Piet Van Hove, past president of the European Association for International Education (EAIE) and current program manager of the Heroes European University Alliance at the Thomas More University of Applied Sciences, tells how he was immersed in international education from a very young age, as he was born in the US whilst his father was completing his doctoral studies and moved back to the US for a year at the age of 10 where he attended an American primary school. After graduating from law school he began immediately working in international higher education.

Piet shares his concerns about the current political climate in many countries, which often view international higher education negatively, and emphasizes the importance of demonstrating the positive impact of international higher education on society as a whole, specifically its role in strengthening the social fabric by offering international and intercultural experiences to all students. Piet shares his experience as president of the EAIE, reflecting on key developments, challenges, and opportunities for European higher education, including the role that European University Alliances play in promoting international collaboration across all levels of higher education institutions… and he shares the memorable experience of an Erasmus Mundus program with South Africa and China where he witnessed the transformative impact of international education on students from underrepresented backgrounds.