UIC Barcelona was represented at the annual conference organised by NAFSA: Association of International Educators, one of the most important international gatherings in the university sector. Held from 26 to 30 May in San Diego (United States), the event brought together representatives from universities around the world with the aim of promoting the value of international education and fostering strategic partnerships across North America.

The University was represented by Eduardo Mirpuri, vice-rector for International Relations, and Reetta Heikkinen, head of Global Partnerships in the International Relations Service. Both were part of the Catalan university delegation and used the opportunity to strengthen ties with existing partner institutions and establish new contacts with universities abroad.

During the conference, UIC Barcelona’s representatives attended a number of training sessions focused on the current challenges facing internationalisation in higher education. Key topics included migration policy in the United States, with particular attention to student visas and the political context affecting the university sector.

In addition to their participation in NAFSA sessions and networking activities, they also made institutional visits to three University of California campuses: UC San Diego, UC Berkeley and UCLA Extension. UIC Barcelona already has partnership agreements in place with UC Berkeley and UCLA Extension, which enable students to take part in programmes such as the Berkeley Summer Sessions and UCLA’s certificate programmes. The University currently offers dedicated grants for these initiatives as part of its commitment to boosting students’ international outlook.

The next NAFSA conference will take place in May 2026 in Orlando, Florida.