Australia Study Tour 2026

Global Cohort

15 - 20 February 2026

Led by Professor Sir Anton Muscatelli, Principal and Vice Chancellor of the University of Glasgow and President of the Royal Society of Edinburgh

Applications are now open for senior leaders from universities around the world to take part in the 2026 CASE Global Leaders Programme, visiting Australia in February 2026.

The programme will provide delegates with an outstanding opportunity to see how Australian universities are approaching global reputation, advocacy and advancement in the context of the challenges posed by geopolitical turbulence, culture wars and declining social license for universities around the world.

The tour will take in Adelaide, Sydney and Melbourne – with an option to attend a special ‘Cohorts Collide’ workshop and Diplomatic Reception in Canberra on the eve of the Universities Australia Conference. The schedule will also include opportunities for participants to engage alumni, university partners and government on behalf of their home institutions – with the UA Conference a particularly effective way to engage universities from across the region. 

It will be led by Professor Sir Anton Muscatelli, Principal and Vice Chancellor of the University of Glasgow and President of the Royal Society of Edinburgh and be supported by a stellar global faculty including;

Key themes and topics for the study tour will include: 

  • Building a new University: behind the scenes of the Adelaide University merger

  • New models of fundraising and advancement - universities, innovation and frontier capital

  • Universities and the culture wars: what does this look like in Australia and New Zealand?

  • Place, social license and the changing role of universities in their local communities

  • Rethinking Global reputation and branding strategy, governance and practice

  • Universities, geopolitics and knowledge diplomacy – how does the sector engage with and talk about defence and national security ?

You will be accompanied by a carefully curated cohort of board-level university leaders with different responsibilities and from different institutions all united by an interest in developing their institution’s resilience and expertise in global reputation, geopolitics, communications, branding and marketing, advancement and fundraising.

Applications for this international cohort are welcome from Executive Board/ Cabinet members (including Presidents and Vice-Chancellors) from Australia, New Zealand, Canada, the USA, Europe and beyond.

Following the Study Tour, the Programme will provide delegates with: 

  • two “Reputation, Advocacy and Advancement in Action” sessions – either in-person/ hybrid/ virtual, with the opportunity attend VIP dinners with leading guest speakers from outside higher education;

  • an option to extend your trip to attend a ‘Cohorts Collide’ workshop and Diplomatic Reception in Canberra on the eve of the Universities Australia Conference.

  • a ‘Global Peer’ brokerage service for each delegate that will facilitate an introduction to a global senior leader based on development goals;

  • an invitation to attend the CASE Summit for Leaders in Advancement conference in New York City for the July following completion of your programme.

Study Tour Outline Agenda

Sunday 15 February

Arrive in Adelaide

Monday 16 February

Adelaide (The University of Adelaide)

Tuesday 17 February

Adelaide/ Sydney

Dinner – The University of Sydney

Wednesday 18 February

Sydney (The University of Sydney and University of New South Wales)

Thursday 19 February

Sydney/ Melbourne

Friday 20 February

Melbourne

End of Study Tour for those not attending the Universities Australia Summit

Option to extend your trip: Saturday 21 - Tuesday 24 February

Saturday 21 and Sunday 22 February

Weekend in Melbourne or Canberra

Monday 23 February

Optional Canberra – Cohorts Collide + Diplomatic Reception/ Universities

Tuesday 24 February

Optional Canberra - Universities Australia Solution Summit

Alex Favier

CASE Global Leaders Programme Lead

Contact us

If you would like to book a conversation with the CASE Global Leaders Programme Team to discuss the programme and how it can support you, or your university’s professional development goals, we would be delighted to hear from you. 

We can also arrange further conversations with our faculty or delegates who have attended previous cohorts. 

You can also contact your local CASE Global Office about this or any of our programmes. 

You can either use the contact form or reach us by email at info@casegloballeaders.com.