Hot topics

The 2026 AIEC program offers a rich selection of some of the most important issues impacting International Education. The program has something for everyone and features policy updates, market insights, examples of good practice, research findings, innovative use of technology, new models of learning and teaching, and industry trends. Our program sessions draw on the findings of research, case studies and leaders in the field of international education.

Here are some of the topics that will be explored and discussed at AIEC 2026.

Policy, regulation and system settings​

• How government policy, regulation, and geopolitics are reshaping international education​
• Regulatory environment and compliance (CRICOS, PRISMS, NOSCs, etc)​
• Federal government policy and reforms (scholarships, NCP, migration settings)​
• Policy impacts on recruitment, marketing, and agent models​
• Geopolitical shifts, safety perceptions, and national reputation​
• Emerging compliance risks and integrity expectations​
• Alignment between compliance, recruitment, workforce, and infrastructure capacity​

Key lens: Managing risk, reputation, and regulatory complexity in a volatile policy environment.​

The future of international education ​

• Macro trends transforming the global education ecosystem​
• Future of international education and evolving provider roles​
• Social licence – where are we going wrong and what steps should we take?​
• Emerging market competition and regional diversification​
• Non-traditional destinations (Asia, Europe, Japan, South Korea)​
• Offshore delivery, TNE, and cross-border provision​
• Sustainable international education models​
• Fragmentation of the global education ecosystem​
• Regional trends and emerging opportunities​
• Innovative forms of international education engagement​

Key lens: Strategic positioning in an increasingly competitive, decentralised global market.​

Partnerships, mobility and learning abroad​

• ​Rethinking partnership models and outbound/inbound mobility​
• Best practice in partnerships (deepening, broadening, sustaining)​
• Measuring the impact of learning abroad​
• Funding and scaling short-term and mobility programs​
• Pre-departure preparation and student readiness​
• Driving student demand to Asia (particularly Southeast Asia)​
• New Colombo Plan reforms and scholarship uncertainty​

Key lens: Moving from transactional exchanges to impact-driven, scalable global engagement.​

Digital transformation, AI and innovation​

• Responding to rapid technological change across the student lifecycle​
• Generative AI and AI governance in education​
• Quality and integrity of learning and assessment in AI-enabled environments​
• Digital marketing, automation, and recruitment technologies​
• Digital credentialing and alternative credentials​
• Learning analytics and evidence-based intervention models​

Key lens: Harnessing AI and digital tools while safeguarding quality, ethics, and trust.​

Learning and teaching in the context of IE​

• Evolving pedagogy, curriculum, and teaching capability for global learners​
• Curriculum innovation (flexible, modular, WIL-aligned models)​
• Inclusive and culturally responsive teaching practices​
• Assuring learning quality across borders and delivery modes​
• Student voice and co-creation in curriculum design​
• Measuring learning impact beyond satisfaction metrics​

Key lens: Designing high-quality, globally relevant learning at scale.​

Student experience, equity and wellbeing​

• Supporting diverse cohorts in increasingly complex contexts​
• Student success, progression, and retention​
• Early intervention and academic support for international cohorts​
• Equity, access, and support for under-represented students​
• Student wellbeing, belonging, and resilience​
• Intercultural competence and global citizenship development​

Key lens: Shifting from recruitment to holistic, outcome-focused student experience.​

Graduate outcomes​

• Strengthening the education–employment nexus​
• Employability outcomes and work-integrated learning​
• Career transition planning​
• Education–migration–employability intersections​
• Workforce relevance and industry alignment​
• Impactful engagement with alumni​

Key lens: Ensuring international education delivers long-term career and economic value.​

Funding, sustainability and new business models​

• Responding to financial pressure and changing revenue dynamics​
• Alternative revenue streams for international education​
• University roles in funding scholarships beyond fee discounts​
• Scaling programs without proportional resourcing increases​
• Financial sustainability of partnerships and mobility programs​

Key lens: Building resilient, diversified, and ethical funding and business models.​

View 2026 Program at a Glance

Key dates

9 February - Call for proposals opens

20 March - Call for proposals closes

April - Registration open

June - Program released

31 July - Super early bird registration closes

18 September - Early bird registration closes

27 - 30 October – AIEC 2026

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