A festive message from BISA Chair, Kyle Grayson

As we approach the holiday season, the trustees, BISA staff, and I extend our warmest wishes to all our members. Your dedication and ongoing contributions have been central to BISA’s success throughout 2024. Thank you for your continued support of our community.

Looking ahead to 2025, our annual conference, marking BISA’s 50th Anniversary, will be held in Belfast from 18–20 June. With a record number of submissions and a range of special activities, it promises to be a truly memorable occasion.

We will also begin the year with the BISA virtual conference, taking place from 13–15 January 2025. This will be an excellent opportunity for colleagues from around the globe to come together for thoughtful discussions and knowledge exchange in a convenient online format.

Additionally, we are collaborating on an exciting new initiative that will be announced early in the new year. This project aims to bring the international studies community together in a new and engaging way, and we look forward to sharing more details soon.

As always, BISA remains committed to advocating for the importance of international studies and the social sciences, particularly in the face of continuing challenges within the higher education sector. From advancing equality, diversity, and inclusion to upholding academic freedom, we are proud to represent and support our members in these vital areas. 

We encourage you to watch for the release of the conference programme in early 2025. We look forward to welcoming you to Belfast as we celebrate this milestone and continue working together to shape the future of our field. In the meantime, we wish you a peaceful and enjoyable holiday season.

Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash