“Non-EU students yes or no? Increasing obstacles for international students to join Flemish universities”
Following its annual tradition, the Academic Committee for Global Engagement at the University of Antwerp is pleased to invite you to an Academic Conference on Global Engagement, dedicated to a pressing contemporary theme in higher education and international cooperation. The conference is open to all (e.g. policymakers, civil society, academic actors and student associations)
This year’s focus is on “Non-EU students: yes or no? Increasing obstacles for international students to join Flemish universities”.
Recent tuition fee policy measures, geopolitical developments, restrictive migration and visa policies are increasingly shaping who can access higher education, with potential consequences not only for universities, but also for Belgium’s diplomatic soft power and international collaboration. This conference brings together scholars, policy makers, practitioners and students to critically examine the structural and policy context behind the current obstacles (such as increased fees, quotas for international students and visa restrictions) non-EU students face. During the conference, we will explore international comparisons, and reflect on the broader implications for international cooperation, academic inclusion and global engagement. After a series of expert contributions, insights will be brought together in a joint panel discussion, chaired by writer, poet and lawyer Esohe Weyden.
Confirmed speakers (preliminary)
- Gabriela Agatiello
Senior Policy & Programme Manager at the International Catholic Migration Commission and Share Network - Irina Ferencz
Director of the Academic Cooperation Association (ACA) focusing on the internationalisation of higher education - Enzo Peeters
PhD student of Leuven Economics of Education Research Centre, focusing on to the study De economische effecten van internationalisering in het Hoger Onderwijs - Christof Van Mol
Associate Professor in Sociology at Tilburg University working on student mobility and higher education)
Practical information
- The final programme will be published end of February. The afternoon will be divided into two main content blocks with a coffee break in between, and will conclude with a one-hour reception. You may join different parts of the conference.
- This conference is organised in collaboration with MIGLOBA, the Institute of Development Policy, the Department of Rehabilitation Sciences and Physiotherapy, Power in History (Centre for Political History) and Centre for Urban History and partners.
- The conference is in English. Colleagues from outside the University of Antwerp and all those with an interest in the theme are warmly welcome (e.g. policymakers, civil society, academic actors and student associations).