The IIE International Partnership Landscape Survey

a new global lens on international partnerships

The International Partnership Landscape Survey is the first worldwide effort to map how higher education institutions build and sustain international partnerships. It goes beyond surface-level data to explore why institutions partner, where they collaborate, what activities they pursue, and how they navigate challenges and manage these relationships.

Why this survey matters

International partnerships are multiplying, but our understanding of them hasn’t kept pace. Compared to the rich data available on student mobility, partnership work remains under-studied. This Survey helps close that gap by capturing the realities of partnership development across diverse institutional and regional contexts.

Its findings will support:

• Institutions benchmark and strengthen their partnership strategies
• The international education field tracking global shifts
• Agencies and organizations designing effective support programs

Announcing Stage 2 and Our Strategic Partner: Asia-Pacific Association for International Education (APAIE)

IIE is honored to partner with the Asia-Pacific Association for International Education (APAIE) for Stage 2 of the International Partnership Landscape Survey, focusing on institutions in East Asia & the Pacific. APAIE has been invaluable in the content and promotion of this stage of the Survey.

TAKE THE SURVEY

We invite HEIs in East Asia and the Pacific to participate in Stage 2. The survey closes on October 1, 2026.

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A thoughtful, region-by-region design

Because partnership practices differ dramatically around the world, the Survey is being rolled out over five years, one region at a time. This avoids flattening important differences and ensures that each version reflects local realities.

The first stage (2025) focused on Europe, Canada, and the United States. The second stage (2026) surveys institutions in East Asia and the Pacific. Future phases, developed with regional experts, will focus on Sub-Saharan Africa, Central & South America, and Central/South Asia & MENA region.

The result will be a global mosaic of insights that help institutions everywhere build more intentional and effective partnerships.

Building on a Decade of Prior Research

Over the past ten years, numerous surveys have explored aspects of international collaboration — some focused on specific regions, some on specific institutional types, and some on particular partnership activities. All have contributed important insights.

This Survey is designed to integrate, extend, and connect those efforts. Many questions align directly with earlier studies, enabling meaningful comparison and a deeper collective understanding of how international partnerships are evolving.

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SURVEY COLLABORATORS

SURVEY LEADS

• Sylvia Jons, Director, IIE Center for International Partnerships
• Susan Buck Sutton, IIE Center for International Partnerships Fellow
• Cori Crisfield, Manager, IIE Center for International Partnerships
• Kari Kuja, Senior Advisor to CEO, IIE

The IIE International partnership landscape survey advisory council

An outstanding group of partnership experts and practitioners has guided IIE in developing the Survey. Others will be appointed as additional regions of the world are added. Current members of the Advisory Council include:

• Jane Gatewood, Vice Provost for Global Engagement and Services, Emory University
• Robin Matross Helms, Vice President, Membership & Educational Services, The Association of Community Colleges Trustees (ACCT)
• Jody Hoekstra-Selten, Knowledge Development Officer, European Association for International Education (EAIE)
• Chad Hoseth, Assistant Vice Provost of International Affairs, Colorado State University
• Bill Lacy, Vice Provost Emeritus for University Outreach and International Programs, University of California Davis
• Giorgio Marinoni, Manager of Higher Education and Internationalization, International Association of Universities
• Mirka Martel, Head of Research, Evaluation & Learning, Institute of International Education

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