8 September 2026

SGroup – Universities in Europe was pleased to bring the conversation on Artificial Intelligence and the internationalisation of higher education to the EAIE Conference 2026 in Glasgow, with the workshop “Turning AI to the Human Beat: Supporting International Relations.”

The session explored how AI is increasingly shaping the work of international relations professionals in higher education, while highlighting the importance of keeping human expertise, collaboration and judgement at the centre of its adoption.

The workshop was led by Arnim Heinemann and Hanna Müller from the University of Bayreuth, Eugenio Bringas from the University of Cantabria, and Thibault Hoogstoel from Ghent University. Together, they brought perspectives and practical examples from their respective institutions, showcasing different approaches to exploring and integrating AI within the university context.

Participants were invited to move beyond theory and engage directly with AI tools, experimenting with practical applications relevant to internationalisation and reflecting on how these technologies could support their day-to-day work.

The session also provided a space for participants to exchange experiences, discuss the opportunities and challenges associated with AI adoption, and consider how institutions can approach AI in ways that are both innovative and grounded in their specific needs and contexts.

By bringing together institutional experiences and hands-on exploration, the workshop highlighted the potential of AI to support international relations while reinforcing the importance of the human dimension of internationalisation.

SGroup is committed to creating spaces for its members and the wider higher education community to explore emerging challenges and opportunities, share institutional practices, and collectively shape the future of international higher education.