AANT took part in the Annual NAFSA 2025 Conference, held from May 27 to 30 in San Diego, California. Gianna Angelini, AANT’s Head of Internationalization, represented the Academy at what is recognized as the world’s largest and most dynamic international event in the field of higher education. Approximately 8,000 professionals from over 100 countries attended the conference, which offered a unique opportunity to forge global contacts, exchange ideas, and initiate new academic collaboration agreements.
During the conference, Gianna Angelini participated in numerous networking sessions and strategic meetings with representatives of academic institutions and international educational organizations. These targeted encounters laid the groundwork for future exchange agreements and joint projects, further strengthening AANT’s global network of contacts. The face-to-face meetings with peers from around the world allowed AANT to explore collaborative opportunities and broaden its reach in international academia.
The conference featured over 250 sessions, workshops, presentations, and networking activities, providing participants with a comprehensive overview of current trends, strategies, and best practices in international education. The overarching theme “Purpose, Place, and Partnership” ran through every moment of the event, underscoring the importance of creating sustainable opportunities for students worldwide through meaningful partnerships. It also emphasized sharing diverse perspectives and innovative educational approaches to enrich global learning experiences.
Key topics addressed at NAFSA 2025 included:
- Inclusive internationalization – ensuring that international education opportunities are accessible and equitable for all students.
- Development of global academic collaborations – building partnerships between institutions across countries to foster academic exchange and joint programs.
- The role of international education in fostering intercultural understanding and cooperation among peoples – highlighting how studying abroad and cross-border educational initiatives can promote cultural awareness and global cooperation.
In this context, AANT’s participation allowed the Academy to align with the latest global trends and to share its own educational expertise in the field of arts and new technologies on a high-profile international stage. By engaging with these themes firsthand, AANT demonstrated that it remains at the forefront of international education initiatives and is committed to incorporating these best practices into its programs.
“Participation in NAFSA 2025 has been an extremely enriching experience,” commented Gianna Angelini at the end of the conference. “Meeting colleagues from all over the world and sharing visions and ideas allowed us to imagine new prospects for collaboration. I return to Rome with concrete contacts and innovative projects to develop, ready to further strengthen AANT’s international footprint.”
The international dimension has always been a pillar for AANT, and attending NAFSA 2025 reaffirms the Academy’s commitment to positioning itself in a global educational landscape. The insights gathered in San Diego and the relationships initiated there will help enrich the academic experience of both students and faculty, while also boosting AANT’s growth in line with its educational mission. Events like NAFSA serve as strategic platforms for the Academy to reinforce partnerships and demonstrate AANT’s dedication to academic cooperation at the international level, solidifying its role as a globally engaged institution.