Liverpool Hope University welcomed higher education leaders from around the world as it played host to the 2023 Consortium for Global Education (CGE) International Conference.
Representatives from universities in North America, Europe, Africa, Asia and the Middle East were in attendance to discuss the future of Christian higher education at the second edition of the event.
Founded in 1987, the CGE is a global non-profit organisation of 27 accredited American private universities and a further 15 institutions from across the globe who have affiliate member status.
Its aim is to support the internationalisation of higher education by providing opportunities for academics, staff and students to participate in overseas study programmes and international partnership activity.
Liverpool Hope is the only UK member of the CGE and was invited to host the 2023 conference entitled, Exploring the Future of Christian Higher Education: Engagement with the World.
The three-day event featured a programme of keynote speakers, as well as a series of panel discussions covering a variety of topics, including international student engagement and the opportunities and challenges within Christian leadership.
Liverpool Hope’s Vice-Chancellor & Rector Professor Claire Ozanne spoke at the conference, while keynote addresses were delivered by Chancellor Professor Monica Grady, and President of Initiatives of Change International and former Vice-Chancellor Professor Gerald Pillay.
Reflecting on the importance of the conference, President of the Consortium for Education, Dr Carolyn Bishop, said: “Since our last international conference in 2006 university campuses have changed, the delivery of education has changed and the role of staff in delivering that education has changed.
“This conference provided us with the chance to reflect on those changes and think about what our campuses might look like in the future and how they will deliver quality academic education in the sphere of Christian faith.
“We have heard from a lot of different perspectives, but the thread of the discussion has been that we should look at how we can work together because we will be stronger if we do.”
Dr Wendy Bignold, Associate Dean (International) at Liverpool Hope University, added: “The CGE plays an important role in facilitating international programmes for hundreds of students each year and we were honoured to host their second international conference.
“This was a valuable opportunity to connect with leaders at other Christian institutions, to share ideas on how we can best engage with the international student community and also to explore opportunities where staff and institutions might work together more closely.”