Connecting Continents, Shaping Education Abroad

The goal of The Forum on Education Abroad’s Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) Conference is to create a space for connection and learning that explores the pressing issues shaping the future of international education in this region. Join us in Lisbon, Portugal, for an event that unites three continents in a geographic region with a long history of political, social, and cultural interaction.

In 2026, the EMEA Conference will again be held in conjunction with The Forum’s Careers, Internships, and Global Learning (CIGL) Conference.

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Call For Proposals Open Now! 
​Navigating Transition: Redefining Connection(s) through International Education 

While all submissions are welcome, we invite international educators to share proposals that address the following topics: 

• Making the case for education abroad  
  
• Cultivating responsible and mutually beneficial partnerships between stakeholders  
  
• Transforming conflict into collaboration  
  
• Leveraging new technologies while maintaining human connection 
  
• Connecting with today’s students and connecting them with local communities 
  
• Destinations in transition: “Traditional,” “non-traditional,” and over-touristed   
  
• Socially, economically, and environmentally sustainable international education  
  
• Health, safety, and well-being: emerging concerns both for students and local staff 
  
• Standards of Good Practice for an evolving field 
  

The deadline to share a proposal is January 26, 2026.   ​

Learn More

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Hosted by FLAD at the Universidade de Lisboa

Host:
FLAD - Luso-American Development Foundation at the Universidade de Lisboa

Venue:
Reitoria da Universidade de Lisboa

We are honored to be hosted by FLAD, the Luso-American Development Foundation, at the Universidade de Lisboa, for the EMEA Conference 2026 in Lisbon, Portugal. As FLAD celebrates 40 years of fostering cooperation between Portugal and the United States, we’re proud to join them in their mission to advance transatlantic collaboration in education, science, culture, and beyond. Thank you to FLAD and the Universidade de Lisboa for welcoming the global education abroad community to Portugal, hosting the conference at the well-known Reitoria da Universidade de Lisboa, and for your enduring commitment to building bridges across borders.

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Key Upcoming Dates

• ​January 26, 2026: Call for Proposals Deadline 
• April 16, 2026: Conference Schedule Available
• July 10, 2026: Early Bird Registration Ends
• ​September 11, 2026: Regular Registration Ends 
• October 8, 2026: Late Registration Ends ​ 

Be sure to subscribe to our weekly newsletter, the Forum News, so you don’t miss any updates about the EMEA Conference 2026.

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2026 Committee Members

Special thanks to our Europe, Middle East, and Africa Conference Committee for their guidance in preparing for the 2026 Conference.
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Committee

• Hilal Al Mamari, Takatuf Scholars Program (Oman)
• Lindsay Allen, AEP: Academic Experience in Prague/AAUP (Czech Republic)
• Bridget Banaszak, Franklin University (US)
• Heidi Barends, EDU Africa (South Africa)
• Michael Baum, FLAD, Luso-American Development Foundation (Portugal)
• Megan Buntin, Northeastern University (US)
• Ashley Courney, Columbia University (US)
• Isabelle Crist, Vanderbilt University (US)
• Oussama El Addouli, IES Abroad (Morocco)
• Cynthia Engel, Director, Career Design Center, Oregon State University (US)
  
• Sydney Fetkenhauer, Kansas State University (US)
• Katie Ford, Williams College/AASAP (United Kingdom)
• Jessica Francis, Wake Forest University (US)
• Kim Griffin, APUNE (Spain)
• Heather Harris, Arabic Language Institute in Fez (Morocco)
• Jonathan Kaplan, Hebrew University of Jerusalem (Retired) (Israel)
• Shinsaeng (Shinn) Ko, Emory University (US)
• Katie Lopez, University of Michigan School of Social Work (US)
• Janine Ludwig, Dickinson in Bremen/AASAP eV (Germany)
• Christiane Magnido, Middlebury C.V. Starr School in Cameroon (Cameroon)
• Marco Marino, Sant'Anna Institute (Italy)
• Ignacio Messana, Florida State University/EUASA (Spain)
• Hila Nevo, Tel-Hai College (Israel)
• Alegra O'Donoghue, CET Academic Programs (US)
• Ana Cristina Perdigão, National Agency Erasmus+ (Portugal)
• Monica Perez-Bedmar, Slu.madrid (Spain)
• Aurélie Perrier, Academic Programs Abroad/APUAF (France)
• David Puente, WorldStrides (Spain)
• Otilia Reis, Portuguese Fulbright Commission
• Fabrizio Ricciardelli, Kent State University Florence Center/AACUPI (Italy)
• Mary Alice Soriero, CEA CAPA (Spain)
• Samila Sosic, Miami Dade College (US)
• Trung Tran, University of California Education Abroad Programs (Italy)
• Kalliopi Triantafyllidou, CYA (College Year in Athens) (Greece)
• Erin Tschupp, Accent Global Learning (UK)
• Sean Walpole, VACorps (South Africa)
• Elizabeth Frohlich, The Forum on Education Abroad
• Genesis Jardinico, The Forum on Education Abroad

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Sponsorship Opportunities (coming soon)

The Forum offers unparalleled opportunities for visibility to audiences across the education abroad and global learning space.