On March 30, 2026, UNICON held its second annual Primary Representatives Meeting, bringing together representatives from more than two thirds of member schools across the globe. Run across two sessions to accommodate different time zones, participants joined from institutions on multiple continents. The turnout was a strong sign of how much this community values the chance to connect, share ideas, and help shape what UNICON does next.
For those less familiar with how UNICON works: each member university designates a Primary Representative as the main point of contact with UNICON. These are the leaders who bridge their institution’s executive education team and the wider consortium. This annual meeting was created specifically for them, to make sure they have the information, connections, and voice they need to make the most of their membership.
By the numbers
Meeting host
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Melanie Weaver Barnett
Executive Director, UNICON
Melanie opened both sessions by thanking Primary Representatives for their service and outlining the three purposes of the meeting: learning from the community, sharing relevant information, and strengthening the global network of executive education colleagues. |
UNICON’s strategic priorities for the year
At this year’s UNICON Primary Representatives Meeting, Board Chair Shalini Bhatia presented three priorities for the year ahead. One UNICON reflects the belief that the consortium’s strength comes from operating as a unified global community. Member engagement covers both deepening value for current members and continuing to grow the network. Financial stewardship focuses on building a stable foundation that keeps UNICON functioning well for the long term.
“We listened to you loud and clear. We are launching our first professional development series – virtual, because that is another thing we heard from you. It is really for the people who do the work.”
Key announcements
A new professional development series. This autumn, UNICON will launch its first virtual professional development series, aimed at the professionals who do the day-to-day work of executive education. The first series focuses on business development, tailored specifically to university-based executive education. Series on program management and marketing will follow. Each series runs approximately five two-hour sessions at $1,000, with team discounts available. A new sponsorship program. To help fund new initiatives, UNICON has launched a sponsorship program for companies active in the executive education value chain. In exchange for an annual partnership, sponsors receive access to UNICON conferences, opportunities to co-sponsor events or research, and visibility across UNICON’s publications and platforms. We are pleased to welcome our first two sponsors:
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For over a decade, XED has built a leadership ecosystem at the intersection of academia and enterprise, partnering with globally ranked institutions including the Saïd Business School, University of Oxford, Cornell University, Harvard Graduate School of Education, University of Michigan Ross School of Business, University of Virginia Darden School of Business, Judge Business School, Cambridge University among others.
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Annual Workshop at MIT, July 16-17, 2026
 | Eric Bergemann MIT Sloan will be hosting the 2026 Annual Workshop at MIT Sloan and Eric shared his perspective on what makes the event distinct. |
“The Annual Workshop is an opportunity to connect with executive education colleagues in person, especially important during times of uncertainty that most of us haven’t seen in our professional lifetimes. It is a reminder of how we are stronger together when we learn from each other.
What makes it distinctive from the Directors’ Conference and TDC is twofold. It is a chance to experience learning differently: concentrated on a small, urgent set of issues, applied and experiential, with an open canvas for collaboration and co-creation. And it brings together a different blend of people, varying roles, schools, and geographies, united by a common interest in the topic at hand.
Our theme for 2026 focuses on how artificial intelligence changes how we learn and work together, and equally, what does not change. We look forward to seeing you in MIT Sloan’s new learning spaces this July.”
— Eric Bergemann, MIT Sloan Executive Education, UNICON Board Member
Early bird registration is $715 for the first 40 seats, rising to $795 after that, with a total capacity of 100.
UNICON 2026 Annual Workshop
What Does It Mean to Be Human?
People and AI — Learning and Working Together
July 16-17, 2026 · MIT Sloan, Cambridge MA · Early bird $715 (first 40 seats)
Breakout discussions: shaping what comes next
The bulk of the meeting was spent in collaborative workshop mode. Participants broke into small groups to help develop three upcoming UNICON initiatives. The input collected will directly inform what UNICON builds over the coming months.
Support for Deans: We heard from members and from business school deans that the deans themselves would benefit from knowing more about the non-degree Executive Education business, management, and marketplace. They indicated they would consider UNICON a primary resource for providing value to deans. The primary reps “workshopped“ this idea to help shape the initial data gathering and the program itself.
The Education Initiative. Building on the new professional development series, participants helped sketch out what a program management course should look like for experienced program managers and coordinators. Discussions highlighted the importance of being sensitive to different languages and organisational structures across geographies, and the growing need for cross-border delivery partnerships.
Voice of the Member: supporting new staff. The most recent member survey showed that UNICON members highly value the consortium’s work and want to be more engaged, with time constraints cited as the main barrier. Groups worked on ideas for how UNICON could help accelerate the onboarding of new staff into the executive education field, as well as suggestions that address the survey’s key feedback points.
Key takeaways from the discussion
Members are engaged and want more. The Voice of the Member survey showed strong appreciation for UNICON’s work across conferences, research, benchmarking, and networking. Members want to participate more and are asking for formats that fit around busy schedules.
Executive education occupies a unique position. Several groups noted the challenge of operating an entrepreneurial entity within an academic setting, and the value of professional development that speaks to that specific reality.
International partnerships are growing in complexity. There is increasing demand for cross-border program delivery, with institutions hosting clients from other countries and seeking global delivery partners, which emerged as a priority area for future UNICON support.
Coming soon
Two research publications are on the way. A report on how AI is changing the way we work and learn together is due soon. A paper on micro-credentials will follow in the autumn. Both address topics that came up frequently in the Voice of the Member survey.
Thank you to everyone who joined us on March 30. Whether you have been part of UNICON for years or are just getting to know the consortium, we hope this gives a sense of the direction shaping our work right now. We are grateful to everyone who showed up, shared ideas, and helped make this meeting what it was.
Find out more about UNICON membership or explore our global network of member institutions.