The 33rd annual European Association for International Education (EAIE) Conference and Exhibition, held in Rotterdam, Netherlands, from 26-29 September 2023, saw over 6,700 professionals from across 100 countries congregate to discuss, learn, and exchange insights about international higher education.

The EAIE is the centre for expertise, networking, and resources in the internationalisation of higher education. It equips academic and non-academic professionals with best practices and workable solutions to internationalisation challenges and provides a platform for strategic exchange.

Representing a spectrum of departments, including Communications and marketing, Design and Studio Art, and Centre for Global Engagement, CUT staff members actively participated and exhibited CUT’s summer school programs at theconference. With more than 240 exhibitors, this year's EAIE Exhibition provided an invaluable opportunity for reconnecting with partners and forging new collaborations. The event's diverse program offered something for everyone, with a wide range of sessions and workshops on various aspects of international higher education. Some key areas CUT staff explored included Marketing and Admissions, Internationalization at Home, Research on Internationalization, Teaching, Learning, and Curriculum, and Staff and Student Mobility.

Among the various discussions, sessions underscored the importance of Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) and the role of data in forming strategic mobility support decisions. These conversations were pivotal in understanding the trends and challenges in international education, including the transformational impact of artificial intelligence and big data on higher education marketing. The conference’s forward-thinking approach was evident as it encouraged participants to look beyond traditional mobility and adopt a more holistic, ecosystems approach to internationalisation. It emphasised the importance of a synchronised approach between departments, such as admissions, marketing, and recruitment, in attaining and retaining international students.

“It's evident that the landscape of international higher education is evolving rapidly, and universities must adapt to stay competitive ", said Mr. Dan Maritz, Director of Communications and Marketing. He continued, "Networking at the conference was exceptional. We had the opportunity to exchange ideas on effective marketing & communication strategies that we could explore CUT to position the institution globally. The importance of data-driven decision-making in marketing and communications was a common thread throughout the event. We're eager to explore it at CUT further to refine our outreach efforts." In addition, Ms Tsholofelo Tshabadira, Lecturer in Design and Studio Art, highlighted the symbiotic relationship between art, culture, and internationalisation and its significance in promoting cross-cultural understanding and developing hospitable student environments.

The CUT team also had the privilege to meet Mr Vusi Madonsela, current Ambassador Extraordinaire Plenipotentiary of the Republic of South Africa to the Kingdom of The Netherlands, based in South Africa's Mission in The Hague. This meeting was a significant opportunity to address student-related challenges, especially considering CUT's increasing number of inbound students from the Netherlands through student exchange programs.

The active participation of CUT at the EAIE conference epitomises the university’s dedication to internationalisation and its pursuit of excellence in higher education. The collaborations and insights garnered from this international convergence will bolster CUT’s efforts to internationalise its campus and programs, benefiting the institution and its student community. The EAIE conference experience signifies a crucial step for CUT in its journey towards becoming a globally recognised institution, fostering international collaborations, enhancing global visibility, and promoting cross-cultural understanding and learning. The commitment to internationalisation exhibited by CUT at this conference underscores its vision to be at the forefront of higher education innovation and collaboration. 

Uploaded: 18 October 2023