・Research and Information-Gathering Activities (FY2025)
・Participation in CGHE Annual Conference 2026
・Participation in THE Europe Universities Summit 2026
Research and Information-Gathering Activities (FY2025)
During FY2025, the Educational Research Foundation (ERF) continued its research activities on key issues shaping the future of higher education. Areas of focus included lifelong learning, internationalization, digital transformation, artificial intelligence, and the implications of Artificial General Intelligence (AGI).
The Foundation monitored policy developments in the United Kingdom and the European Union, including the Lifelong Learning Entitlement (LLE), the European Universities Initiative, the European Degree, and emerging approaches to AI governance and digital education.
ERF also examined the potential impact of AGI and the Singularity on higher education, work, and society, with particular attention to the future role of universities in an AI-driven world.
Participation in CGHE Annual Conference 2026
University of Oxford | April 2026
The Educational Research Foundation (ERF) participated in the 11th Annual Conference of the Centre for Global Higher Education (CGHE), held at the University of Oxford on 23–24 April 2026. The conference, entitled “Navigating the Equity Crisis in Global Higher Education,” brought together more than 230 researchers, policymakers, and higher education leaders from around the world in both in-person and online formats. More than 140 presentations were delivered across 30 panels and roundtables.
The conference focused on one of the most pressing challenges facing higher education today: how to expand access and promote equity while maintaining quality and financial sustainability. Discussions covered a wide range of topics, including university financing, student support systems, international mobility, academic freedom, governance, leadership, and sustainability.
Particularly relevant to ERF’s research agenda were sessions addressing lifelong learning, widening participation, international student mobility, and the future of higher education in an increasingly complex geopolitical environment. The conference also highlighted growing interest in alternative models of internationalization, including virtual exchange, transnational collaboration, and more inclusive approaches to global engagement.
A recurring theme throughout the conference was the need to balance excellence with equity. Participants explored how higher education systems can respond to demographic change, technological disruption, rising costs, and increasing social expectations while continuing to serve the public good. These discussions resonate strongly with ERF’s ongoing research on lifelong learning, internationalization, digital transformation, and the impact of artificial intelligence on higher education.
ERF will continue to monitor international developments in these areas and contribute to dialogue on the future of higher education through research, international collaboration, and knowledge exchange.
Participation in THE Europe Universities Summit 2026
Milan, Italy | May 2026
Representatives of the Educational Research Foundation participated in the Times Higher Education (THE) Europe Universities Summit 2026, held in Milan, Italy.
The summit brought together university leaders, researchers, policymakers, and higher education practitioners from across Europe and beyond to discuss the future of higher education in an era of rapid technological change, increasing global interconnectedness, and growing societal challenges.
A central theme of the summit was the importance of strengthening Europe’s global role in higher education through international collaboration, innovation, and institutional leadership.
Key topics discussed included:
- Internationalisation and global engagement
- Interdisciplinary approaches to education and research
- Artificial intelligence and digital transformation in higher education
- University leadership and institutional strategy
- Collaboration between universities, industry, and society
- The future of student and staff mobility
Particular attention was given to the growing importance of university alliances, cross-border partnerships, and new forms of international cooperation that combine physical and virtual engagement.
The discussions highlighted the need for universities to prepare students not only with professional knowledge and skills, but also with the critical thinking, creativity, adaptability, and global perspectives required in an increasingly complex world.
The themes explored at the summit closely align with the Foundation’s areas of interest, including internationalisation, interdisciplinary education, Japan–Europe university partnerships, and the future of higher education in the age of artificial intelligence.
The Foundation will continue to monitor developments in European higher education and explore opportunities for research, dialogue, and collaboration that may contribute to the future development of higher education in Japan.