Meet Our ICIS 2026 Keynote Speakers

We are honored to welcome distinguished scholars and experts from leading universities around the world to deliver keynote speeches at The 2nd International Conference on Internationalisation and Sustainability in Higher Education (ICIS2026).

Our keynote speakers bring diverse expertise in internationalisation, global learning, academic mobility, and sustainable higher education, offering valuable insights and cutting-edge research perspectives to the academic community.

👉 Below are the distinguished keynote speakers who will join the conference:

1. Prof. Joan DeJaeghere, Department of Organizational Leadership, Policy and Development, University of Minnesota, USA. She has more than 25 years of scholarship and practice in comparative and international education and has contributed to research and policy conversations across diverse global contexts. DeJaeghere is also a Principal Investigator for the RISE Vietnam team, supporting evidence on improving education systems.

Keynote Topic: "Global Education Research and Leadership"

The keynote argues that universities should operate for the global commons, prioritizing shared human and environmental interests beyond national or institutional agendas. It highlights the importance of equitable international partnerships that foster transdisciplinary collaboration and knowledge exchange. Achieving this requires leadership capable of challenging existing systems and promoting diversity, equity, and justice in global higher education.

2. Prof. Tran Thi Ly, School of Education, Deakin University, Australia - a leading scholar in international education at Deakin University’s School of Education, Australia. Recognized as one of The PIE’s “Top 50 Voices” (2023), she has received awards like the Melbourne Asia Game Changer Award and IEAA Excellence Awards (2014, 2021). Prof. Tran has delivered over 100 keynote and plenary talks globally, specializing in international student experiences, graduate employability, student mobility, and higher education internationalisation in the Australia-Asia context.

Keynote Topic: "Educational Research for Impact"

The keynote calls for impact-oriented research in the internationalisation of higher education, focusing on how it affects equity, student outcomes, and sustainable development rather than just mobility numbers. Drawing on studies of international students, employability, migration policies, and English-medium instruction, it shows how structural factors shape unequal opportunities. It concludes by proposing a framework to guide research that creates real impact for students, institutions, and society.

3. Prof. Hiroshi Ota, Center for General Education, Hitotsubashi University, Japan. He serves as Director of the Hitotsubashi University Global Education Program (HGP).  His research primarily focuses on higher education policies and practices related to internationalization and international student mobility from a comparative perspective.

Keynote Topic: "Global Education Program Leadership"

International student mobility has traditionally been driven by the idea of openness and global expansion in higher education. However, rising geopolitical tensions and economic security concerns are reshaping policies, with many countries placing greater control and restrictions on international students. At the same time, East Asian countries are increasingly using international student recruitment to address domestic challenges such as declining enrolment and labor shortages, raising concerns that internationalisation is becoming overly focused on numbers rather than educational values.

4. Prof. Stefanie Sauer, Protestant University of Applied Sciences Berlin (EHB), Germany. She also is a graduate social worker and has worked for youth welfare agencies and as a government inspector in the youth welfare office of the Neukölln district office in Berlin. Her work and research focuses on families, migration, and counseling.

Keynote Topic: "International social work - especially transnational social work”

The article argues that academic learning should integrate cultural education and the arts, as learning involves not only cognitive processes but also aesthetic and bodily experiences. Drawing on theories from Friedrich Schiller, John Dewey, and Albert Bandura, it shows how artistic activities can develop both soft skills and academic knowledge. Using a theater pedagogy example, the article highlights the potential of arts-based education to support holistic and globally relevant higher education aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

💫 We look forward to insightful discussions and inspiring perspectives from our keynote speakers as they engage with the conference themes and contribute to advancing research and practice in internationalisation and sustainable higher education.

👉 Register and secure your spot now: https://icis.vju.vnu.edu.vn/registrations

📍 Conference venue: Daewoo hotel (Hanoi), TNU Conference Hall (Thai Nguyen)

🗓 Conference dates: June 2nd - 3rd, 2026

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🌐 Contact and further information:

🔸 Website: https://icis.vju.vnu.edu.vn/

🔸 Email: icis@vju.ac.vn

🔸 Phone: (+84) 919646713

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