Student Mobility Summit

Every 7 years, International Officers face a new Erasmus+ programme. This change brings new and exciting opportunities for mobility, but the uncertainty and information revealed only at a later stage can put extra pressure on IROs. While the new 2028-2034 programme and its plans for mobility are not yet public, universities are already bracing for potential issues and bottlenecks in the transition years. How can they best prepare for this change? What realistic scenarios can IROs expect in 2028? And how to brace for change while still embracing it?

The Student Mobility Summit 2027 will bring together practitioners from across Europe to explore the opportunities and challenges the new programme may bring, while also looking beyond it and helping stakeholders envision what mobility and the International Office will look like in the future. Through thought-provoking panels, expert-led workshops and dynamic hackathons, you will gain relevant insights, discover new perspectives on mobility, its future and the new Erasmus+ programme, and work alongside peers to prepare and plan your next steps towards 2028. Don’t navigate the transition alone - join us and prepare for what comes next!

KEYNOTES AND PANELS

Hear what the Erasmus+ programme in 2028 means for your institution, from the KA131/171 merger to the International Office of the future

Workshops

Expert-led sessions on big questions related to mobility and Erasmus+: budget bottlenecks, ECHE renewal or AI for International Offices.

Mobility Talks

Informal discussions with peers on practical topics, like mobility budgets or short-term and blended formats.

Hackathons

Team up with peers to tackle real mobility challenges and design solutions ready for 2028.

Programme

9:00	Aula Magna	Arrival and registration
9:20	Aula Magna	Welcome and introduction to the event
9:40	Aula Magna	Keynote speech: The new Erasmus+ programme and its impact for Universities
9:55	Aula Magna	Panel discussion: How ready are universities for Erasmus+ 2028?
11:00		Coffee break
11:30	Josep Carner building	Future of Erasmus+ workshops Participants will be assigned to their preferred topic, to the extent possible. ECHE renewal/application: addressing the ECHE principles This workshop will guide participants through the changes expected in the 2027/2028 (re)accreditation process, including what is already known about the Erasmus+ Quality Standards for HE. It will also help participants reflect on how to ensure a smoother transition and a continuous offer of high-quality mobility experiences. How to improve the institutional monitoring of IIAs and future-proof partnerships Partnerships are at the cornerstone of internationalisation, but assessment approaches vary across HEIs and often rely on individualised analysis. What could be done to ensure international partnerships are fruitful and sustainable? What criteria are most often used to monitor them? This session will tackle these and other questions, showcasing research results on the evaluation of international partnerships. Internationalisation resilience: preparing internationalisation for the challenges of tomorrow Through this workshop, participants will hear more about research results on resilient and responsible internationalisation and understand how different universities are dealing with the new reality of multiple crises affecting the IRO (and the university at large). Together, they will reflect on what needs to change at each HEI to turn internationalisation resilience from concept to practice. Embedding Internationalisation in the fabric of HEIs How can we open internationalisation to the whole academic community? How to foster the international engagement of university staff not usually involved in internationalisation? And what actions can turn internationalisation into a common goal, instead of an IRO responsibility? This workshop will showcase research results and resources to support a mindset shift toward international cooperation. Anticipating the integration of UK and CH in Erasmus+ This workshop will help universities to prepare for the possibility to start exchanging students and staff with both Switzerland and UK starting from the 2027 call for funding. The workshop will also help share views from representatives of Swiss, UK, and existing programme country institutions. International dimension in KA131/171 merger This workshop will delve into the international dimension of joint mobility programmes from 2028 onwards, focusing on partner countries' perspectives, sustaining collaboration, and foreshadowing mobility implementation in the new programme. The role of joint programmes in the field of internationalisation: challenges and opportunities
13:00		Lunch
14:00		Mobility talks
15:00	Aula Magna	Panel discussion: Dealing with the KA131/171 transition in 2027/2028
16:00		SMS Reception & networking

9:30	Aula Magna	Panel discussion: The impact of the European Degree on mobility and Erasmus+ at large
11:00		Coffee break
11:30	Josep Carner building	Future of mobility workshops Managing the mobility budget: how to brace for bottlenecks? How to prepare for the 2027/2028 break? This workshop will explore different mobility funding management practices and reflect on past experiences with Erasmus+ programmes’ transition to help participants best prepare for the upcoming one. Structuring dual education opportunities combining studies and international traineeships Through case studies and experience sharing, participants will reflect on the potential (and challenges) of traineeships and dual education opportunities to foster University-Business collaboration. Short, long-term, hybrid mobility or virtual exchange: how to segment students and offer the best mobility experience Participants will reflect on the role of each mobility format and the student support needed for each. Afterwards, they will jointly explore how to guide students to the most suitable mobility opportunity. Blended Intensive Programmes Through this workshop, participants will learn good practices of BIP management at each stage of the process, while also discussing the advantages and challenges of different management approaches. In the end, they will consider how BIP implementation should evolve in the new Erasmus+ programme. Communicate and relate: engaging with the students of tomorrow Participants will gain relevant insights into tools and communication styles that can better engage current and upcoming student cohorts, while also reflecting on mobility communication and engagement & the role of the IRO. Automatic recognition for all: can it be a reality in 2028-2034? This workshop will explore the current state of automatic credit recognition in Europe and the key factors that enable it. Participants will reflect on the steps needed for it to become a reality for all in the new programme. AI for International Offices How can AI tools support the IRO? What are the use cases? And how to foster responsible use? Participants will discuss the risks and opportunities of AI use in mobility management, and consider how to move forward in a conscious and responsible way.
13:00		Lunch
14:00	Josep Carner building	Mobility talks
15:00		Coffee break
15:30	Josep Carner building	Future of mobility hackathons (part 1)

9:30	Aula Magna	Keynote speech & discussion: How ready are universities for Erasmus+ 2028?
11:00		Coffee break
11:30	Josep Carner Building	Future of mobility hackathons (part 2)
13:00		Lunch
14:00	Aula Magna	Wrap-up panel (interactive) Beyond Erasmus: What should European mobility look like after 2034? Celebration of what we have achieved SMS key outcomes Tips for universities to prepare for the new programme
16:00		Closing and farewell

The agenda is subject to changes.

Arrivals and Local Transportation

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Venue: University of Barcelona, Historic Building

Address: Gran Via de les Corts Catalanes, 585, 08007 Barcelona

Reach the venue from Barcelona main train station (Estació de Sants)

By metro:
Take the L3 (Green Line) from “Sants Estació“ toward “Trinitat Nova”. Get off at “Plaça Catalunya” after six stops. From Plaça Catalunya, you also have the option to walk to Plaça Universitat. It’s a pleasant 5-7 minute walk that lets you experience the city’s vibrant center.

Alternatively, you can continue by Metro. At Plaça Catalunya, transfer to the L1 (Red Line) in the direction of “Hospital de Bellvitge”. After just one stop, get off at “Plaça Universitat”.

The total travel time by metro is approximately 10-12 minutes, and trains run
frequently.

Reach the venue from Barcelona airport

By metro:
Take Line L9S towards “Zona Universitaria” for 12 stops, and at “Torassa” station, transfer to Line L1 towards “Fondo”. You will need to travel for 8 stops until you reach “Universitat”, which is right in front of the University building.

By bus:
If you choose to travel by plane, at the terminal take the Aerobús. The final stop, Plaça Catalunya, is a 5-minute walk from the venue.

Taxis are readily available at Barcelona Airport and Barcelona train station. We encourage sharing taxis as a more sustainable and economical travel option.

Useful links

Visit Barcelona
Public Transport
TMB Barcelona bus and metro
Hola Barcelona App

Sustainability at the Summit

At the Student Mobility Summit, environmental stewardship is embraced as a shared value, reflected in thoughtful choices around event organisation, resource use, and sustainability.

To minimise waste, all event materials, including certificates and speakers’ handouts, are provided primarily in digital format. Eco-friendly badges and lanyards are used on site, and participants are encouraged to return them after the event to support circularity. Catering arrangements also prioritise the use of standard, reusable glasses and cutlery instead of disposable options.

Participants, speakers, and team members are encouraged to travel sustainably by choosing public transport, carpooling, or ridesharing whenever possible. We thank you for joining us in these efforts and look forward to an engaging and impactful Summit.

Early Bird*

390 €

VAT included

All access
Conference
Workshops
Mobility Talks
Hackathons

*First 20 tickets or until 30 Sept.
Discount available for EUF members

Full Pass

490 €

VAT included

All access
Conference
Workshops
Mobility Talks
Hackathons

Registration deadline: 1.12.2026
Discount available for EUF members

Registration

FAQ

Is it a physical or a hybrid event?

The Student Mobility Summit is a physical event taking place at the University of Barcelona. Online streaming will not be available.

What does registration include?

Registration includes:

Access to all keynotes, panels, and your selected workshops
Participating in all hackathons, or mobility talks
Access to all lunches and coffee breaks
Access to social events

Can I pay by bank transfer?

Yes. You can choose your payment method at the end of the registration process.

However, we recommend paying by card. If you choose bank transfer, you will first receive a proforma invoice, and the final invoice will be generated upon receiving the payment.

Would this event be eligible for the Erasmus+ staff training grants?

Yes. In order to get the Staff Training Grant Agreement duly signed please send us completed and signed agreements, and ensure the section for the receiving institution is properly filled out:

Name: University of Barcelona
Erasmus code (if applicable): E BARCELO01
Faculty/Department (if applicable): Office of Mobility and International Programmes
Address: Gran Via de les Corts Catalanes, 585, 08007 Barcelona, Spain
Country code: ES
Contact person: Núria Massons
Contact person e-mail / phone: ompi@ub.edu

Please, send your agreements to a dedicated email summit@uni-foundation.eu.

When will I receive the invoice for my registration?

Payments are processed through our event management system, with invoices automatically generated upon receiving the payment. For credit card payments, the invoice is generated immediately upon registration. For bank transfers, a proforma invoice is issued at registration, followed by the final invoice once payment is received. Manual invoice generation is not available.

When will I receive my Certificate of Attendance?

Each participant will receive a digital certificate of attendance after the event; there will be no printed versions as the digital format is more environmentally friendly.

How do I apply the discount for EUF members?

To apply the reduced rate, kindly input your discount code before choosing a payment method. Please, find the manual with the list of EUF members on this link.

Organising partners

This event is organised under the aegis of the UB-EUF University Internationalisation Hub