forward. The ideas and connections developed through events such as EAIE therefore become part of a wider process of learning and collaboration within the Alliance.
From Glasgow to Norway, EMERGE’s work continues through the people who connect its nine universities. EAIE provided a space to engage with the wider European higher education community. The Staff Week will bring those conversations back into the Alliance, where partners will reflect on what they have learned and shape the next stage of their shared work.