Leaders of international education gather in Scotland
The city of Edinburgh is hosting the Going Global 2023 conference, a prestigious event that brings together leaders of international education from across the world. The conference, organised by the British Council, will take place from Monday 20 to Wednesday 22 November 2023 at the Edinburgh International Conference Centre. The theme of this year’s conference is Going Global Edinburgh: Towards sustainable, scalable and equitable partnerships in tertiary education.
The conference aims to explore how partnerships in higher education can contribute to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, address the challenges of the post-pandemic recovery, and foster innovation and excellence in teaching, research and social impact. The conference will also celebrate the diversity and richness of international education and its role in promoting global citizenship and intercultural dialogue.
Speakers and sessions
The conference will feature a variety of speakers and sessions, including plenaries, masterclasses, in-depth conversations and panel discussions. Some of the confirmed speakers include:
- Professor Dame Nancy Rothwell, President and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Manchester and Chair of the Russell Group of leading UK universities.
- Dr. Jane Goodall, DBE, Founder of the Jane Goodall Institute and UN Messenger of Peace.
- Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization.
- Professor Sir Timothy O’Shea, Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Edinburgh.
- Ms. Malala Yousafzai, Nobel Peace Prize Laureate and Co-founder of Malala Fund.
The conference will also showcase some of the best practices and case studies of successful partnerships in international education, such as:
- The Africa Research Excellence Fund, which supports early-career researchers in Africa to develop their skills and networks.
- The Global Challenges Research Fund, which supports cutting-edge research that addresses the challenges faced by developing countries.
- The Newton Fund, which builds research and innovation partnerships between the UK and emerging economies.
- The UK-India Education and Research Initiative, which enhances educational links between the two countries.
Registration and participation
The conference is open to anyone who is interested in international education, including academics, policymakers, practitioners, students and alumni. The registration fee for the conference is £750 for the full three-day event, or £300 for a single day. The fee includes access to all sessions, networking events, lunches and refreshments, and a conference pack. The conference also offers a limited number of bursaries for delegates from low and middle income countries, as well as a discounted rate for British Council partner institutions.
To register for the conference, delegates need to submit an expression of interest through the conference website. The deadline for submitting expressions of interest is Friday 29 September 2023. The conference organisers will then review the expressions of interest and send out invitations to register by Friday 13 October 2023. The final deadline for registration is Friday 27 October 2023.
The conference also welcomes online participation through its virtual platform. The virtual platform will allow delegates to watch live and recorded sessions, interact with speakers and other delegates, access conference materials and resources, and join online networking events. The registration fee for the virtual platform is £150 for the full three-day event, or £75 for a single day.
The conference is expected to attract over 1,000 delegates from more than 80 countries. It is a unique opportunity to learn from global experts, share best practices, build new partnerships, and shape the future of international education.
