Frequently Asked Questions for International Delegates

International Partnerships Day is a full-day pre-conference event taking place on Sunday, November 22, 2026. It is designed to facilitate structured business-to-business (B2B) networking between Canadian and international delegates, and to showcase international education opportunities through Country Spotlight Sessions.

For international delegates: Access to this event is included with the International Delegation – Full-Conference Pass ticket type ($1,345 CAD per person). Delegates who wish to attend only International Partnerships Day (and not the full conference); tickets can be purchased separately for $350 CAD per person.

For Canadian delegates: International Partnerships Day is offered as a pre-conference event and requires the purchase of a separate ticket ($350 CAD per person) during conference registration.

Coffee will be available throughout the day, and lunch will be provided.

Participating countries will be featured on the International Partnerships Programming webpage as attendance is confirmed.

For international delegates, information about participating Canadian delegates, provincial international education associations and government representatives will be available approximately one month before the conference and can be accessed via the conference app.

The annual conference is open to anyone who wishes to attend, regardless of membership status. For a full list of CBIE’s member institutions, please view the CBIE membership directory. For more information on who attends the CBIE conference, please visit the conference website.

For Canadian delegates, information about participating countries, institutions, and organizations will be posted on the International Partnerships Programming page as delegations are confirmed. Delegate titles and institutional or organizational affiliations will be added as details become available.

International Partnerships Day is designed to encourage direct conversations and partnership development between Canadian and international participants. The event takes place in a dedicated networking space designed for business-to-business meetings.

Throughout the day:

• International delegations will be assigned dedicated tables identified with country signage and organized by region. Each table will be numbered for easy identification, and floor maps will be available onsite.
• Tables will seat up to four participants and typically host representatives from one or two institutions or organizations within a delegation.
• Canadian delegates are invited to circulate throughout the room to meet with international delegates and explore partnership opportunities.
• Country Spotlight Sessions will take place in a separate presentation room throughout the day.

Coffee and lunch will be provided for all registered participants.

International and Canadian participants will have access to the Institutional Partnerships Directory, an online platform designed to help delegates showcase their institution or organization, highlight partnership interests and priorities, and connect with potential partners.

Through the directory, participants can:

• Provide a brief institutional profile.
• Highlight areas of expertise and partnership interest.
• Identify priority regions or sectors for collaboration.
• Upload supporting documents, brochures, videos, or other promotional materials.

While participation is optional, delegates are strongly encouraged to complete a profile to maximize visibility and support meaningful partnership discussions before and during the conference.

The Institutional Partnerships Directory will be available in the fall prior to the conference.

Delegates will have several options for arranging meetings before and during the conference:

• Through the conference mobile app, participants can review the attendee list and connect with registered delegates. The app will be available one month before the conference.
• Through the Institutional Partnerships Directory, which allows participants to identify institutions and organizations of interest and connect directly by email.
• Onsite during International Partnerships Day.

These networking tools are designed to help delegates maximize their participation and build valuable connections.

Country Spotlight Sessions are intended for larger international delegations that include government representatives, and/or national education associations. These sessions provide an opportunity to highlight national priorities, emerging opportunities and areas of interest for academic partnerships and collaboration with Canadian institutions.

These 30-minute presentations will take place throughout International Partnerships Day in a separate room. Space is limited, and additional information about presentation opportunities will be provided directly to participating delegations that meet these criteria.

To maximize networking opportunities, delegates are encouraged to:

• Complete an institutional profile in the Institutional Partnerships Directory.
• Review participating delegations, institutions, and organizations in advance.
• Contact existing and prospective partners before the conference.
• Schedule meetings prior to arrival whenever possible.
• Bring promotional materials, business cards and partnership information to share with prospective partners.
• Review their institution’s international priorities and identify potential collaboration opportunities.

Advance preparation will help delegates make the most of International Partnerships Day and facilitate more productive partnership discussions.