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IIE Opening Minds Blog

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For almost 100 years, IIE has been at the forefront of international education. The Opening Minds blog is IIE’s take on how this field continues to change. Here the Institute’s leaders will explore international educational exchange, global student mobility, institutional partnerships, international development, and other topics and trends that are shaping higher education around the world.


    University of Colorado Springs

    How to Make the Most of Community Partnerships in Your Own Backyard

    Just as colleges and universities are increasingly globally connected these days, so are many local organizations. For an institution looking to expand its global reach, looking to nearby organizations can yield some great results. Dr. Mandy Hansen, Director of Global Engagement and Senior International Officer at the University of Colorado, Colorado Spring (UCCS), shares some of the outcomes from productive partnerships her school developed within the local Colorado Springs community, and best practices that can be applied by schools more broadly.

    Florence Duomo

    How Are Housing Issues Impacting Internationalization in Europe?

    One of the most basic aspects of studying abroad, securing a place to live, can also be the most challenging. Familiarizing yourself with some of the potential risks and the options out there is a wise move before selecting housing for your stay. Read on to learn more about what to be aware of in the housing market landscape for international students studying in Europe.

    Disruption

    Disruption and How We Must Adapt

    Many sectors are changing rapidly in the face of technological innovations and social transformation, including higher education. Change does not always need to be feared and if leveraged the right way, could ultimately be a force of good, Dr. Allan Goodman writes in a new post on IIE's Opening Minds blog.

    DCPS Global Ed

    DCPS' Bold Innovation in Study Abroad

    The Washington, D.C., public school system made history when it was the first to adopt a system-wide effort to send 8th and 11th-grade students abroad through fully funded scholarships. More than 1,000 students have since gone abroad since the program launched in 2016 to great success.

    Evening sky in Kholesiwal, Chitwan, Nepal

    Creating Connections Through Fulbright in Nepal

    When Lily Clarke received a Fulbright grant to study in ethnomycology and community-managed forests in Nepal, she found that her education continued well beyond her field of study.

    Meet the Winners of the 2018 IIE Photo & Impact Story Contest!

    IIE is pleased to announce the winners of the 2018 IIE Photo & Impact Story Contest! In March, we asked current and past participants of IIE-managed programs to submit their photos and impact stories that demonstrated power of international educational exchange.

    2017 Open Doors

    On the Matter of Charts - Charts Matter

    In recognition of the first ever International Chart Day, celebrated in the nation's capital on April 26, 2018, IIE team members walk the reader through IIE's history of data visualization and chart making. Learn about best practices in creating accurate, compelling and interpretable data visualizations.

    Syria Image

    Opening University Doors to Refugees

    Due to internationalization efforts in recent decades, colleges and universities are prepared to welcome globally mobile students to an unprecedented degree. They must capitalize on this capacity to assist the millions of displaced students whose educations have been disrupted in the refugee crisis, Dr. Allan E. Goodman, President and CEO of IIE, writes in a new blog post. Providing access to postsecondary education for refugees and displaced people worldwide is key to helping them rebuild their lives and societies strained by war and conflict.

    AIEA Reception 2018

    Lessons from Fulbright: Internationalizing the Campus

    Fulbright programs can help internationalize campuses of all category and type, from community colleges to research universities. IIE's Senior Advisor to the Fulbright Scholar Program, Dr. Maria de los Angeles Crummett, shares lessons learned from a panel discussion at the 2018 AIEA conference.

    Students at Johns Hopkins University connect with students at the American University of Beirut through virtual exchange

    Transcending Borders with Virtual Exchange

    Virtual exchange makes connections between students in far-flung corners of the globe a reality, writes Mohamed Abdel-Kader, Executive Director of the Stevens Initiative at the Aspen Institute. The Stevens Initiative connects students from the United States and Middle East.

    Samantha Martin CEO and founder of Via TRM

    Making the Right Choice with New Technology

    With the dizzying array of new technologies available, it can be a challenge to decide which fits best for your needs. Samantha Martin, CEO and founder of Via TRM, offers some suggestions on how to make technology work for you.

    Image: Diana Hernandez

    A Seat at the Table: Including Indigenous People in Biocultural Exchange

    Jeremy Coats, Foundation Programs lead, discusses the importance of including more indigenous people in biocultural exchange with Diana Hernández Hernández, an English teacher from Oaxaca, Mexico, who attended a Textile Arts conference in Peru through IIE's Indigenous Biocultural Exchange Fund (IBEX).

    About Opening Minds

    The Institute of International Education's Opening Minds blog is IIE’s take on international educational exchange, student mobility, partnerships, international development, and other topics that are shaping higher education around the world.

    Building the New Libya through International Education

    I’m well aware that beyond international education circles, the Institute of International Education is not exactly a household name. So you can imagine my surprise when, on my first trip to Libya in 2006, I met numerous people who were intimately familiar with IIE.

    Foreign Language Proficiency for Everyone

    Recently, I was honored to have been invited to share a written statement at the Senate hearing: A National Security Crisis: Foreign Language Capabilities in the Federal Government. I spoke about the importance of foreign language instruction in higher education institutions.

    Joint and Double Degree Programs: Location, Location, Location

    The cardinal rule of real estate (location, location, location) just acquired new meaning for me. In the latest issue of Foreign Affairs magazine, there is the usual sponsored section paid for by the Association of Professional Schools of International Affairs (APSIA).

    Partnering over Pao de Queijo in Brazil

    Recently, I accompanied 32 U.S. college and university representatives on a whirlwind study tour to Brazil. Covering five cities in six days, this remarkable group of faculty, staff, and administrators bonded over bus rides, pão de queijo, and the wealth of opportunities presented by the Brazilian higher education system.

    The G7 of Open Doors

    Did you know? Throughout the 62 year history of Open Doors, only seven places have been the #1 place of origin of international students.

    Alumni Tracking: Challenges and Considerations of Designing an Innovative Study

    When it comes to develping an Alumni Tracking system, IIE recommends using an innovative approach in tracking study design and collecting data on alumni. A tracking study intends to systematically analyze the lasting or significant changes – positive or negative, significant or not – in people’s lives brought about by a given action or series of actions.

    An Education Crisis in Syria: How You Can Help

    In March, IIE’s ESF gave over $90,000 to Syrian students in the U.S. who could not access resources to continue funding their own education through the Syria Emergency Student Fund. These grants enabled 46 students across the country to continue their degree programs in fields instrumental to Syria’s future, such as engineering, surgery, journalism, business administration and education.

    Investing in the U.S. - Indonesia Comprehensive Partnership: Current Government Efforts and What YOU Can Do To Help

    There are inexhaustible opportunities for U.S. – Indonesia academic collaboration, the majority of which remain untapped by U.S. and Indonesian educators. Through continued efforts from both countries to increase awareness, we will see a day when there is a strong and steady flow of Americans and Indonesians traveling to each other’s country for educational opportunities.

    Education and the Workforce: Matching Skills and Needs

    The annual World Innovation Summit on Education is a unique, multi-sectoral education conference. One of the aims of the Qatar Foundation, which convenes the Summit in Doha, is to elevate education to the ranks of other urgent global challenges.

    The GE Scholar-Leaders Program: 10 Years Young

    When IIE began administering the GE Scholar-Leaders Program, we had a basic model. The GE Foundation had been supporting underrepresented students in other areas of the world for many years, but we wanted to take the program to a new level.

    When Will You Find Us an American School That Wants to Build a Branch Campus Here?

    Over the past twelve months, IIE has been visited by education officials from nearly all of the countries undergoing transformation because of the so-called Arab/Asian Spring. Each has asked similar questions about access to U.S. higher education. There is an urgent need to provide education for an entire generation (or two) that has been largely isolated.

    The Role of the University in World Society

    Universities have a duty to save knowledge when it is threatened. Around the world, scholars have long suffered harassment, torture and persecution as a result of their work. In the worst cases, scholars pay with their lives for their dedication to scholarship and freedom of thought. Participating in IIE’s Scholar Rescue Fund is one way that universities have played a role in preserving knowledge.

    The U.S. and Australia: Learning From Each Other

    The United States, the United Kingdom and Australia are the three primary English-speaking destinations of international students worldwide. Among the three, Australia has the most centralized, proactive international education policies and, arguably, the most highly developed international student data collection system in the world.

    Walking the Walk on Youth Leadership Development

    At IIE, we believe that everyone has the potential to lead if given the opportunity, and that leadership skills can be developed through both formal and informal processes. Even more importantly, we believe that leadership is about developing and inspiring the next generation. In our leadership programs we focus on vision-building, practicing ethical and values-based leadership, building practical leadership skills and competencies, and supporting leadership actions.

    First Higher Education Readiness Program Cohort Selected in Ethiopia

    IIE is excited to have selected the first group of one hundred HER scholarship recipients! The Institute held selection panels for our new Higher Education Readiness (HER) program in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on March 25th. Discussion was robust, objective and transparent. Nineteen Ethiopian professionals from secondary schools, universities, NGO's and businesses gathered to discuss the HER applicants and, based on the scholarship criteria (academic performance, demonstrated leadership and future skills and financial need) determined which girls will be awarded the HER scholarship.

    Guaranteeing Global Opportunities

    Guest blogger Susquehanna University Provost Carl Moses writes about the school's award-winning Global Opportunities program.

    Kicking off the HER Summer Leadership Train the Trainer Sessions

    The HER scholarship recipients have been busy this past month with a summer full of English language and leadership development trainings. IIE was excited to get so much interest from local professionals to be trainers in the leadership development skill building sessions. In order to make sure that all the professionals were leading similar sessions and addressing all topics required, IIE held several “train the trainer” this past June at our Addis Ababa office.

    Find Your Passion, Find Your Impact

    With more than 1850 women applying for 78 TechWomen spots, it’s clear we need to think how we can expand opportunities for women in technology around the world to meet, connect and inspire each other. That is a major priority for our Center for Women’s Leadership Initiatives in the coming year.

    How to Modernize a Country’s Education System One Teacher at a Time

    IIE is honored to be one of ABF’s partners in its ambitious endeavor to provide cutting edge teacher training. For the second consecutive year, IIE administered the Education Leaders Training Program (ELTP), a customized three-week professional development and training program for a select group of 10-14 Bulgarian high school teachers.

    K-12 Educators Play a Vital Role in "Mapping the World"

    IIE is a proud contributor to the recently-released interactive online mapping tool Mapping the Nation: Linking Local to Global, which pulls together demographic, economic and education indicators—nearly one million data points—to show that the United States is a truly global nation. A quick look at the diverse education data from Mapping the Nation confirms what educators and policy-makers have suspected for many years: U.S. students, at both the school and university level, must become globally competent to succeed in the 21st century.

    Building Partnerships in India

    Developing academic partnerships with Indian institutions can often be a difficult process, rife with bureaucratic hurdles. But India is a place of great promise, and many people come away from the process with more inspiration than concerns.

    International Visitor Leadership Program Builds Bridges

    The International Visitor Leadership Program is a citizen diplomacy program that brings more than 5,000 participants to the United States every year for unique professional and cultural development. Participants in a recent program worked on infrastructure redevelopment.

    A Glimpse into Rebuilding Higher Education in Iraq

    Since 2003, hundreds of Iraqi scholars have been killed, targeted specifically because they were academics. Thousands were threatened and forced to flee the country. IIE launched the Iraq Scholar Rescue Project in response to these threats against the intellectual capital of Iraq. It was a large-scale academic emergency and IIE-SRF met the challenge in a major way.

    Reconnecting Myanmar: Thoughts on Day 1 of IIE’s Myanmar Delegation

    The International Academic Partnerships delegation to Myanmar had an unusual start. A faculty member from Northern Illinois University, Dr. Catherine Raymond, who curates the Burmese art collection there, was bringing back a Buddha sculpture created more than a thousand years ago.

    The Power of Network Analysis in Evaluation: It’s Not Just About Facebook!

    Social network analysis (SNA) is a tool used in modern sociology to identify the links between individuals in various social systems. You can also use it in monitoring and evaluation in order to probe deeper into the power of the social network and how it can be used to measure program outcomes and impact.

    Beyond Student Recruitment: 5 Places Universities Should Watch in 2013

    International-student recruitment will undoubtedly remain a priority in 2013 for American colleges and universities. China, of course, will continue to be a major focus of those efforts, in addition to new growth markets, like Vietnam, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Venezuela. At the institute, however, we have been working with American higher-education institutions to engage with other countries and regions in ways that go beyond student recruitment, IIE President Allan Goodman writes for the Chronicle of Higher Education's WorldWise blog.

    Essential Tips for Designing Successful Entrepreneurship Education Programs

    IIE staff member Emil Levy recently returned from the British Council sponsored conference on Entrepreneurship in Higher Education in Boston. The conference, which featured a variety of speakers from both the U.S. and from across the pond, not only explored the role of Entrepreneurship in higher education, but also juxtaposed the British and U.S. approach to teaching entrepreneurship.

    A MOOC Article a Day: Three Themes To Watch

    MOOCs – Massive Open Online Courses – have generated some interesting practical and philosophical questions in higher education. MOOCs have the capacity to reshape the higher education landscape in the 21st century and as a result, three major themes have emerged: onetizing MOOCs, Accreditation and Pedagogy for the 21st Century.

    Exploring Opportunities for Women in Information and Communication Technologies

    Leaders convened for the first international Working Forum on Women, Information and Communication Technologies and Development (WICTAD). The forum explored opportunities for increased collaboration to expand women’s and girls’ access to and opportunities in information and communication technologies.

    Letter En Route to Erbil

    Dr. Allan E. Goodman reflects on his experience getting to know fellow passengers on a plane to Iraq.

    Letter from the Gulf

    Other countries are looking to a largely U.S. model. And that they are finding it more cost effective to build an American style university than send their students abroad. he question is who and what will fill the demand. For example, there are entire and growing Australian universities that do not actually have any campuses on the home continent. More international students are being educated by UK universities offshore than at home. And the American-based for-profit Laureate group now has more than a million students enrolled in two dozen countries.

    Nine Ways to Use Open Doors Data for International Enrollment Planning

    At the recent EducationUSA Forum, IIE's Christine Farrugia participated in a panel about how higher education institutions can harness Open Doors® to inform their international student recruitment. Open Doors, an annual survey of international educational exchange in the US, produced by IIE with the support of the US State Department, offers valuable information for higher education institutions. The session provided useful insights into different ways to use Open Doors data in planning for international student enrollment.

    Letter from London: A Cautionary Tale

    The lead editorial in Saturday's Times of London, titled The Best and the Brightest is about the UK's own immigration debate. A few pages earlier, the paper covered the drama unfolding in the United States as Congress moves to pass an immigration reform bill before the July 4th recess. The London paper argues that In its drive to bring down immigration, the Government is sending the wrong signals to talented overseas students whom the country needs.

    Expanding Academic Cooperation with Indonesia by Launching a U.S. – Indonesia Higher Education Consortium

    Greg Galford, an Associate Professor of Interior Architecture from Chatham University, had never really thought about Indonesia two years ago, but was set to travel there in April 2011 as more or less a tag-along faculty member. IIE had selected Chatham to join a cohort of six U.S. and six Indonesian colleges and universities that would dedicate two years to developing institutional partnerships and increasing U.S. study abroad to Indonesia. When at the last minute the senior administrator leading the effort was unable to travel with Greg, he found himself solely responsible for representing the university, anxious about what would be expected of him in Indonesia, and hyper concerned about making the short layover from Seoul to Bandung.

    Introducing the Higher Education Readiness (HER) Program: A Path to University for Girls in Ethiopia

    IIE is piloting a program in Ethiopia to do just that. The Higher Education Readiness Program (HER) will provide 100 girls entering 11th grade in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia’s capital city, with scholarship support combined with innovative leadership and life skills training to help them complete their secondary education and equip the students with the tools they need to continue to university.

    From DC to Naypitaw – Capitals Compared

    There are memorable things happening in Myanmar today and U.S. higher education institutions are most assuredly invited to help. In fact, what we build together could become the memory palaces of this country's future.

    Pitt Community College’s Award-Winning Experience in Internationalization

    Pitt Community College in Greenville, North Carolina was one of the recipients of IIE’s Andrew Heiskell Awards for Innovation in International Education at IIE’s Best Practices Conference. Pitt was honored for its International Education Travel Scholarship, which provides full funding for participation in a Pitt Community College Abroad-sanctioned program and seeks to eliminate financial barriers for students and faculty recipients.

    Re-envisioning Internationalization: International Education for What?

    The genesis of this question goes deeper and can be traced to the vast divide between two seemingly overlapping yet disparate fields: international education as those of us in the “exchange” or internationalization field know it, and international education as defined within the field of international development.

    What Does It Mean to Be American? Observations from Bulgarian Students in the U.S.

    In the end of January, Emil Levy at the Institute of International Education facilitated a five-day enrichment seminar in Washington, DC for the participants in the U.S. Academic Immersion Program (USAIP. Sponsored by the America for Bulgaria Foundation (ABF), USAIP is a non-degree scholarship program, which places 20 Bulgarian students in select U.S. colleges and universities and provides them with the opportunity to study in the United States for one academic year.

    HER Launch Event in NYC

    On Tuesday, May 7, IIE hosted the official launch event of our Higher Education Readiness (HER) Program at our New York headquarters. The launch was part of a larger event, sponsored by IIE’s Center for Women’s Leadership Initiatives, to promote its newest publication, Women in the Global Economy: Leading Social Change, and host a panel discussion with book contributors.

    10th Grade National Exam tutoring has begun for Higher Education Readiness students!

    The 10th grade national exam is a key milestone for students entering the 11th grade in high school across Ethiopia. The score on the exam determines whether students enter into a vocational or university track for 11th and 12th grades. To prepare the HER students for the exam, IIE has initiated intensive after school tutoring in those subject areas covered by the National Exam.

    Higher Education Access and Opportunity: IIE Recommends Inclusion of Quality Higher Education in Next Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)

    As the international community considers the post-2015 development agenda, IIE recommends that the next Millennium Development Goals and the Education For All Framework formulate a set of goals and objectives that include a focus on increased access to quality higher education for all. IIE believes that educational access at all educational levels (primary, secondary, higher, and vocational) must be supported. Creating opportunities and institutional infrastructures that will enable students to successfully transition from primary and secondary school to tertiary education must be a central tenet of the global education agenda. Educational access, equity and quality of education are paramount to ensuring that students can fulfill their full educational potential.

    What will 2015 Mean for Higher Education?

    As the world prepares to take stock of 15 years of investment to reach universal primary education and global poverty reduction, the international community is also beginning to discuss which set of challenges will need to be addressed over the next 15 years. Given the finite resources for education, debates on educational investment reflect a profoundly difficult choice for governments and international organizations: prioritizing funding to reach universal primary education or increasing access to secondary and tertiary education? The EFA framework for 2000-2015 was committed to universal primary education – but how likely is it that the next set of EFA goals will support secondary and tertiary education?

    7 Tips to Make Study Abroad More Affordable

    In an increasingly inter-connected world, the ability to work successfully in a diverse workplace is more crucial than ever before. And the need for cross-cultural skills to negotiate an evolving, global economy has never been greater. To that end, study abroad can contribute vitally by furthering students’ foreign language abilities, enhancing cross-cultural communication skills and also providing a potentially life-changing international experience

    Too Soon To Tell? Thoughts From CACIE in Beijing

    It was my privilege to be one of the keynote speakers at the China Annual Conference for International Education in Beijing. The other was a former foreign minister. As it turned out, we both never had the opportunity to study abroad. Although our jobs later gave us the chance to travel – in Minister Li's case to 183 countries – we both spoke about the opportunity we wished we had.

    HER Participant Results from the Ethiopian National Exam

    The HER girls recently received their scores for the Ethiopian National Exam. This exam is taken by all 10th grade Ethiopians and their numerical score determines whether they move forward to the 11th grade in high school, move to a vocational school or stop going to school and enter the workplace.

    5 Programs that Inspire Innovation and Entrepreneurship Around the World

    What if there was a global movement to inspire people everywhere to unleash their ideas and take the next step in their entrepreneurial journey? That question sparked the launch of Global Entrepreneurship Week (GEW) five years ago. This week, as 138 countries celebrate, the Institute takes a look at what we have been doing to generate innovation and entrepreneurship around the globe

    Advancing Education for the Workforce: A New Partnership Between IIE and Alcoa

    Are we preparing today’s youth to be successful in the workplace? I think that is a question that we as educators should be constantly asking ourselves. Getting a good (and hopefully international) education is not enough. We need to make sure that today’s youth are getting the skills and experience to create their own futures and be successful globally. This is one of the reasons I am so proud that IIE is partnering with the Alcoa Foundation to manage their 125th anniversary initiative to support internships for youth from around the Globe.

    How Are We Doing? The Role of Evaluation in IIE’s Programs

    Like many nonprofits that have an international reach and run several large and varying programs, IIE faces the everyday challenge of how best to assess the effectiveness and impact of its work. Our program evaluation services, offered through IIE’s Center of Academic Mobility Research, have grown rapidly in response to this need! Our evaluation team at the Center has extensive experience in all levels of a program evaluation, from measuring program outputs and outcomes to longer-term studies to identify participant and community impacts over time.

    Developing International Relations Offices in Myanmar

    In September, IIE announced that it is launching a new course designed to train Ministry officials and university representatives in Myanmar on how to create and manage an effective international education office. The new course, Connecting to the World: International Relations for Higher Education Institutions, will be an essential step to enable universities in Myanmar to connect with institutions in the United States and other countries so that they can build institutional capacity and prepare their students to meet current workforce needs and support rapid economic development.

    Is Study Abroad Essential?

    As we continue to live in an increasingly globalized world, cross-cultural competence has become an essential skill for succeeding in the global marketplace. Studying abroad is a great way for students to expand their horizons and can open up a world of personal and professional opportunities that will enable those who have the opportunity to study abroad to become effective global citizens. However, some believe that the merits gained from studying abroad aren’t worth the time or cost.

    Women Leading Solutions to Global Problems: A View from CGI 2013 Annual Meeting

    At CGI this year, Secretary Hillary Clinton endorsed IIE's new commitment – WeTech (Women Enhancing Technology). WeTech, led by Institute of International Education, was designed in conjunction with fantastic Lead Partners Google, Qualcomm Wireless Reach™, and Partners Citrix, Goldman Sachs, and Goldman Sachs Gives at the recommendation of Jane and Michael Chwick, Intel, Juniper Networks, and McKinsey & Company.

    The Next Big Thing in International Education Is...

    According to the London-based investment bank IBIS Capital, the global education market is now worth $4.4 trillion. And the latest numbers from OECD suggest that approximately 4.3 million students are now studying outside their home country. What does this mean for international education and how will it affect IIE's work?

    Is Globalization Good or Bad for International Education?

    While we tend to think of internationalization and globalization as harmonious, even synonymous, this issue of IIE’s biannual magazine makes important distinctions between the two and points out the benefits—along with potential drawbacks—of rapid globalization

    It Happened Before

    International education is already playing a role. Many Iranian students are again coming to the United States, and IIE is exploring the possibility of leading a university delegation to Teheran.

    Mentors and HER Girls in Ethiopia Give Back

    This past September, 100 underserved girls in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia were awarded the HER Scholarship. The scholarship provides the girls with financial support combined with innovative leadership and life skills training to help them complete their secondary education and equip them with the tools needed to continue on to university.

    One Budget in the Humanities is Not Declining

    Thank you to two Institute trustees, Robert L. Dilenschneider and Mark A. Angelson, who have created the new Janet Hennessey Dilenschneider Scholar Rescue Award in the Arts in the IIE-Scholar Rescue Fund to save the lives and work of scholars in the arts.

    What Young Girls Can Achieve With a Good Education

    Zuriel Oduwole, a 12-year-old American girl of Nigerian and Mauritian descent, started the Dream Up, Speak Up, Stand Up program to inspire girls in Africa stay in school and get the best education they can.

    What’s in a Name? Why We Are Now the IIE Center for Academic Mobility Research and Impact

    Launched in 2012, IIE’s research center is now changing its name to the IIE Center for Academic Mobility and Impact. While IIE continues to be at the forefront of applied research on international student mobility through Open Doors and Project Atlas, our Center’s work has expanded rapidly to studying the impact of international higher education programs.

    International Education in the News: 19 Article Picks

    International students are coming to the United States in greater numbers, and they are going to more U.S. universities in more U.S. states. More than 1,000 news reports across the country and around the world announced the latest statistics and trends.

    Letter From WISE—International Education Supporting Crises Worldwide

    The World Innovation Summit for Education (WISE) is the annual Davos for educators that the Institute helped to create in 2009 for the Qatar Foundation. Each year over a thousand educators, corporate leaders, and government officials attend to discuss how we can make what we do better.

    Overcoming Obstacles to Study Abroad: The Fourth “C”

    This year's CIEE annual conference addressed the three Cs that are making it hard for our students to study abroad: Cost, Curriculum, and Culture. It was my privilege to speak at the luncheon, which was then devoted to working groups to come up with ideas on how to reduce obstacles in each area.

    Looking to the Future: Technology and Online Education

    In January the Open University of Hong Kong invited educators from around the globe to the inaugural International Conference on Open and Flexible Education. I was fortunate to attend the conference as part of IIE's traveling fellowship, and I was eager to learn about the ways in which technology will impact the future of education and international exchange programs.

    Peace and Love—50 Years Ago and Today

    When the 1964 Beatles Tribute band leader opened the first set at the British Embassy on Friday evening with these words, it was amazing how much came immediately back.

    The Destination Sure is Worth It

    The Rhodes Trust is piloting a new Falcon Scholarship program for students from parts of the world that have not been part of the British Commonwealth to do graduate study at Oxford.

    Internationalizing Higher Education in Norway: A Conversation with the New Norwegian Minister of Education and Research

    Torbjørn Røe Isaksen, the new Minister of Education and Research in Norway, was in Washington for the annual Transatlantic Science Week organized by the Royal Norwegian Embassy, where he was interviewed by Daniel Obst of IIE. Obst spoke to the Minister about higher education internationalization in Norway, the priorities for academic collaboration with the United States, and the role of universities in supporting higher education in crisis and conflict zones.

    Top 10 Reasons to Study Abroad

    IIE's new book, A Student Guide to Study Abroad, was published by IIE in collaboration with the AIFS Foundation, and is packed with essential tips and information for students looking to study abroad. Next month, IIE will launch a major new initiative that seeks to significantly expand study abroad by the end of the decade.

    The Syrian Refugee Crisis and Higher Education: A View from Turkey

    James King, Senior Research & Program Officer at IIE Scholar Rescue Fund, was in Reyhanlı in Turkey’s southernmost province to meet with Syrians whose university education and academic work had been interrupted indefinitely due to the conflict in their homeland.

    How Your Gifts to IIE are Having an Impact Around the World

    I would like to highlight the ways in which your contributions—in the form of unrestricted gifts—are directly helping students and scholars in danger, increasing access to education and training for women and girls, and providing more American students with opportunities to study around the world.

    IIE’s Global Teacher Programs Team is #generationstudyabroad

    Our team has great commitment to the important mission of international education, in-depth understanding of global primary and secondary education, and most importantly, incredible passion for the professional development of K-12 educators

    Letter from Israel

    A team of us spent part of last week in Jerusalem to present the 10th IIE Victor J. Goldberg Prize for Peace in the Middle East. You can read about this year's winners.

    A Tale of Three Cities

    Beijing, Taipei, and Hong Kong have over 100 universities. Five of them are in the top 100 in the world rankings: Peking and Tsinghua universities, National Taiwan University, and The University of Hong Kong and the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology range in ranking between 36th and 60th.

    About Those Brands

    A quick read of today's China Daily makes it clear just how important education and access to foreign universities appears to be.

    International Women’s Day—Inspiring Change

    Mentors give advice and guidance, but the best mentors also listen. On International Women’s Day, I applaud the 29 TechWomen Mentors who traveled to Rwanda last month to meet women and men doing extraordinary work to enhance women’s education and leadership.

    The Power of Women's Education

    I had the great privilege to participate in the panel From Higher Education to Women’s Leadership convened by the Open a Door Foundation during the 58th Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) at the United Nations. the Panel discussed the impact of higher education for women on solving problems such as poverty and disease.

    Idea 11: don’t be afraid to consider radical ideas

    This category of the IIE Blog comprises the entire IIE Green Paper, “What Will it Take to Double Study Abroad?” separated into a list of blog entries. We invite you to add to the discussion by commenting on one or more of the 11 Big Ideas.

    Idea 3: reframe the problem as a K-20 issue and address it at all levels

    In order to make study abroad an essential part of what it means to be educated, student and family expectations must be addressed at a much younger age. Teachers are key influencers who can help students understand the importance of global awareness early on, and inspire them to be curious about and engaged in the world.

    Idea 4: use research strategically and more practically

    There is a wide range of research available, but validity and quality of the data vary, and the research is often conducted by and for the benefit of the international education community alone. It is important to highlight the most substantive, valid data, and to look for holes in the data that can be plugged with further research.

    Idea 6: secure buy-in from the top of institutions in order to mandate change

    In order for institutions to change, there must be both a top-down and bottom-up approach. Trustees, Boards and the Office of the President must work to convey that study abroad needs to move from the periphery to the mainstream on campuses, and they must follow through on their statements to ensure implementation throughout.

    Letter from Going Global 2014

    This year's education summit organized by the British Council convened in Miami earlier this week. Miami is as affordable and as international as a conference planner might find these days, and one that allowed the Council to reach out to colleagues and partners in the Americas.

    Letter From Kuala Lumpur: What Binds Us Together

    I was seated between Stephanie and Christine and asked them about their experiences and challenges teaching in secondary schools in rural Malaysia. They had all the right answers about adjustment, transformation, and service that we hope goes with being a Fulbrighter and with being part of Generation Study Abroad.

    To Host a King

    On Monday, September 22, 2014, His Majesty the King of Spain began his first official visit to the United States since his proclamation to the throne in June. We were honored and thrilled King Felipe selected the Institute of International Education (IIE) to be his first U.S. public appearance.

    What Will it Take to Double Study Abroad in [Your State Here]?

    This question—What Will it Take To Double Study Abroad?—is the theme of IIE’s fall 2014 IIENetworker. The new magazine features 14 articles covering high-potential areas of growth in study abroad, including community colleges, STEM programs, and co-curricular programs.

    A Train Model: Building a Global Millennial Generation via Travel

    Following their 10-day voyage across the United States while aboard the Millennial Trains Project’s (MTP) second cross-country journey, five Fulbright non-U.S. Students met with IIE’s President, Allan Goodman, U.S. Department of State staff, and IIE staff for a lunchtime storytelling session.

    Helping NGOs to Collaborate, Share, and Innovate in Trinidad and Tobago

    In 2010, the JB Fernandes Memorial Trust partnered with IIE to conduct a feasibility study on Trinidad & Tobago’s NGO sector and explore how the Trust could support the sector. Research findings concluded that, while many local nonprofit organizations are well-developed and thriving, the sector lacks appropriate national visibility and needs more training.

    Mid-Year Reflection: Three Ways IIE Impacts the World

    In the middle of June, when the team at the Institute’s Scholar Rescue Fund realized we were facing a third Iraq emergency—as well as requests for help from scholars in many other parts of the world—Senator Leahy of Vermont reminded us why we do this work.

    Virtual Fair Hints at Welcome Trend in International Exchange

    Recently over 3,000 people gathered to roam the cyber halls of the inaugural Virtual Study Abroad Fair hosted by the State Department, College Week Live, and the Institute of International Education. We hope that these interactions that started off through virtual booths, video conferencing, and instant messaging turn into genuine experiences of cultural exchange.

    Asia's Stake in 21st-Century Higher Education

    In most higher education discourse today it is not unusual to hear the claim that the world’s center of gravity is shifting toward the East. Indeed, no region has undergone as profound a transformation as Asia during the past half-century, from the 1970s to the present.

    Keeping the Doors Open to International Students

    In a powerful commentary piece in Times Higher Education, Keeping the Doors Open to International Students, Rajika Bhandari, IIE’s Deputy VP for Research and evaluation, noted that “the release of this much-awaited annual data was tragically book-ended by the terrorist attacks in Paris and by statements from several governors in the U.S. declaring that they would close the doors of their states to Syrian refugees because one of the Paris attackers posed as a refugee.”

    Letter From San Bernardino

    On Friday Dr. Allan Goodman visited the Cal State University campus in San Bernardino (CSUSB. The university president, Dr. Tomas Morales, had invited Dr. Goodman to speak at a symposium that day on International Education. He and many others during the day expressed that what happened on Wednesday made the need for international education and exchange even more important. So far six of the school's Alumni have died as a result of the terrorism.

    Additional 100 Girls in Ethiopia Awarded the HER Scholarship

    IIE is excited to announce that an additional 100 girls were awarded IIE’s Higher Education Readiness (HER) scholarship. These 11th grade girls (fifty each from Fitawrari and Addis Ketema schools) should be proud of their accomplishments.

    Letter From Philadelphia—Remarks at a Model UN Conference

    In my remarks at the opening of the 31st Ivy League Model United Nations Conference (ILMUNC) organized by University of Pennsylvania students, I spoke about a high school teacher of mine and a national debate competition and their profound impact on who I have become.

    Get in the Ring and Change the World!

    According to Entrepreneurship Education and Training Programs Around the World—Dimensions for Success, entrepreneurship is the largest single source of new job growth in both developed and developing economies. Therefore, a few weeks ago I was thrilled to see this idea in action when I attended the Eastern European regional finals of Get in the Ring, which took place in Sofia, Bulgaria.

    In Conflict and Crisis, Higher Education Matters

    About a month ago in Brussels, the Global Platform did something equally remarkable: it gathered, for the first time, representatives of NGOs, multilateral agencies, governments, and universities for a two-day expert seminar on Higher Education in Emergencies.

    Letter From Abu Dhabi: Selecting the 2015 Falcon Scholar

    Last year, pilot programs called the Falcon Scholarships Administered by the Rhodes Trust were instituted for China and the United Arab Emirates. It has been my privilege to serve as the chair of the latter selection committee.

    100 Years of IIE: From Student Mobility to Strategic Engagement

    IIE has seen a lot change in the landscape of international higher education institutional partnerships. Not only has there been a quantitative increase in the sheer numbers of collaborations worldwide, the focus of these partnerships is now also shifting towards mutually beneficial, strategic partnerships.

    Are We Making Progress Toward Doubling Study Abroad?

    Roughly 15 months after IIE launched the Generation Study Abroad initiative, it’s time to take stock. Are we making progress? Can we achieve our goal of doubling study abroad by the end of the decade?

    The Role of International Education in a Time of Crises

    Germany hosted this year’s G7, along with the summit we convene in conjunction with the G7 each year on the internationalization of higher education. This year’s summit theme was “International Higher Education Cooperation: Bridges in a Time of Crises.”

    Where Can a Foreign Language Take You?

    With all the recent talk about the decrease in foreign language enrollment in the United States, I thought it would be worthwhile to look at some concrete examples of real career paths that began in a language classroom.

    Myanmar: What a Difference 2 Years Can Make

    Our engagement with Myanmar began two years ago when IIE led the first major delegation of U.S. colleges and universities to the country to meet with key academic and government stakeholders.

    Where Have All the Languages Gone?

    U.S. student enrollment in foreign-language studies is declining for the first time in 20 years and just at a time when we need more Americans who are able to speak the languages and understand the cultures where they are visiting, studying, and may possibly work someday.

    A New Open Doors for a New World

    The Institute of International Education has been collecting and disseminating comprehensive and reliable data on international academic mobility since the Institute was founded in 1919. For nearly 70 years IIE has been publishing this information annually as the Open Doors® Report on International Educational Exchange.

    HER Girls Meet Ethiopian Woman Leaders

    As part of IIE’s Higher Education Readiness (HER) program, which provides young women in secondary school from underserved communities with a pathway to university, our team in the Addis Ababa office is organizing inspirational speakers to meet with the girls several times each semester. The speakers are Ethiopian women who have, despite challenges in their lives, become leaders in their field.

    Understanding Southeast Asia: A Primer for Successful Engagement

    In the following post I’ll dig a little deeper into some of the unique features of Southeast Asia, which I hope those unfamiliar with the region will find useful, interesting, and perhaps a prompt for if or how to be invested in this unique area of the world.

    Second Inspirational Speaker Meets with HER Girls to Provide Perspective

    As part of IIE's Higher Education Readiness (HER) program, which provides young women in secondary school from underserved communities with a pathway to university, our team in the Addis Ababa office is organizing inspirational speakers to meet with the girls several times each semester.

    Measuring the Impact of Our Important Work

    IIE has devoted the entire issue of the newly released IIENetworker to an exploration of impact and relevance. Articles look beyond what is happening and how toward a deeper exploration of whether international education matters and why.

    Women’s Enterprise for Sustainability (WES): Celebrating Global Entrepreneurship Week

    Zina Ammar grew up in Gafsa, Tunisia, where she learned how to make the region’s famous Margoum carpets from the women in her family. Zina eventually started her own carpet-making business. Hoping to grow her business, Zina enrolled in Leadership, Entrepreneurship and Financial Education trainings at the Women's Enterprise for Sustainability (WES) Center for Women’s Business Development in her community.

    A Passage to India

    As E. M. Forster illustrates in the novel with the same title as this blog, India is full of contradictions. You cannot help but notice and hear how big the country is becoming.

    As the Refugee Population Grows

    Here in Germany it is clear that they cannot take all refugees traveling their direction, or even all that have already arrived. It is also clear that Angela Merkel is in real trouble for trying, and that the Germans in the higher education space want their country to lead the way in helping.

    Letter From Havana: Geography, History, and Industrial Arts

    A delegation led by the Institute of International Education (IIE) visited Cuba on October 24–31. Our group represented 12 schools across the spectrum of American higher education interested in institutional partnerships and Cuba as a destination for study abroad.

    The Impact of European Exchange: An Interview With Xavier Prats Monné

    As the European Union copes with a continuing financial crisis and growing pessimism over European integration, the Erasmus Programme has proven surprisingly resilient. Since its inception, it has expanded to more than 4000 participating education institutions in 33 countries offering mobility opportunities for more than 4 million people.

    How Study Abroad Contributes to Career Readiness: 8 Studies

    International experience used to be a “nice-to-have” criterion in a graduate’s resume. Today, it has become one of the most important components of a 21st century education. Many new studies show a direct impact of study abroad on creativity, cognitive ability, and student success. In addition, studies show that study abroad plays an important role in developing a global mindset and skills necessary to succeed in the workforce. Below are studies showing the value employers place on international experience and whether a graduate’s career prospects actually improve as a result of this experience.

    WeTech: Engineering the Future for Girls and Women since 2013

    Two years ago this month, IIE launched a new program to help women and girls enter and succeed in tech careers. Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton introduced WeTech on stage at the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) annual meeting in 2013. WeTech is a consortium of private sector and NGO partners that designs and supports a series of innovative activities to provide training, build networks and offer professional opportunities across the world.

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    11 Tips for Increasing International Student Yield in Uncertain Times

    To help campus leaders and admissions officers navigate these uncertain times, IIE’s team of experts put together a list of eleven actions to take this month to encourage international students to make the United States – and your college - their first choice. This list is by no means comprehensive. Our hope is that it will get the conversation started and others can add in best practices from their campuses and experience.

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    Celebrating Tunisia's National Women's Day

    Each year on August 13th, Tunisians celebrate National Women’s Day. For many, it’s a day to acknowledge what they have achieved for women’s rights, while recognizing and continuing to fight the many challenges that still exist against gender equality.

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    Reflections on a Cuban Study Tour

    This summer, four American University graduate students traveled to Cuba to conduct an evaluation of IIE’s Cuba International Academic Partnership Program as part of a faculty-led group project. This collection of short observations highlights how each team member also grew personally from the experience.

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    Shimmer on a Cloudy Day: Reflections on IIE's HER Program

    The month of July is a rainy one for Ethiopia. For IIE and the graduates of the Higher Education Readiness program, however, the 28th of July stands out as a bright and remarkable day where we got together to celebrate 100 girls who successfully graduated from high school and the HER program.

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    Is Generation Study Abroad Making a Difference?

    We are seeing that through our collective impact, the Generation Study Abroad network is making steady progress to reach our goal of doubling study abroad by the end of the decade.

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    Catchers in the Rye: Education and Extremism

    Perhaps education has for too long been looked at as a panacea for the world's problems, however this role as “catchers” is one that we should rally around as central to our vocation as educators.

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    IIE Joins Girls CHARGE!

    This past September IIE joined the Clinton Foundation and the Brookings Institution’s Collaborative for Harnessing Ambition and Resources for Girls’ Education (Girls CHARGE)--a collaboration of over 50 companies, civil society organizations, multilaterals and governments all committed to improving learning and leadership opportunities for young women and girls globally.

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    Letter from New Hampshire

    The University of New Hampshire joined us as a Generation Study Abroad partner, aiming to increase from about 750 students currently studying abroad to 1,500. This is part of the UNH Global 2020 strategy aiming to make international learning and experience central to education.

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    The "Delivering Higher Education to Syrian Refugees" Workshop: A Rare Moment of Guarded Optimism

    It is widely recognized that without an educated generation of future leaders, the rebuilding of Syria will be impossible. Additionally, we know that as millions of Syrians settle – potentially permanently – in Europe, North America, and parts of the Middle East-North Africa region, education presents an important alternative to crime and radicalization. These realities have led to a substantial increase in international programming to support higher education opportunities for Syrian refugees.

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    IIE's Long-Term Commitment to Serving Refugees

    Since its inception, IIE has sought out ways to support students and scholars in need when their home countries were in times of war or internal discord. Today, the Scholar Rescue Fund is answering this call by encouraging universities to provide scholarships to qualified Syrian students and offering funding to host institutions that offer temporary positions for Syrian scholars.

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    Insights From the G7 International Higher Education Summit

    We had the opportunity to represent IIE and U.S. higher education at the G7 International Higher Education Summit last month in Tokyo. Through our roundtable dialogues, meetings, and presentations several key insights rose to the top as the current trends and challenges facing global academic mobility.

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    Why the Refugee Crisis is so Unique

    Over the past two weeks, the Institute has been asked to make a series of presentations on how higher education can respond to the current refugee crisis. As has been true in the past, the Institute is seen as active on the front lines when there are higher education emergencies, where students and scholars need to be helped and rescued.

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    Empowering Voices and Contributing to HER Impact

    The report "HER Initiative to Lead Change: The Power of Education" shows how IIE is making a difference in Ethiopia, affecting the lives of the next generation of women and contributing to their academic and personal success.

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    Letter from Cape Town: Finding Shakespeare

    In my remarks at the British Council's "Going Global" Conference, I noted how ironic it was that the only surviving piece of paper that contains something written in Shakespeare's own hand is a scene about refugees.

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    Top 5 Ways IIE is Building Networks Across Africa

    Through programs like ACE for Women’s Leadership and Higher Education Readiness (HER), IIE harnesses the power of international education to address major challenges facing the world today.

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    We Are the Lucky Ones: A Partner’s Reflections on the IIE-SRF Forum

    On April 29th, I sat on the 12th floor of IIE’s New York Headquarters, humbled to be a part of the 2016 Scholar Rescue Fund Forum, "Scholar Voices and University Action." Surrounding me were highly accomplished individuals from education, human rights and government sectors, paired with persecuted scholars from all around the globe, each with a story to tell and a profound determination to make an impactful change.

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    China's Role in International Education by the Numbers

    Chinese students account for a third--the largest proportion--of the more than one million international students on American campuses across the country. There are over 34,000 Chinese students in American high schools, and many others coming for summer camps and in “bridge” programs.

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    Experiential Learning and the UAE

    Experiential learning is an emerging trend in U.S. higher education, and I learned at the conference that our global peers throughout the world are also utilizing experiential learning in their educational programs to further the development of key sectors, academic fields, and professional skills.

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    Letter from Tbilisi

    Georgia's Minister of Education and Science, Aleksandre Jejelava, is embracing what I consider a more positive educational nationalism–-a drive to internationalize higher education institutions, faculty and student bodies.

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    Women Enhancing Technology: Three Years of Impact

    The WeTech program is a set of innovative activities that provides training and builds networks for girls and women in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) across the world. For the past three years, WeTech has opened up new life possibilities for young females, preparing them for and connecting them to STEM opportunities.

    Image: DC Nightscape

    International Education and National Policymaking: How Does It Work?

    While the impact of international education on career and personal development is indisputable, evidence on the impact on the national public sphere, particularly in marginalized communities, has yet to be ascertained. How can international fellowship and scholarship programs influence policymaking?

    I am Generation Study Abroad

    Why I'll be at the IIE Summit this October

    Gretchen Cook-Anderson, from Generation Study Abroad commitment partner IES Abroad, shares why she'll for attending the IIE Summit on Generation Study Abroad in Washington, DC.

    Image: Maria Isabel de Assis Puscp, IFP Participant

    Lessons from IIE’s Latest IFP Alumni Tracking Study Report

    Since 2013, IIE has carried out a longitudinal tracking study that explores the personal and professional trajectories of IFP alumni. Andrea Brown Murga, Monitoring and Evaluation Officer at IIE, shares her perspective on the subtle and complex ways a fellowship program like IFP can make a difference.

    Image: Rafael Eiji at Natural History Internship

    Shining a Light on Student Mobility in Brazil

    As higher education becomes more globally competitive, more countries are seeking to gain an edge by internationalizing their higher education sectors. In this blog, Chelsea Robles, a Research Specialist at IIE, explores this phenomenon specifically as it relates to Brazilian students, and shares findings from our recent study, Higher Education and Student Mobility: A Capacity Building Pilot Study in Brazil.

    Image: Dr Nancy Muturi at the USIU Graduation

    International Exchange: Not a Zero-Sum Game

    Peggy Blumenthal, Senior Counselor to the President at IIE shares her thoughts and discusses research findings on international student participation in U.S. higher education.

    Man writing in notebook

    Coming to America

    In a new blog, IIE's President and CEO, Dr. Allan Goodman shares his advice to incoming international students to U.S. universities.

    Araz Khajarian at her university

    World Refugee Day Spotlight: Araz Kharjarian

    From Damascus to Rhode Island: Salve Regina University rising senior Araz Khajarian shares how she managed to earn a scholarship that would bring her to safety.

    Image: Collete Agnese at NAFSA

    Meet IIE at NAFSA 2017

    IIE team members will be presenting during the NAFSA 2017 Annual Conference & Expo in Los Angeles. Find out where IIE's booth is located (#1211), and which topics IIE team members will cover during the concurrent sessions and poster fair.

    HER graduating student presenting her group's poster on community impact of the HER program, July 2016

    Empowering the next generation of Ethiopian leaders

    In 2013, IIE launched the Higher Education Readiness (HER) pilot program for under-served girls in Ethiopia. Four years later, IIE's Center for Academic Mobility Research and Impact has documented the profound effect the program has had on its participants.

    Gilman Scholar Kristie Dinh

    Celebrate International Education Week with IIE!

    IIE is a proud supporter of International Education Week, November 13-17, 2017. Join the celebration by sharing the impact of international education exchanges in your life and the world.

    Image: Jordan University of Science and Technology

    Jordanian Outreach to Scholars and Students Promises Hope in War-Torn Region

    Since 2002, IIE's Scholar Rescue Fund has assisted 726 scholars from 58 countries, 116 of whom have been placed in Jordanian institutions, including Jordan University of Science and Technology (JUST). In this post, IIE's CEO and President, Allan E. Goodman, shares reflections on SRF and the role that Jordan in particular has played in preserving scholarship and thus, a human foundation upon which Syria and other conflict ridden countries and territories can rebuild.

    Gif: 10 Great Reasons to Study Abroad

    10 Great Reasons to Study Abroad

    IIE is a proud supporter of International Education Week, November 13-17, 2017. Share with students these 10 Great Reasons to Study Abroad, brought to you by Generation Study Abroad.

    IIE staff at NAFSA holding sign

    Five Ways to Work With Us

    Celebrate International Education Week with IIE! Today's theme is Work with IIE, and this post from our Chief of Institutional Development, Jonah Kokodyniak, details five ways to do just that. Read and share how IIE's global team of experts can help you harness the power of international education.

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