Future thinking

This year marks the 40th anniversary of the AIEC, a milestone in bringing together global leaders, educators, and innovators in international education. With the theme of Future Thinking, the 2026 conference celebrates four decades of progress while looking ahead to the next generation of ideas, challenges, and opportunities shaping education worldwide.

Future Thinking challenges us to look ahead with imagination and purpose.  From artificial intelligence and emerging technologies to new models of mobility and collaboration, the forces reshaping education are accelerating. This theme invites us to explore how the sector can anticipate global shifts, embrace innovation, and create more sustainable, inclusive, and connected pathways for learners and institutions worldwide.

At AIEC 2026, we will come together to share ideas, shift the narrative, and prepare our sector for the challenges and opportunities of tomorrow.  Future Thinking is about building the future of international education - together.  Our sector must not only prepare for the future, but help to create it.

Join us in honouring the past, embracing the present, and envisioning a bold future for international education.