Plenary Sessions

In a time of global instability, polarization, and growing questions about the public value of higher education, leadership matters more than ever. This opening plenary brings together institutional and philanthropic leaders for a timely conversation on the role of global learning in higher education. Panelists will explore why global learning remains central to higher education's mission and how it prepares students for work, life, citizenship, and leadership in an interconnected world. They will also discuss how to advance and sustain global learning amid competing priorities, political challenges, and increasing pressures on higher education.

Where do we go from here? How do we advance global learning amid the noise? Drawing on experiences from different institutional contexts, faculty leaders will engage in a candid conversation about the realities, challenges, and opportunities shaping global learning today. Through stories of creativity, commitment, and resilience, they will explore how institutions can continue to advance meaningful global learning experiences while responding to evolving student needs and institutional priorities.

The virtual component of the conference will kick off with a vibrant panel discussion addressing the complexities and realities of global learning. The panelists will examine how individuals and institutions frame and enact global learning in different global contexts. Attendees will have the opportunity to submit questions for plenary panelists during the session.

We conclude the virtual component of the conference with an interactive town hall conversation focused on the future of global learning. At this challenging time for our field and our world, please bring your ideas for what we can do as a community to affirm, sustain, and advance global learning amid economic and social uncertainty and shifting political contexts across higher education and around the globe. This is an opportunity to identify priorities, strengthen connections, and chart our path forward in solidarity.