We are looking forward to connecting with colleagues at the 2026 AIEA Annual Conference in Washington, D.C. In addition to panels and sessions led by IIE experts this year, President & CEO Jason Czyz will moderate a Spotlight Session, International Higher Education & Industry Partnerships: Shaping the Global Workforce. With the partnership and support of the U.S. Embassy Bangkok, the IIE Center for International Partnerships will host a delegation of senior leaders from universities across Thailand; the study tour is part of the ongoing IAPP Thailand initiative.

IIE team members representing the Fulbright Program and EducationUSA will be present in the exhibition hall. Follow us on social media, using the hashtags #AIEA2026 and #IIEatAIEA2026.

The IIE delegation to AIEA includes:

• Jason Czyz, President and CEO
• Julie Baer, Deputy Director, IIE Research, Evaluation, and Learning
• Jamie Bellis, Senior Director, Special Initiatives and Operations
• Lindsay Calvert, Director, IIENetwork and IIE Center for International Opportunities
• Cori Crisfield, Manager, IIE Center for International Partnerships
• Giselle Dubinsky, Regional Education Advising Coordinator (REAC), EducationUSA
• Jordanna Enrich, Senior Director, Fulbright Student & Scholar Programs
• Andra Jacques, Assistant Director of Outreach and Recruitment, Fulbright Program
• Sylvia Jons, Director, IIE Center for International Partnerships
• Kari Kuja, Senior Director, IIE Europe
• Mirka Martel, Head, IIE Research, Evaluation, and Learning
• Jen Murray, Assistant Director of Outreach and Recruitment, Fulbright Program
• Christy Rozek, Brand Manager, Fulbright Program

IIE Sessions

Details about IIE-led sessions will be added as confirmed.

Topics will include

• Pre-Conference Workshop, hosted by IIE’s Center for International Partnerships
• Global Internships to Build Strong Employment Pipelines
• The Future of Education Abroad: Insights for Strategic Leadership
• Resilient Recruitment Markets in a Shifting Global Landscape
• Building Campus Excellence through a Fulbright Strategy: Insights from Top-Producing Institutions
• Building Local Support for Global Learning
• Partnership Development as a Tool for Resiliency and Professional Growth: Leveraging Fulbright International Education Administrator Awards

Tuesday, February 17

More Important and More Watched: Survey Data on the Changing World of International Partnerships

7:00 – 8:00 a.m. ET | Moderator: Sylvia Jons, Director of IIE Center for International Partnerships

This session explores the bifurcated higher education landscape described by respondents to IIE’s 2025 International Partnership Survey. Respondents report steady growth in the importance of international partnerships as well as challenges, internal and external to the sector. The result is a complex mix of concerns and motivations, often accompanied by restrictions and funding changes. Survey data provide a springboard for discussion of how to think about and respond to this situation.

Wednesday, February 18

International Higher Education & Industry Partnerships: Shaping the Global Workforce

3:15 – 4:15 p.m. ET | Moderator: Jason Czyz, IIE President & CEO

As global industries evolve, the imperative to align higher education with workforce needs has never been stronger. This Spotlight Session brings together international educators for a roundtable discussion on how cross-sector partnerships are shaping the future of workforce training. Drawing on IIE’s global network and expertise in international education strategy, the session will explore innovative collaborations that prepare students and professionals to thrive in a complex, interconnected world. Panelists will examine scalable models that integrate academic learning with real-world skills and foster global talent pipelines.

IIE also seeks to foster meaningful dialogue among attendees with discussion questions, including:

1. What are the most effective models of collaboration between international higher education institutions and industry for workforce training, and what makes them successful?
2. How can universities align curricula that balance global competencies with industry workforce needs?
3. What role should international student mobility and exchange programs play in preparing a globally agile workforce?
4. What metrics or indicators should be used to evaluate the impact of university-industry partnerships on workforce readiness and long-term career outcomes?