Some 450 education leaders from around the world will debate the future of global higher education against the backdrop of global volatility at an event in London this week.
Going Global, organised by the British Council, will focus on the actions needed for the tertiary education sector to emerge from current multiple world crises intact, and to thrive in the future.
The event, which returns to London for the first time since 2015, aims to shape the future of further and higher education by providing a strategic forum for leaders in international education to connect and share the latest thinking on the most important issues in international education.
This year’s Going Global conference will provide a platform to discuss geopolitical tensions, conflict, political intervention, economic uncertainty, increased demand, and technological disruption.
Global education leaders, policy makers, employers, and students, will debate how to react to global volatility, develop innovative and practical solutions to common challenges, strengthen the position of universities and colleges at the heart of economic and social development, and underline the value of international partnerships.
The British Council event will take place from Tuesday 28 to Thursday 30 October at the Queen Elizabeth II Centre, Westminster, London.
Participation is expected from across the globe with education ministers and higher education leaders attending from more than 50 nations including Nigeria, Nepal, Rwanda, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Myanmar, and Pakistan, with many UK education sector organisations and institutions also in attendance.
Since its inception in 2004, the British Council’s Going Global conference has provided a strategic forum for leaders in international education to connect, share knowledge and build a global network of senior leaders and policy influencers to shape the future of further and higher education.
By engaging in dialogue and developing joint solutions and recommendations for strengthening capacity at system and institutional level, it is hoped that participants will be better positioned for international opportunities, ultimately contributing to improved future outcomes for young people.
Skills minister Baroness Jacqui Smith, said: "I'm delighted to welcome education leaders from across the world to London for Going Global. Our recently published post-16 education white paper sets out our ambition to maintain the UK's position as a leading provider of higher education and research.
“To support this we recently launched a new £54 million Global Talent Fund to attract world-class researchers and their teams to the UK, helping us to build the partnerships we need to develop world-class skills and drive economic growth.”
Maddalaine Ansell, Director Education, British Council, said: “Education leaders worldwide face a more complex and volatile landscape than ever before. The pace of change and requirement to respond to numerous urgent issues at the same time, while keeping an eye on the longer term, presents a unique set of challenges, with stronger international collaborations and equitable partnerships essential for success.
“This year’s Going Global event aims to address these challenges, shaping the future of further and higher education and providing a strategic forum for leaders in international education to connect and share the latest thinking on the most important issues affecting international education.”