This year's conference theme was WORLD POTENTIAL: MAKING EDUCATION MEET THE CHALLENGE.

In the face of the worst recession in decades countries are increasingly becoming isolationist. If so, what are the implications for international education? How is the global mobility of staff and students being affected and what should they do? And how does it impact the sharing of knowledge and ideas worldwide? Is the vision of a truly international education system under threat?

Join the debate at Going Global 4 – the international education conference.

This year’s conference explored the trends and implications; explored models for change drawing on case studies from across the world; examined the barriers; and delivered frameworks for action across the following areas:

Staff and student mobility: International mobility of staff and students has continued to grow over the past twenty years. Yet, many groups are still hard to reach. How do institutions encourage students from different backgrounds to take up opportunities for international study? What are the barriers to global staff mobility? And what will the new patterns of mobility be as countries in Asia shift their position to become net importers of international students and faculty?  

Global partnerships: What are the emerging partnership models? From multilateral research partnerships; public – private arrangements; as well as partnerships for teaching and learning, GG4 will explore the growth and complexity of international partnerships and their relevance to different types of institutions and countries.

Global citizens:  Governments and businesses benefit significantly from globally aware graduates. But how important a role is this for education across the world? Do all countries need to develop international awareness to the same degree? And does it also depend on the industry: does a small business require international awareness to the same extent as a multinational company? How can education meet these different needs?

Policy and leadership: the impact of international education is felt at local, national and international levels. What are the key leadership and policy challenges facing individual institutions, governments and communities worldwide?  What role should governments have in relation to education and international competitiveness? What part do the international strategies of institutions play? Are we likely to see a major shift in the number and type of  education providers operating globally over the next decade?