EAIE Podcast

As many of us are still processing the numerous conversations, meetings, ideas and inspiration gathered at this year’s EAIE conference and exhibition in Glasgow, the next important development within the IHE field is already upon us. 
The European higher education community has long benefited from Erasmus+, a programme that has connected students, staff and institutions across borders for nearly four decades. Yet in recent years, two important members of that community, the United Kingdom and Switzerland, have operated outside the programme, developing alternative approaches to international mobility and cooperation while maintaining strong ties with partners across Europe. Now, with both countries set to rejoin Erasmus+ in 2027, a new chapter is beginning. What does this return mean? What lessons have been learned during the years outside the programme? And how can institutions make the most of the opportunities that lie ahead while managing expectations around this significant transition? 
In this EAIE podcast episode, host Laura Rumbley speaks with Erika Boak, Erasmus+ Higher Education Sector Lead for the British Council, and Amanda Crameri, Head of Higher Education at Movetia, Switzerland. Together, they reflect on what the return to Erasmus+ means, explore insights gained from operating beyond the programme framework, and discuss how international offices can prepare for this next phase of engagement.
About Amanda Crameri 
Amanda Crameri is Head of the Higher Education Unit at Movetia, the Swiss National Agency for the promotion of international cooperation and mobility, and designated Director of the future Swiss National Agency for Erasmus+. She has worked in international higher education since 2011, with a particular focus on international student mobility and cooperation. AC holds an MSc in General History and Italian Literature and Linguistics from the University of Zurich. She is passionate about international cooperation in higher education and about creating opportunities for students and institutions to connect, learn and grow across borders. 
About Erika Boak 
Erika Boak is the Erasmus+ Higher Education Sector Lead for the British Council and leads efforts to mobilise the UK Higher Education sector.  Previously, she was the EU Education Director, where she provided strategic leadership of the British Council’s work in EU mobility, research and transnational education, strengthening focus and impact. Before joining the British Council, Erika was Head of International Strategy and Partnerships at the Department for Education (DfE). Before DfE, Erika worked internationally, including for UNESCO and UNICEF.
Additional resources
For further insights into the topics touched on in this episode, the following resources may be of interest:
→ Eyes on Erasmus+
→ EU’s Multiannual Financial Framework 2028-2034: What’s in it for Europe’s higher education institutions?

The countdown to the EAIE 2026 Conference and Exhibition in Glasgow has begun! Between 08 and 11 September 2026, many topics in international higher education will be discussed during sessions, networking events, informal gatherings, and the opening and closing plenaries. As we look toward this exciting gathering, EAIE podcast host Laura Rumbley had the pleasure of interviewing both of our esteemed plenary speakers for this year, Beau Lotto and Lewis Iwu. 
In these short getting-to-know-you chats with Beau and Lewis, various topics are addressed, ranging from what international living and learning mean to them to how they interpret this year’s conference theme, the Rhythm of Revolution. Get a sneak peek on what’s on the minds of this year’s Keynote speakers and what they plan to talk about in Glasgow by tuning in to this EAIE podcast episode! 
About Beau Lotto
Beau Lotto is a neuroscientist, entrepreneur and world-renowned perception expert whose work bridges neuroscience, design, technology and human behaviour. A three-time TED mainstage speaker with over 10 million views, he is the author of Deviate: The Science of Seeing Differently and has shared his insights with the World Economic Forum, Google’s Zeitgeist and TED. He was nominated for the MacArthur Genius Award and the Josef Albers Prize for Disruptive Innovation.
About Lewis Iwu
Lewis Iwu is a leading expert in public speaking, debate and strategic communication, helping organisations shape arguments and campaigns that drive social change. Over nearly two decades, he has worked with global organisations including the UN, Unilever and Pfizer. A former World Debating Champion, he has participated in or moderated over 1000 debates and is the author of Words That Win. He was named PRWeek’s 2025 Most Purposeful Professional globally.
Additional resources
For further insights into the topics touched on in this episode, the following resources may be of interest:
→ EAIE Glasgow 2026

The (international) higher education community continues to grapple with the reality that academic freedom - long regarded as essential to open, democratic societies - remains vulnerable across the globe. Today, scholars face escalating pressures from political forces, censorship, and conflict, while institutions navigate increasingly complex ethical and geopolitical terrain. Scholars at Risk, an international network of higher education institutions and individuals working together to protect scholars and promote academic freedom, is celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2026. A quarter century of defending the right to think, to question and to share ideas. But how has this work evolved? What does the landscape look like now, in 2026? And how can institutions and individuals meaningfully contribute to protecting academic freedom in their own contexts?
In this EAIE podcast episode, host Laura Rumbley speaks with Robert Quinn, founding Executive Director of Scholars at Risk. Together, they explore how SAR’s mission and activities have developed over the past 25 years, which achievements have been most meaningful, and the threats and opportunities shaping academic freedom today. Don’t miss this thoughtful and forward-looking conversation and tune into this episode of the EAIE Podcast.
About Robert Quinn
Robert Quinn is a human rights advocate, lecturer, lawyer, and executive director of the Scholars at Risk Network, (SAR) an international movement of over 600 higher education institutions and thousands of individuals in over 50 countries dedicated to protecting at-risk scholars, promoting academic freedom, and defending everyone’s freedom to think, question and share ideas. Robert is a co-editor of Free to Think, SAR’s annual reports on attacks on universities worldwide; co-instructor on the free online course "Dangerous Questions: Why Academic Freedom Matters" (long-form MOOC course, with Futurelearn and short-form mini-course with Amnesty International); and the host of the Free to Think podcast, featuring conversations with inspiring people working at the intersection of power and ideas. 
Additional resources
For further insights into the topics touched on in this episode, the following resources may be of interest:
→ Scholars at Risk – Free to Think
→ Supporting at-risk researchers in Europe
→ Encieh Erfani and Daniel Munier: What’s happening in Iran?
→ Sinead O’Gorman: Academic freedom in a complex world

We find ourselves at a time when political tensions, misinformation, and social divides increasingly spill onto university campuses across Europe and beyond. Higher education institutions are trying to respond to growing polarisation and a need to strengthen democratic culture. But how can the foundations for constructive dialogue be secured on our campuses? What’s involved in equipping future citizens with the skills to engage constructively? And how do institutions remain resilient in a rapidly shifting world?
In this EAIE podcast episode, host Laura Rumbley speaks with Tatiana Zimenkova, Vice President for Internationalisation and Diversity at the Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences (Germany), and Arend Hardorff, member of the Executive Board of The Hague University of Applied Sciences (THUAS; the Netherlands). They discuss the real-world challenges facing higher education institutions eager to foster space for respectful, reasoned conversations on campus amid global conflicts, rising populism, and questions about academic freedom, as well as the responsibility HEIs feel to create safe, inclusive spaces for dialogue. Be sure to tune in to hear about the good practices implemented at these two institutions, how to engage ‘the silent middle' and what these speakers recommend to others eager to address, and ideally reduce, polarisation on campus. 
About Tatiana Zimenkova
Professor Dr habil. Tatiana Zimenkova is Vice President for Internationalisation and Diversity at the Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences (Germany), where she is a professor of sociology. She received her doctorate and habilitation in sociology at Bielefeld University. Her goals include further strengthening and developing HSRW’s international character and strategy, as well as increasing visibility and awareness of diversity-related issues. She envisions an inclusive university where each person is empowered and able to achieve their goals. At the same time, her aim is also to enable all members of the university to participate in decision-making processes and the campus community. 
About Arend Hardorff
Arend Hardorff joined the Executive Board at The Hague University of Applied Sciences (the Netherlands) on 1 September 2022. Arend studied Leisure and Tourism Studies at the University of Tilburg. After his studies, he worked as a lecturer and programme manager, and from 2012 to 2018 as Director of the Academy for Leisure at Breda University of Applied Sciences. From August 2018 until August 2022, he was a member of the Executive Board and Dean of Hotelschool The Hague, responsible for Education and Research. 
Additional resources
For further insights into the topics touched on in this episode, the following resources may be of interest:
→ The Hague Network
→ Dangerous questions: Why not keep quiet?
→ Living our EAIE values in times of conflict

In May 2021, the EAIE podcast published an episode on micro-credentials. At that moment, there was a thrilling mix of excitement and uncertainty surrounding this topic. Would micro-credentials live up to the expectations? How would higher education institutions be transformed, and how would they adapt? Maria Kelo, then the Director of the European Association for Quality Assurance in Higher Education, answered some of these questions, unaware of what the world would have in store for all of us.
We now find ourselves five years later, and we deemed it was time to revisit this topic, which was actually one of the most popular EAIE podcast episodes to date. EAIE Podcast host Laura Rumbly and Maria Kelo, now the director of the Institutional Development Unit at EUA (European University Association), are back to once again dive into the constantly evolving world of micro-credentials. What key developments took place over the last several years? How is the current policy environment shaping the conversation around micro-credentials? And if we look ahead, what might the future have in store for us? Don’t miss out on this episode of the EAIE podcast! 
About Maria Kelo
Maria Kelo is the director of the Institutional Development Unit at EUA (European University Association), which focuses on higher education learning and teaching, recognition, and quality assurance. Before joining EUA in January 2022, Maria was, for over a decade, the Director of ENQA, the European Association for Quality Assurance in Higher Education, and a member of the EQAR Executive Board from 2013-2020. She took part in European policy-making processes within the Bologna Process and through cooperation with the European Commission. Prior to joining ENQA, Maria worked for 9 years in international higher education across different European organisations and as a private consultant, gaining significant experience in quality assurance, international higher education, and higher education reform. Maria is a graduate of University College London and the London School of Economics.
Additional resources
For further insights into the topics touched on in this episode, the following resources may be of interest:
→ EUA – Trends 2024 report
→ EAIE Podcast: Maria Kelo: The big new world of micro-credentials
→ EAIE Blog: From micro-credentials to micro-courses: The future of flexible higher education