The European Association for International Education (EAIE) is a non-profit organisation whose main aim is to stimulate and facilitate the internationalisation of higher education in Europe and around the world, and to meet the professional needs of individuals active in international education. Founded in 1989, the EAIE has seen its membership grow and diversify significantly over the last 20 years. Today it has over 2400 members – from rectors to professors to international exchange coordinators and credential evaluators – working in over 80 countries. The EAIE strives to connect these professionals, creating a global environment where there is mobility and education for all.
In order to facilitate this, the EAIE Professional Development Programme offers year-round training opportunities, including one-day Executive Forums tailored for professionals at management and strategic levels of internationalisation, as well as practical training courses for those at various stages of their career.
The Association also takes pride in disseminating important information via its various publications, website and newsletters, so as to increase awareness about critical issues and advances in the field. Members receive Forum magazine, which is published three times a year, as well as our more formal Occasional Papers; aimed at informing professionals on the new developments in the field, and the Professional Development Series; a set of manuals, referred to as Toolkits, covering the basic skills every international educator needs.
Perhaps most importantly, EAIE provides its members with access to a network of over 13 000 international education professionals worldwide. Membership is divided into sub-groups to facilitate networking among members who specialise in particular fields of international education. These sub-groups, known as Professional Sections and Special Interest Groups, have evolved and expanded as the Association has grown. They include groups such as Marketing & Recruitment, Economics & Business Studies, Educational Cooperation with Developing Countries, and Disability Issues Worldwide.
The EAIE’s Annual Conference is the primary event through which professionals are brought together and inspired by the latest trends in international education. The largest event of its kind in Europe, the conference is hosted in a different European city each year and attracts thousands of international participants. In addition to the numerous workshops, sessions and seminars, the conference also features a popular exhibition, which allows companies, organisations and institutions active in the field to promote their products to a highly targeted audience.