Connection is the new cornerstone of higher education.
That’s the message behind EDUCAUSE's 2026 Top 10, “Making Connections.” The organization’s guiding principle—its “north star”—puts it simply: “We must find ways to cultivate human connection, both within ourselves and with one another.”
This call to action captures a truth that every higher education leader understands: connection drives belonging, engagement, and institutional progress. And few areas on campus embody that better than events.
From student orientations and academic conferences to alumni reunions and community outreach, events bring an institution’s mission to life. They connect people, ideas, and impact. Events turn shared experiences into lasting relationships that strengthen the entire campus ecosystem.
As higher education leaders consider the EDUCAUSE 2026 priorities, events emerge as a strategic opportunity to put those priorities into practice. Each theme—whether focused on efficiency, agility, or inclusion—finds its expression in how institutions design and deliver events that unite people and purpose.
1. Human Connection as a Strategic Imperative
EDUCAUSE positions connection not just as a goal, but as a strategic driver. Events naturally serve that purpose—bridging departments, disciplines, and generations.
When institutions approach events strategically, they create a unified way to strengthen relationships and foster community, on campus and beyond. Each event becomes an opportunity to showcase the institution’s mission and reinforce its brand in a tangible, personal way.
2. Building Efficiency and Institutional Resilience
As budgets tighten and expectations grow, higher education leaders are focused on doing more with less. EDUCAUSE emphasizes operational efficiency as essential for resilience, and event management plays a key role in achieving it.
Institutions that consolidate tools and simplify event processes save valuable time, reduce costs, and gain the flexibility to reinvest in people and programs. The result: stronger collaboration, better alignment across departments, and more capacity to deliver meaningful experiences.
3. Turning Data into Strategic Insight
EDUCAUSE’s focus on analytics and AI underscores the importance of using data to make smarter decisions. Events are a vital source of insight into what drives engagement, helping institutions understand which experiences resonate most with students, alumni, and partners.
By capturing and analyzing event data, leaders can measure outcomes, demonstrate impact, and connect event performance to larger institutional goals like recruitment, retention, and donor engagement.
4. Enhancing the Student and Alumni Experience
Whether welcoming new students, celebrating graduates, or reconnecting with alumni, events are pivotal moments in shaping institutional loyalty and belonging. EDUCAUSE’s emphasis on inclusion and connection reinforces why accessibility, personalization, and thoughtful design matter at every stage of the event experience.
When institutions create events that are accessible to all and reflect their community’s diversity, they turn every gathering into an expression of their values and mission.
5. Enabling Agility and Innovation
Agility is another defining theme of EDUCAUSE’s outlook. For event teams, agility means being able to plan, pivot, and launch quickly—without compromising quality or consistency.
Flexible, well-coordinated event processes allow institutions to respond to changing needs, support new initiatives, and maintain excellence even under tight timelines. In an environment where engagement expectations are high, this kind of adaptability is essential for long-term success.
6. Events as the Ultimate Connector
Across EDUCAUSE’s 2026 priorities—data, efficiency, belonging, resilience, and transformation—runs one unifying thread: human connection. Events are where those priorities come to life.
They provide a platform for collaboration, innovation, and community. When institutions align people, technology, and strategy around a shared event vision, they create connections that strengthen both their culture and their impact.
The Takeaway
EDUCAUSE’s Top 10 is more than a forecast—it’s a reminder that connection is at the heart of higher education’s future. Events are the living expression of that idea, bringing people together to share ideas, celebrate milestones, and move their institution forward.
When managed strategically, events become more than gatherings. They become catalysts for insight, engagement, and transformation, helping higher education thrive in an era where human connection is its greatest strength.
Want to see how leading universities are connecting through events?
Explore insights and resources on Cvent’s Higher Education Solutions webpage.
