Times Higher Education [THE] reported several academic conferences have been called off as a result of the spread of Covid-19, and more are expected to follow suit.

THE also releases yearly a well-know global ranking report.

The cancellation of conferences, THE says, could have a negative impact on research, especially made by junior researchers.

With all probabilities, the cancellation of international conferences will have a negative impact on the internationalisation of higher education. Conferences, with fairs and business trips, represent in fact the true engine of the internationalisation dynamic.

Not only research gatherings gear up the internationalisation process of a university. Staff meeting, such as NAFSA, APAIE, and EAIE, to mention a few, represent a cornerstone of all internationalisation processes.

But the number of internationalisation conferences already been cancelled is impressive.

A tentative list of the most relevant may include:

1. APAIE (Asia-Pacific Association for international education)

2. Rethinking Higher Education 2020 – satellite conference at KTH

3. ACE (Americal Council on Education)

4. AACC (American Association of Community College)

5. SXSW

6. EARTO (European Association of Research and Technology Organisation)

7. NASPA (Student affairs administrators in higher education)

8. UPCEA (University Professional and Continuing Education) is postponed to June

9. AERA ( American Educational Research Association) will be recast as a virtual meeting

The question now is, what will happen to NAFSA?