Abstract
Many successful international partnerships begin with individual connections, shared interests and small-scale collaborative initiatives. These early interactions identify common goals and create opportunities for deeper cooperation. The challenge for higher education institutions is to transform these beginnings into sustainable, strategic partnerships that deliver long-term value.
This interactive workshop explores how small-scale, multi-actor initiatives can evolve into lasting partnerships. Participants will discuss how collaborative projects and research networks can act as catalysts for stronger institutional engagement.
Through facilitated discussions, participants will examine three key questions: How can institutions identify and support emerging partnership opportunities? How can AI-enabled and data-informed approaches complement, rather than replace, the human relationships that underpin successful collaboration? And what institutional mechanisms help to turn informal connections into sustainable partnerships with meaningful educational, research, and societal impact?
The workshop will generate practical strategies for balancing bottom-up relationship building with institutional priorities, overcoming barriers, and creating human-centred partnership ecosystems in an increasingly AI-enabled higher education environment.
Learning objectives
By the end of this workshop, participants will be able to:
- Identify the key factors that enable small-scale initiatives and research networks to evolve into sustainable international partnerships.
- Analyse the role of human relationships, trust-building, and stakeholder engagement in developing long-term collaborations in an AI-enabled higher education environment.
- Design practical approaches for balancing bottom-up partnership development with institutional internationalisation priorities.
- Apply a partnership development framework to strengthen existing networks and create pathways toward broader educational, research, and societal impact.
Target audience
International higher education leaders, international relations and partnership professionals, mobility coordinators, research collaboration managers