The Irish Association for International Education (IAIE) held its inaugural conference, Internationalisation in Higher Education – Looking to the Future, at SETU’s Waterford Campus on 12–13 June. The presence of European University Alliances on the conference schedule was particularly strong. As a key partner in EU-CONEXUS, the European University for Smart Urban Coastal Sustainability, SETU played a prominent role in the conference programme, showcasing several internationalisation initiatives developed through the alliance.

Bridget Cheasty, EU-CONEXUS Communications Officer at SETU, and Dr Susan Flynn, Head of the Department of Arts at SETU, delivered a presentation on Creative Internationalisation through Arts and Culture. It highlighted equality, diversity, and inclusion as essential components of Internationalisation at Home, illustrating their observations with successful examples of creative practice within the EU-CONEXUS alliance.

Another standout of the programme was the display of EU-CONEXUS student visual art. The touring exhibition featured works by students from across the alliance, with each piece offering a unique and creative interpretation of coastal sustainability. Additionally, a poster session spotlighted the work of EngageAll, a Community of Practice (CoP) in which EU-CONEXUS at SETU actively participates. The poster outlined the CoP’s goals, including strengthening professional capacity and promoting best practices in internationalisation

The conference concluded with a panel discussion chaired by David Denieffe, Vice-President for Student Engagement at SETU and Head of the EU-CONEXUS Academic Council. Panellists included: Aoife Dowling, UNIC European University, Project Officer, UCC Evan Connor, Una Europa European University & EngageAll Community of Practice, UCD Dr Mike Kinsella, Science Lecturer and Academic Lead for EU-CONEXUS, SETU Santiago Dei Cas, Student, EU-CONEXUS European University, SETU Barry Dignam, Vice Dean European University, Programme Director FilmEU, IADT.

The discussion, titled Global Citizens: European University Alliances’ Contribution to Internationalising Higher Education in Europe, explored the role of European Universities in developing global citizens, promoting European values, and navigating geopolitical challenges. It also considered Ireland’s role within European Alliances and the future direction of these initiatives.

SETU student Santiago Dei Cas also shared his first-hand experience of completing two EU-CONEXUS modules as part of the minor programme offerings. He spoke eloquently about the personal and professional benefits of international learning, highlighting its value in strengthening his CV.

The IAIE conference at SETU provided a valuable platform to showcase the innovative internationalisation efforts taking place across European University Alliances. From insightful presentations and cross-institutional collaboration to student-led artistic expressions of sustainability, the event demonstrated how EU-CONEXUS is meaningfully contributing to the future of higher education. As the global landscape continues to evolve, EU-CONEXUS remains committed to fostering inclusive, creative, and forward-thinking approaches to education—preparing both students and staff to thrive as global citizens.