BlueSky Media Connect - BRUSSELS
June 17th & 18th 2026
Hosted by Vlerick Business School’s Brussels Campus
BlueSky Media Connect – LONDON
Mid-October 2026 – Dates TBA, co-ordinated to coincide with the Financial Times Business Education Drinks Reception
Location TBA
BlueSky Education is delighted to introduce a special early bird double-ticket rate for both events, offering delegates an exclusive discount when registering for both.
BlueSky Education will also offer a 10% discount for every additional person from an institution to purchase a ticket.
What Previous Attendees Say
"It truly was the Glastonbury of PR conferences, you guys did an incredible job." - Thomas Pilsworth, Media & PR Manager, Smith School of Enterprise and the Environment - University of Oxford
"We were delighted to participate in the BlueSky Connect conference, bringing many of our industry peers together with journalists, media and communications experts.” - Rachel Maguer, Executive Director of Communications - INSEAD
"The conference was excellent and provided me with valuable contacts at top tier media outlets that I will definitely use in my media work." - Laura Singleton, Media and PR Manager, Imperial Business School
2025 in Numbers
- 94 attendees from leading schools in Europe, Americas and Asia
- 33 journalists from tier one global and UK media
- 8 content themes in management & careers, AI & tech, start-ups, business & finance, CSR...
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Sponsors
If you would be interested in sponsoring the event, please contact Peter Remon for sponsorship packages: peter@bluesky-pr.com
About the event
BlueSky Media Connect is Europe’s premier event for higher & business education communications experts who are looking to connect with the world’s leading global media outlets, network with other communications professionals, and learn from industry experts.
In 2026, we return with two media conference events. The first will be hosted in Brussels at Vlerick Business School, this two-day conference is designed to foster stronger, smarter, and more strategic relationships between higher education and global media - grounded in real conversations, honest insights, and meaningful connections.
The second will be hosted in London in mid-October, with specific dates to be announced, as well as the location TBA.
Who Should Attend
BlueSky Media Connect is tailored for communications, PR, media relations, marketing, and branding professionals working within:
- Business schools
- Universities and higher education institutions
- Thinktanks and research institutes
- Corporate organisations operating in the education sector
If your role involves shaping institutional narratives, pitching stories to the media, or building visibility and credibility in the global education space, this conference is designed specifically for you.
Meet Your Hosts: Matt Symonds & BlueSky Education
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Few people understand the intersection of business education and global media better than Matt Symonds.
A former journalist for the BBC, The Economist, Forbes, and Bloomberg, Matt is also the S in QS Quacquarelli Symonds, co-founder of CentreCourt with Poets & Quants, and a long-standing expert in facilitating meaningful dialogue between higher education and the media.
With over 15 years of experience organising high-profile media conferences across Europe and beyond, Matt brings unparalleled insight into what makes stories resonate—and how communications professionals can earn their place in the global news cycle.
BlueSky Education, the team behind BlueSky Media Connect, is a leader in education public relations. With more than 15 years’ experience, BlueSky has partnered with top business schools, universities, and education-focused organisations to elevate their media profiles across key international markets.
Known for excellence in strategic PR, media outreach, crisis communications, and content creation, BlueSky Education helps institutions ensure their stories reach the right audiences and create lasting impact.
What to Expect
This conference is about real talk with the media, and networking and learning from your peers. You can expect:
- Candid discussions with editors and journalists from the world’s most trusted news brands, including Bloomberg, the Financial Times, The Economist, Forbes, Reuters, TIME, The Guardian, Business Insider, The Times, and more
- Unfiltered insight into how editorial decisions are made, what makes a story resonate, and why some pitches succeed while others fail
- Direct access to media decision-makers, with dedicated opportunities to network, ask questions, and build lasting professional relationships in a relaxed, professional environment
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Workshops & Strategy Sessions
Alongside media discussions, you’ll benefit from interactive workshops and strategy sessions led by BlueSky Education’s expert consultants, as well as other industry experts.
Drawing on years of experience in education PR and media relations, these sessions provide practical, hands-on guidance to help you:
- Refine your media outreach strategy
- Strengthen storytelling and messaging
- Navigate today’s fast-moving global media landscape with confidence
Evening Networking
BlueSky Media Connect places strong emphasis on connection beyond the conference room.
- The conference will include the BlueSky Media Connect Conference Dinner, offering an exclusive opportunity to deepen relationships and exchange ideas
- Dinner venue: To be announced
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Media Outlets Represented
BlueSky Media Connect regularly brings together journalists and editors from leading global media. Last year’s London conference included journalists from:
• Financial Times
• Fortune
• The New York Times
• Bloomberg
• BBC News
• The Wall Street Journal
• The Times • Reuters
• POLITICO Europe
• Business Insider
• Forbes
• Euronews
• China Daily
• Times of India
• Fast Company
• BBC Worklife
• TIME Magazine
• Sifted
• The Observer
• City A.M.
• The Metro
• FT Adviser
• Financial News (Dow Jones)
• The Banker
• PitchBook
• BusinessBecause
In Brussels 2026 we will be joined by:
- Bloomberg
- Financial Times
- Reuters
- POLITICO Europe
- Euronews
- Euractiv
- Handelsblatt
- TVP Global
- EU Observer
- De Tijd
- De Telegraaf
- The Irish Times
- El Confidencial
- Science | Business
- Le Soir
- The Parliament Magazine
- The Brussels Times
- I Paper
Terms & Conditions
Registration Deadline
To guarantee inclusion in conference materials, registration must be completed no later than 15 days before the event.
What’s Included
Registration fees cover access to all conference sessions, scheduled meals, refreshments, and the conference dinner. Travel, accommodation, and related expenses are not included.
Accommodation
Preferential hotel rates may be available near the venue. Delegates are responsible for booking and managing their own accommodation and are encouraged to book early.
Cancellation Policy
- Substitutions are permitted with written notice up to 15 days prior to the event
- Cancellations must be received in writing no later than 30 days before the conference start date to qualify for a refund (minus an administrative fee of £90 / €105 / $125)
- No refunds will be issued for cancellations received after this period
In the unlikely event that BlueSky Education cancels the event, registered delegates may transfer their registration to another BlueSky event or request a full refund. BlueSky Education is not responsible for any travel, accommodation, or other costs incurred.
All registrations are subject to availability and acceptance at the organiser’s discretion.
This is your chance to sit down with the people shaping the stories that shape the world.
We look forward to welcoming you to BlueSky Media Connect Brussels and London 2026.
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