Global Campus Live 2026: Global Partnerships in Action

On January 20, the University of East London (UEL) Global Campus Team successfully hosted Global Campus Live 2026, a global online conference bringing together students, staff, alumni, employers and international partners to explore how cross-border collaboration is shaping employability, education and student opportunity.

Opening the conference, Gulnara Stover, Director of UEL Global Campus, welcomed participants joining from across India, the Middle East, the Americas, the United States and the UK, noting that Global Campus Live 2026 had achieved its highest level of registrations to date, with over 500 registrations.

She highlighted that the conference reflects UEL’s commitment to preparing students for meaningful global futures through real academic and employer partnerships, applied learning and international engagement.

She said,

In a rapidly changing world of work, industry-connected learning and international collaboration are no longer optional, they are essential. Today is about sharing what works, learning from each other and strengthening how we prepare students, wherever they are in the world, for global futures.”

The morning programme focused on building employability through industry partnerships, including a session led by Pooja Upadhyaya, Chair of the India Industry Advisory Board, which explored how collaboration with employers and advisory boards in India is strengthening industry relevance, internationalisation and applied learning across programmes.

This was followed by a Student Mobility in Action spotlight session, which was chaired by the Head of Global Experiences (Study Abroad) Cristina Muradore, which placed student and alumni voices at the centre of the discussion. 

The session showcased UEL’s Global Experiences programme and featured first-hand accounts from students and alumni who have participated in internships, volunteering and study opportunities in the UK and internationally. An interactive Q&A addressed practical employability pathways, including tailored guidance for international students navigating visa-related work restrictions.

The morning concluded with a session from Sukaina Jeraj, Associate Director for Graduate Success at UEL, focusing on the impact of global and employer-connected initiatives on graduate and student employment outcomes. Drawing on outcomes data and institutional insight, the session highlighted how UEL’s careers and graduate success initiatives are translating into tangible results, supported by growing employer recognition and alumni engagement.

The afternoon programme broadened the global lens, beginning with a session on The Future of Sport and Education in the United States, chaired by Stewart Bruce-Low, Director of Education and Experience at School of Health, Sport and Bioscience. The session featured contributions from UEL and Global Institute of Sport (GIS) alumni, who shared insights into employability within the US sports sector and reflected on how international education, industry exposure and alumni networks have shaped their professional journeys. Discussion also highlighted opportunities for collaboration, student exchange and cross-institutional networking between UEL and US partners.

Further sessions explored employer-connected learning in business education, followed by a Global Futures conversation bringing together UEL colleagues, partners and students. These discussions examined how Global Campus activity supports employability, internationalisation and skills development, with recurring emphasis on networking, curiosity, real-world experience and transferable skills.

Closing the conference, Associate Pro-Vice Chancellor (Careers And Employer Engagement) Adam Doyle reflected on the interconnected themes running throughout the day and the value of viewing global partnerships, student mobility and employability as part of a single ecosystem.

He said, 

When these conversations are considered together, they become greater than the sum of their parts. What we’ve seen today should be a starting point, not an endpoint, a foundation for future collaboration, skills development and global engagement.”

Global Campus Live 2026 reinforced UEL’s position as a university committed to industry-connected learning, international collaboration and preparing students, wherever they are in the world, for global futures, in line with the University’s Vision 2028.