Going Global 2026 İstanbul
Future-Ready Tertiary Education
Higher education leaders from Central Asia, the South Caucasus, and Türkiye are gathering in İstanbul on 17-19 November for an international conference dedicated to shaping the future of tertiary education.
Conference Overview
Going Global 2026 Istanbul is the British Council's flagship international education conference, bringing together decision-makers from universities, government, quality assurance bodies, and the private sector. This regional conference focuses on six countries with significant tertiary education systems: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Türkiye and Uzbekistan.
Together, these countries are home to over 900 higher education institutions, 12 million tertiary students, and 3.5 million TVET learners. The region is experiencing rapid educational expansion alongside geopolitical challenges, creating urgent questions about quality, innovation, and international collaboration.
Conference Theme: Future-Ready Tertiary Education
How can tertiary education systems in Central Asia, the South Caucasus, and Türkiye build quality, innovation, and resilience amid rapid expansion? Going Global 2026 explores six critical questions:
- How do systems safeguard quality of teaching and strengthen capacity as they grow?
- How can governments raise research quality through international collaboration?
- What role can digital learning and EdTech play in improving education?
- How can tertiary education and TVET build resilience and labour market relevance?
- How do systems embed equity and inclusion at scale?
- How can international collaboration strengthen capacity, quality, and innovation?
Rapid developments in AI, institutional leadership, and student engagement cut across all themes.
Special Focus: International Collaboration in Crisis
A dedicated spotlight session examines how international partnerships support education systems during conflict and crisis. Featuring Ukraine's experience of educational resilience, innovation, and recovery—demonstrated through continued system operation, institutional adaptation, and deepened European partnerships—this session explores leadership in practice and how international collaboration generates hope and drives transformation.
Key Conference Topics
Quality Assurance and Teaching Excellence
Learning from European standards (ENQA, QAA) and international best practice to maintain quality during system expansion.
Research Excellence and Global Partnerships
How UK and international research collaborations strengthen rankings, citations, and graduate outcomes across the region.
Digital Education and EdTech
Quality standards for online, blended, and technology-enhanced learning as digital provision expands regionally.
TVET and Labour Market Alignment
Designing education systems that balance employer needs, student demand, and future skills requirements.
Equity at Scale
System-wide approaches to ensure tertiary education reaches women, disadvantaged backgrounds, persons with disabilities, and displaced populations.
International Collaboration and Innovation
Bilateral, regional, and global partnerships that accelerate capacity building, quality improvement, and institutional transformation.
Programme Highlights
- Keynote speakers from the region, UK, EU, and beyond
- Expert panels on each of the six key questions
- Masterclasses on leadership, governance, and institutional transformation
- Breakout sessions for deep-dive discussions
- Networking opportunities and bilateral meetings
- Student voice sessions featuring young leaders and representatives
- Special focus session on education in times of crisis
Connect With Us
Follow Going Global 2026 updates:
- LinkedIn: British Council Higher Education - https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/british-council-higher-education/
- X/Twitter: @HEGoingGlobal and @trBritish
- Instagram: @turkeybritishcouncil
Learn more about the conference: https://www.britishcouncil.org/going-global-2026