Award for Vision and Leadership
Innovative vision and leadership are fundamental in shaping the future of international education. This award celebrates inspiring individuals or organisations for their remarkable achievements in demonstrating and developing strategies that create new ways of thinking and redefine the landscape of global higher education.
2024 winner
Simon Marginson
Simon Marginson is Professor of Higher Education at the University of Oxford and Joint Editor-in-Chief of Higher Education. He is also an Honorary Professor at Tsinghua University in China, a Professorial Associate of the University of Melbourne, a Fellow of the British Academy, the Academy of Social Sciences in UK and of the Society for Research into Higher Education, and a member of Academia Europaea. He formerly worked at Monash and Melbourne universities in Australia and at UCL Institute of Education in London, and from 2015-2024 was Director of the ESRC Centre for Global Higher Education (CGHE).
In 2014 Simon was the Clark Kerr Lecturer on Higher Education at the University of California, Berkeley, and received the Research Achievement Award at the US Association for the Study of Higher Education. He has advisory functions at Peking University, Shanghai Jiao Tong University (the Academic Ranking of World Universities), the University of Tokyo, Lingnan University in Hong Kong, the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), and the National University of Chile. Simon’s scholarship is widely published and cited (Google h-index 85). His research is focused primarily on global, international and comparative higher education, global science, higher education in East Asia, and the contributions of higher education to public and common good, including social equality.
Simon receives the 2024 EAIE Award for Vision and Leadership for his exceptional contributions and leadership in fostering global dialogue on a wide range of issues in the field of international higher education (IHE), as well as his decade-long leadership in founding and leading the ESRC Centre for Global Higher Education.
I am deeply honoured to receive this award. I am also surprised, because there are many people doing really great work in higher education in sustaining open borders and fruitful cooperation. In today's challenging times, our shared commitment to collaborative learning and knowledge building, on the basis of equality of respect and unity in diversity, is more important than ever!
Eligibility criteria
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The nominee has a proven record of providing vision, leadership, and inspiration in international higher education.
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The nominee is widely recognised as a person who has contributed to both leadership processes and results in international higher education with dedication, innovation and perseverance.
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The nominee has been active in international higher education leadership for at least 10 years with a documented record of high professional standards that reflect one or more of the EAIE values: collaborative, inspiring, inclusive and excellence.
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The nominator is an EAIE member, the nominee is not required to be an EAIE member.
Prizes
We aim for the winner's journey and achievements to inspire our EAIE and global community. The winner received:
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Extensive visibility at the EAIE Conference, including at the Opening and Closing plenaries and on event signage.
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Two fee waivers for the EAIE Annual Conference and two invitations to the President’s Reception.
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Opportunity to participate in a podcast, webcast, or blog post.
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An EAIE award to display in your home or office.
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Additionally, the nominator will also receive a conference fee waiver and invitation to the President’s Reception.
Nominations process
Nominations for the 2025 EAIE Awards will open early next year. To create a winning nomination, you'll need to respond to the similar questions to the following, within the specified word count.
How has the nominee's leadership contributed to and shaped the international education landscape?
Share specific examples where the nominee's leadership significantly shaped the global education landscape, as well as any specific initiatives or projects spearheaded by the nominee which resulted in positive change or advancement in the field. (500 words)
How did the nominee's innovative approaches to leadership help to enact their special vision?
Highlight instances where the nominee has demonstrated innovative leadership approaches or thinking that have uniquely shaped their vision for international education. (500 words)
Detail any other key achievements in the nominee's career from the last 5–10 years
Highlight any significant milestones or accomplishments focusing on their contributions, innovations or leadership within international education or other related areas. (500 words)