IIE Heiskell Awards
As an IIENetwork Member, you are eligible to self-nominate for the annual IIE Andrew Heiskell Awards for Innovation in International Education. The awards showcase the most innovative and successful models for developing and expanding international education opportunities in practice today. By recognizing excellence and innovation, IIE hopes to encourage the expansion and creation of initiatives based on these successful models.
The 2023 IIE Heiskell Awards are now closed.

1. Widening Access for International Education
Demonstrating creative and substantial efforts to advance diversity, equity, and inclusion by creating and broadening access to global learning and academic advancement opportunities for students/scholars. This may include outreach and recruitment, support services, curriculum development, and international programming, with a particular focus on expanding access to historically underrepresented, marginalized, displaced, or vulnerable populations of students/scholars.
2. Student Mobility & Exchange
Advancing and increasing student mobility and exchanges by providing innovative programs and services to make intercultural and experiential interactions, global learning, and study abroad accessible and equitable for a broader student population. This could include in-person, virtual, or hybrid modalities.


3. Strategic Partnerships
Recognizing innovative partnership efforts that foster international education and demonstrate strong, sustainable linkages among higher education institutions or within an institution/organization or public/private partnerships with government, local community, and NGOs.
4. Models of International Education Financial Support
Developing innovative and sustainable models of either direct financial support or increasing access to funding so students, faculty, and/or staff can participate in international education, contributing to the institutional/organizational strategic goals.


IIE created these awards in 2001 to promote and honor the most outstanding initiatives being conducted in international higher education by IIENetwork member universities and colleges. We are particularly interested in highlighting innovative initiatives or programs that address a specific need, remove institutional barriers, and broaden the base of participation in international teaching and learning on campus. A winning initiative does not have to be the biggest or oldest. It should bring innovative approaches and new resources to bear on addressing a need or taking advantage of a new opportunity. By recognizing excellence and innovation, IIE hopes to encourage the expansion and creation of programs based on these successful models.

About Andrew Heiskell
Andrew Heiskell, a former chairman of Time Inc. and a member of the Executive Committee of IIE’s Board of Trustees, was a renowned international and cultural philanthropist and a long-time supporter of international education. Mr. Heiskell was formerly head of one of the world’s largest providers of news and information, having retired in 1980 after a twenty-year tenure as Chairman of the Board of Time Inc. Born in Italy and educated in Germany, Switzerland and France, Mr. Heiskell came to the United States in 1935 to further his education.