99. Piet van Hove & Flora Bastiani: A philosophical take on international education

As proclaimed by UNESCO in 2002, the third Thursday of November is World Philosophy Day. While philosophy and international higher education (IHE) might not immediately be considered a straightforward combination, there are many ways in which the art of philosophy can complement people’s personal and professional lives. During the 2024 EAIE Conference in Toulouse, France, a session was dedicated to the philosophical foundations of our work in international higher education, which gathered quite an audience. With World Philosophy Day just behind us, the EAIE podcast takes the opportunity to dive into this topic and see where philosophy and IHE can meet.

In this episode, host Laura Rumbley talks to Flora Bastiani, senior lecturer in Philosophy at Toulouse 2 Jean Jaurès University (France) and a specialist in the thought of Emmanuel Levinas and Henri Maldiney, and Piet van Hove, Programme Manager for the HEROES Alliance, at Thomas More University of Applied Sciences, Belgium, and former EAIE President (2022-2024). Why is philosophy important, and what can it bring to our daily life and work? In what ways is the work of Levinas especially relevant to the work of IHE? And how can IHE professionals use philosophy to help with the important balance between working and private lives? Tune in to this EAIE podcast episode to learn more!

About Piet van Hove
Piet van Hove is the Programme Manager for the HEROES Alliance at Thomas More University of Applied Sciences, Belgium. HEROES is part of the latest group of Alliances selected for funding by the European Commission under its flagship ‘European Universities’ scheme. It brings together nine professional higher education institutions across Europe, focusing on ‘smart regional resilience’. Piet has been active in international higher education for almost three decades, working for the University of Antwerp and taking up leadership roles in various international organisations. He served as Vice President and later President of the European Association for International Education (EAIE) from 2020 to 2024. Piet is a board member of Taith (Wales) and the NGO Apopo.

About Flora Bastiani
Flora Bastiani is a senior lecturer in philosophy at Toulouse 2 Jean Jaurès University, a researcher in health ethics and a specialist in the thought of Emmanuel Levinas and Henri Maldiney. In her work, she proposes a micro-philosophy of relationships and develops a new concept of the phenomenon of the "ensemble" (togetherness). She is also responsible for the Master's degree "Éthique du soin et recherche" (Philosophy, Law, Health) at the University of Toulouse.

Additional resources
For further insights into the topics touched on in this episode, the following resources may be of interest:
→ EAIE Toulouse 2024 - "A moment of reflection: The philosophical foundations of our work in international higher education"
→ ‘Philosophie du soin critique. Penser la relation en réanimation, en soins intensifs et dans le prélèvement d'organes‘
→ General introduction to the philosophy of Emmanuel Levinas

Transcript

Host (Laura Rumbly):
Welcome to the EAIE Podcast and thank you for joining us for episode 99 in our series. I'm Laura Rumbly, EAIE’s Director for Knowledge Development and Research. Did you know that the third Thursday of November has been designated as World Philosophy Day by UNESCO since 2002? Through this observance, UNESCO highlights philosophy as both an inspiring discipline and an everyday practice, capable of transforming societies.

To quote UNESCO:
"Philosophy stimulates intercultural dialogue by awakening minds to the exercise of thinking and the reasoned confrontation of opinions. It helps build a more tolerant, respectful society, and thus addresses major contemporary challenges by creating the intellectual conditions for change."

Philosophy isn't something we often discuss in our day-to-day work as international higher education professionals. But some believe this is a missed opportunity. One of those voices is Peter Van Horvath, whom many of you know for his extensive contributions to EAIE, most notably as our association's president from September 2022 to September 2024.

As we’ll hear in this episode, Pete has recently delved into the work of French philosopher Emmanuel Levinas, exploring how his ideas might apply to international education. This intellectual journey led Pete to connect with Professor Flora Bastian, a philosophy professor at the University of Toulouse Jean-Jaurès, who specializes in Levinas’s work.

Together, Pete and Flora take us on a thoughtful exploration of how philosophical principles can deepen our understanding of the purpose of our work, enriching both our practice and our personal lives.

[Interview Segment]

Laura:
Thank you both for joining me today—it’s a pleasure to have you here. Flora, as a philosopher, you're accustomed to discussing these ideas with non-philosophers. Why is philosophy important, and how can it enhance our daily lives and work?

Flora Bastiani:
In our daily lives, we often forget to ask ourselves why we choose to do something or take a particular path. Life feels like a continuity we follow without questioning. But each choice shapes who we are becoming. Philosophy offers us a space to step back and reflect on these choices—to ask, “Why this way of living? What values guide my actions?”

This process gives us perspective. It allows us to re-examine what makes sense and helps us find our place in the world. By doing so, we gain a clearer understanding of the values we wish to uphold and share.

Laura:
What a powerful way to begin this conversation. Pete, you’re not a philosopher by training, but what drew you to this domain?

Peter van Hove:
I’ve always been curious about understanding people—their behaviors, decisions, and underlying motivations. This has led me to explore various disciplines: law, economics, psychology, biology, even evolutionary science. All of these touch on the bigger question of why—the meaning behind actions.

Philosophy, as Flora mentioned, provides a unique way to reflect on these “why” questions. In our field of internationalization, we often talk about purpose and meaning, but philosophy gives us a framework to articulate those ideas.

Laura:
Flora, early in your career, you focused on the work of a particular philosopher. Can you introduce us to Emmanuel Levinas and share what drew you to his ideas?

Flora:
Levinas’s philosophy centers on the encounter with the Other. His work is often described as an “ethics-first” philosophy, where the presence of the Other compels us to act ethically. He famously summarized his perspective with a simple phrase: “After you, sir.”

For Levinas, the encounter with another person—a being different from ourselves—is transformative. This encounter challenges us, reshapes our understanding of the world, and compels us to evolve. He described this as meeting “another world,” one we cannot fully comprehend but must respect.

Laura:
Pete, how do you see Levinas’s ideas as relevant to the work we do in international higher education?

Pete:
Levinas provides language for things we already sense in our field. We intuitively understand the value of bringing people from different cultures together. We see how these encounters spark something new—growth, understanding, transformation. Levinas gives us a way to articulate this process: the encounter with difference as a catalyst for change.

Laura:
Flora, as someone new to our field, what insights from Levinas can help us better articulate or frame our work?

Flora:
Levinas reminds us that difference is a kind of power. Internationalization, like his philosophy, encourages us to step out of the “trap” of familiar routines and engage with the unfamiliar. These encounters open our minds and foster a sense of responsibility—not just for ourselves, but for others. By embracing difference, we redefine our place in the world and find deeper meaning in what we do.

Laura:
In many ways, the work we do can be demanding and leave little room for reflection. How might philosophy help us balance our professional and personal lives?

Flora:
Philosophy requires time—a luxury in today’s busy world. It’s important to pause, reflect, and ask why we’re making the choices we do. Are these choices aligned with our values? Taking this time helps us stay true to ourselves and our responsibilities to others.

Pete:
I agree. Reflection takes us out of autopilot and connects us to our deeper purpose. In international education, we often tell students that learning happens outside their comfort zones. The same applies to us. By stepping into new experiences and perspectives, we can grow as individuals and professionals.

[Closing]

Laura:
Flora, Pete—thank you for such a meaningful conversation. Reflecting on philosophy and its application to our work has been a luxurious gift of time and insight.

[Outro]

This was Pete Van Horvath, immediate past president of EAIE, and Flora Bastian, philosophy lecturer at the University of Toulouse Jean-Jaurès.

For additional resources and insights, check out our session notes. And don’t forget—EAIE group memberships for 2025 are now available. Enhance your team’s professional development and join a global network of peers. Visit our website for details.

Finally, this episode marks the end of our 2024 podcast season, but we’ll be back in January 2025 with our 100th episode. Until then, thank you for listening, and happy holidays!