Heiskell Awardees
The Institute of International Education (IIE) created the IIE Andrew Heiskell Awards for Innovation in International Education in 2001 to promote and honor outstanding initiatives conducted in international higher education by IIENetwork members. By recognizing excellence and innovation, IIE supports IIENetwork members in their endeavors, encourages the expansion and creation of initiatives based on these successful models, and amplifies the important role of international higher education on campuses and communities. Each winning initiative receives $1,000 to contribute to their ongoing success.
For more than 20 years, IIE has bestowed nearly 100 IIE Heiskell Awards to institutions and organizations around the world that demonstrate the power and longevity of international education through their impactful programs. With honor and esteem, we carry on the legacy of the award’s namesake, Andrew Heiskell, a former Executive Committee member of IIE’s Board of Trustees who was a renowned international and cultural philanthropist and a long-time supporter of international education.
The 2025 IIE Heiskell Award Recipients
Lone Star College’s The Global EdVantage
In 2017, Lone Star College (LSC) had a 4-person office to develop and sustain internationalized programming for the 7 colleges and 15 centers across the greater Houston area serving ~85,000 students. So out of necessity to develop a strategic framework to encapsulate the breadth of their reach and integrate a system-wide approach, LSC created The Global EdVantage. This initiative serves as an innovative systems approach to designing dynamic, intercultural learning experiences and an International Studies (IS) core-course curriculum. The Global EdVantage offers all students the opportunity to develop the skills necessary for success in a globalized world by providing access to IS-designated courses, study abroad opportunities, language and culture programs, intercultural co-curricular activities, and faculty-led efforts to expand intercultural engagement. Since launching, the Global EdVantage has grown to directly impact over 12,000 students and hundreds of faculty. In addition, the International Faculty Fellow working group is increasing intercultural co-curricular and study abroad programs. It has also allowed LSC to build capacity for faculty training, and this has resulted in LSC being named a 2023 Fulbright Top Community College Sender and designated a Fulbright HSI Leader in 2024.
The University of Oklahoma’s Pigmentos Dance Festival
The Pigmentos International Dance Festival is an artistic platform and student exchange opportunity for U.S. and Mexican dancers, an often underfunded demographic of students who study abroad. The brainchild of colleagues from the University of Oklahoma and partner institutions in Mexico, it has taken place in Puebla, Mexico, annually for three years with plans for growth and expansion well into the next decade. The festival is a unique opportunity for dance students and faculty from Mexico and the U.S. to share, interact, and learn from each other about dance and life in the two countries. Beyond dance classes and performances, there are also roundtable talks and lectures that discuss the field of dance and art in general, aiming to grow unity and mutual understanding among the participants. It is a unique space where academia, art, and culture come together on a literal and figurative global stage.
Alamo Colleges District, Universidad Tecmilenio, & Methodist Healthcare System’s International Nursing Pathway
The International Nursing Pathway Program is a groundbreaking initiative launched in 2023 by the Alamo Colleges District (ACD) and Universidad Tecmilenio in partnership with Methodist Healthcare System to address two interconnected challenges: the critical nursing shortage in the United States and the surplus of highly trained nurses in Mexico who face limited employment opportunities in their home country. As is in the program name, this partnership creates a pathway for Mexican nurses to join the U.S. healthcare workforce. The program equips participants with the skills, knowledge, and cultural competencies needed to pass the National Council Licensure Examinations (NCLEX) and transition seamlessly into the U.S. healthcare system. It integrates NCLEX preparation, medical terminology, and cultural competency education, ensuring that participants are well-prepared for their roles. Additionally, the collaboration with Methodist Healthcare System provides scholarships and employment pathways, bridging the gap between education and workforce needs. By simultaneously addressing a critical healthcare shortage in the U.S. and empowering Mexican nurses with professional opportunities, the program serves as a model for international education and workforce development.
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign & University of Birmingham’s BRIDGE-Birmingham-Illinois Partnership for Discovery, Engagement & Education
The BRIDGE Partnership, a groundbreaking collaboration between the two universities was established to drive innovation, tackle global challenges, and foster impactful research and education. At the heart of the BRIDGE Partnership is a commitment to addressing critical global issues aligned with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, including climate change, health disparities, and sustainability. This commitment is realized through joint research projects, academic and professional exchanges, tri-lateral partnerships, and shared research fellows. With over 120 cross-faculty connections spanning diverse disciplines, the partnership has facilitated impactful collaborations, supported by $800,000 and £600,000 in fellowship awards, which have generated over $10 million in external grants. Programs such as the Global South Fellowship, Water Research Fellowship, Signature Initiatives, and the Staff Exchange further exemplify BRIDGE’s innovative approach. These initiatives not only address pressing societal challenges but also cultivate academic leaders and inspire a shared vision of discovery and engagement.
Universidad Carlos III de Madrid’s International Foundation Program
The Universidad Carlos III de Madrid (UC3M) International Foundation Program (IFP) is a pioneering initiative that has transformed access to higher education in Spain. This one-year, pre-university program allows international students to begin their academic journey at UC3M without taking Spain’s traditional national access exam. It prepares students for undergraduate studies in English and Spanish, equipping them with the academic and linguistic skills to succeed. The IFP addresses key barriers for international applicants: late exam timing, the requirement for advanced Spanish proficiency, and the emphasis on specific local knowledge. By offering an alternative path, the program fosters diversity and creates equal opportunities for global talent. Over the past decade, the program has significantly increased global access to Spanish universities, inspiring others to adopt similar models and driving innovation in international education.
University of Minnesota – Twin Cities’ Mental Health in Education Abroad
The University of Minnesota created the first-of-its-kind position focused on mental health in education abroad. The role is primarily proactive, offering training for education abroad staff, program leaders, and on-site colleagues to provide the skills and knowledge needed to proactively support mental health and manage situations as they arise. In emerging critical situations, the strategist and educator provide consultations to faculty and staff to ensure students get the care and support required. The position is the result of a partnership among the Global Programs and Strategy Alliance, Learning Abroad Center, Carlson Global Institute, and Office for Student Affairs. The partnership is key to this position’s success, connecting services and resources across the campus system, as well as sites across the globe, to support students’ mental health abroad.
Bard College’s Open Society University Network Courses
The Open Society University Network (OSUN) Courses, led by Bard College, has developed, at scale, a distinctive model of global learning, grounded in deep institutional partnerships. This program has re-envisioned international education as a full curriculum of regular undergraduate courses taught by faculty around the world to students across a broad range of geographies and backgrounds. These courses come in two formats: online courses, which bring together students from around the network into synchronous, interactive online classrooms, and network collaborative courses, which are codesigned and taught simultaneously across partner institutions. Each year, about 7,000 students across 23 partner institutions enroll in 120+ courses taught by over 300 faculty. About half of the enrollments consist of displaced students, including those at universities in exile. These courses promote global learning among students who have no opportunity to study abroad and enable students to pursue international education throughout their four years of undergraduate study.
State University of New York at Buffalo’s First-Year Global Experience
The First-Year Global Experience provides new first-year and transfer students from all majors with the opportunity to learn about the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, develop intercultural communication skills, and enhance their ability to live and lead in a global society. Offered in both Costa Rica and the United Kingdom, the program combines a 3-credit course with an embedded 10-day study abroad experience during the winter term. Since the program focuses on the UN SDGs, faculty from different disciplines are recruited to teach courses each year. The program is an initiative to help increase student participation and provide international experience during their time at the university. Through subsidized fees, scholarships, and a simple application process, these programs have regularly attracted a diverse range of students, including first-generation college students and many students who had never traveled outside of the U.S.
Learn more about the winning initiatives on the IIE Opening Minds Blog:
- “Start close, go far” – Lone Star College’s The Global EdVantage
Previous IIE Heiskell Award Recipients
Widening Access for International Education
- Northern Arizona University: Global Citizens Project Scholar
- Honorable Mention, Florida International University: COIL Capacity Building Program
Student Mobility & Exchange
- Iowa State University: Virtual Exchange+ Transatlantic Summer School
- Honorable Mention, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University: Real-Life Learning for Unique and Federally Regulated Majors
Strategic Partnerships
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill & Eberhard Karls Universität Tübingen: Data Science and Society Collaboration
- Honorable Mention, Dickinson College & U.S. Army War College: Cooperative Scholarship
Models of International Education Financial Support
- Loyola Marymount University: Gilman Incentive Grant
- Honorable Mention, University of Denver: Cherrington Global Scholars
Widening Access for International Education
- Rice University: GREAT Project: Interconnection of Distinct Worlds
Student Mobility & Exchange
- Worcester Polytechnic Institute: Global Projects for All
Strategic Partnerships
- Notre Dame International: Notre Dame Standing in Solidarity with Ukrainian Catholic University
- Honorable Mention, Purdue University-Main Campus: Undergraduate Research Experience at Purdue-Colombia (UREP-C)
Models of International Education Financial Support
- Indiana University: IU Global: International Advancement Initiative
- Honorable Mention, Rutgers University: Access the World
Widening Access for International Education
- Georgia State University: Georgia State University Free Passport Initiative
- University of Richmond: EnCompass
Student Mobility & Exchange
- Northwestern University: Virtual Global Engagement Studies Institute Program
Strategic Partnerships
- Babson College: Babson Collaborative for Entrepreneurship Education
- Louisiana State University: LSU & MENDELU Strategic Partnership
Models of International Education Financial Support
- University of Arkansas: International Education Catastrophic Fund
Internationalizing the Campus
- Rice University: Brasil@Rice, A Corner/”Cantinho” of Brazil
- Honorable Mention, Texas A&M International University: Reading the Globe
Study Abroad
- University of Tulsa: Jumpstart TU
- University of Otago: A Place to Stand, A World to Explore
International Partnerships
- Lehigh University: United Nations Partnership
- Honorable Mention, Kansas State University: Australian Initiative and Oz-to-Oz
Internationalizing the Community College
- Harper College: Global Region of Focus Initiative
International Partnerships
- Broward College: International Partnership Centers: The Third Way initiative
Student Mobility
- Lehigh University: Iacocca International Internship Program
- Honorable Mention, De Montfort University: Leicester, England, #DMUglobal
Study Abroad/Access & Equity
- University of South Florida: USF Education Abroad Inclusion Initiative
Higher Education in Emergencies
- University of Evansville: Scholars for Syria Initiative
Scholars as Drivers of Innovation
- Agnes Scott College: Summit Program
- Honorable Mention, Ferris State University: Beyond Initiative
International Partnerships
- West Virginia University: WVU – RUW Partnership
Internationalizing the Campus
- Virginia Commonwealth University: VCU Globe
- Honorable Mention, Northwestern University: Program in Global Health Studies (GHS)
- Honorable Mention, Rochester Institute of Technology: A Blueprint for Global STEAM Education
Study Abroad
- University of Massachusetts Lowell: Global Entrepreneurship Exchange
- Honorable Mention, Baldwin Wallace University: BW in Zambia
Internationalizing the Community College
- Ohio State Agricultural Technical Institute: Ghana Research and Education Abroad
- Honorable Mention, Pima Community College: Mexico Project
International Partnerships
- Mississippi State University: Mississippi-Morocco Partnership
- Honorable Mention, University of Warwick: The International Conference of Undergraduate Research (ICUR)
Internationalizing the Campus
- Macquarie University: Global Leadership Program (GLP)
- Honorable Mention, Georgia Gwinnett College: Internationalization of the Curriculum: Engaging the World to Develop Global Citizens
Study Abroad
- Northern Arizona University: Interdisciplinary Global Programs
- Honorable Mention, Indiana University: Global Gateway for Teachers
Internationalizing the MSI
- Santa Monica College: Global Citizenship
- Virginia Union University: Institutionalizing Internationalization at VUU
International Partnerships
- University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign: ISIP/INSPIRE
- Honorable Mention, Northwestern University: International Program Development (IPD)
Internationalizing the Campus
- Florida International University: Global Learning for Global Citizenship
- Case Western Reserve University: Plan for Internationalization
- Honorable Mention, Temple University: International Educator’s Academy
Study Abroad
- The University of Iowa: India Winterim International Development
- Honorable Mention, Sacred Heart University: College of Nursing Study Abroad
- Honorable Mention, SUNY Oswego: “I Too, Am Study Abroad”
Internationalizing the HBCU
- Tennessee State University: Diversity and International Affairs
International Partnerships
- Auburn University: Auburn-Keimyung Korea Center
- Honorable Mention, The Ohio State University: Ohio State One Health Ethiopia Partnership
Internationalizing the Campus
- Texas Christian University: Discovering Global Citizenship
- Honorable Mention, Purdue University: Purdue International Integration Initiative (P3i)
- Honorable Mention, Higher School of Economics in Moscow: Internationalization Program
Study Abroad
- SUNY New Paltz: CIP – EOP Study Abroad Initiative
- Honorable Mention, University of Minnesota: Bridging Loan Program
Internationalizing the Community College
- Madison Area Technical College: Community College Sustainable Development Network
- Honorable Mention, Miami Dade College: Diasporic Knowledge Remittance Study Abroad
- Honorable Mention, Spokane Falls Community College: 2020 Global Vision
International Partnerships
- University of Michigan-Shanghai Jiao Tong University: Joint Institute
- Honorable Mention, Franklin University & Wyzsza Szkola Bankowa (Poland) Academic Partnership
- Honorable Mention, Universidad Autonoma del Estado de Mexico – University of North Texas, UAEM – UNT Academic Liaison Offices
Internationalizing the Campus
- University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire: International Fellows Program
- Honorable Mention, University of British Columbia: Africa Awareness Initiative
- Honorable Mention, University of Hyderabad: Study in India Program
Study Abroad
- Clemson University: Engineers for Developing Countries
- Honorable Mention, DePaul University: FY@broad
Internationalizing the Community College
- Lone Star College System: Faculty International Exploration Award
- Honorable Mention, Valencia College: Faculty Development for Study Abroad
International Partnerships
- St. Cloud State University: Partnership with Universidad de Concepcion
- Honorable Mention, University of South Florida: Ghana Scholars Program
Internationalizing the Campus
- Susquehanna University: Global Opportunities (GO)
Study Abroad
- Wake Forest University: Project MAAP (Magnolia Abroad Access Program)
- Honorable Mention, University of Pittsburgh: The Vira I. Heinz Program for Women in Global Leadership
Internationalizing the Community College
- Pitt Community College: International Education Travel Scholarship (IETS)
Special Recognition: Internationalizing the Professions
- Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University: Air Traffic Management
- La Trobe University: Oral Health in Nepal
- Saint Louis University: Nursing with International Preparation
- Shoreline Community College: Dental Hygiene Education/Smiles Forever
International Partnerships
- Hendrix College: Rwanda Presidential Scholars Program
- Honorable Mention, Victoria University & University of Texas, El Paso: VU/UTEP Global Engagement & Learning Program
Internationalizing the Campus
- University of Kentucky: Discover Germany – Discover USA
Study Abroad
- University of Rhode Island: International Engineering Program (IEP)
- Honorable Mention, University of Georgia: Global Programs in Sustainability
Study Abroad at the Community College
- Community College of Baltimore City & Howard Community College: Global Distinction
- Honorable Mention, Community College of Philadelphia: Student-Faculty International Fellowship Program
International Partnerships
- Georgetown University Law Center: Center for Transnational Legal Studies (CTLS)
- Honorable Mention, The Chinese University of Hong Kong & UNC & CBS: Global Learning Opportunities in Business Education (GLOBE)
Internationalizing the Campus, Special Focus on Business Education
- College of Wooster: Global Social Entrepreneurship (Global SE)
- Honorable Mention: The George Washington University School of Business: The GWSB Global MBA Program
Study Abroad
- Northeastern University: Dialogue of Civilization
- Honorable Mention, Japan Center for Michigan Universities: Intensive Language Study in Japan
- Honorable Mention, Kennesaw State University: Expanding Access and Enhancing Intercultural Learning
- Special Recognition, German Academic Exchange Service/DAAD: Research Internships in Science and Engineering (RISE)
Study Abroad at the Community College
- Houston Community College: International Business/Logistics & Supply Chain Management
- Honorable Mention, Genesee Community College: Nursing and Science (path and biotech) clinical exchange
U.S.-Spain Academic Cooperation
- University of Nebraska Lincoln & University of Castilla-La Mancha: Harold E. Spencer Exchange in Teacher Education
- Honorable Mention, Universidad de Cantabria & Cornell College of Engineering: The Cornell-Cantabria Program (CCEP)
International Partnerships
- California Institute of Technology: Dual Master’s Degree program in Aerospace Engineering or Aeronautics and Fluid Mechanics: A Joint Partnership between the California Institute of Technology and Ecole Polytechnique
- Honorable Mention, North Carolina State University in Partnership with Université Paul Cézanne- IAE Aix-en Provence: Master of Global Innovation Management
Internationalizing the Campus, Special Focus on Engineering Programs
- Georgia Institution of Technology: The International Plan
- Honorable Mention, University of Colorado at Boulder: Internationalization in the University of Colorado at Boulder’s College of Engineering and Applied Science
Study Abroad
- Angelo State University: Fostering International Education through Study Abroad: Removing Participation Barriers for Students and Faculty
- Washington & Jefferson College: The Magellan Project
Study Abroad at the Community College
- College of Lake County: Semester-long Study Abroad Program at XAIU (Xi’an International University)
- Honorable Mention, Howard Community College: Mexico Language Study Abroad Initiatives
International Partnerships
- Indiana University Purdue University at Indianapolis: IUPUI Office of International Affairs
- Honorable Mention, Ohio University: Research Collabroation via Web-based Technology between the University of Liberia (West Afric) and Ohop University Undergraduates: Best Practices in Microfinance
Internationalizing the Campus
- Champlain College: Institute of Global Engagement
- Universidad de Monterrey (UDEM): Strategic Plan for the Internationalization of UDEM
Study Abroad
- Clemson University and The University of Kansas: Maymester Study Abroad in Carpi, Italy for Education Majors
- Honorable Mention, Vanderbilt University: Vanderbilt Initiative for Scholarship and Global Engagement
Study Abroad at the Community College
- Scottsdale Community College: Australia and New Zealand: Connecting Communities, Sharing Cultures
- Honorable Mention, Chaffey College: Study Near & Far, Salt Lake Community College: Vietnam Study Abroad Program
International Exchange Partnerships
- University of Georgia: The UGA Tunisia Educational Partnership
- Honorable Mention, East Carolina University: Global Academic Initiatives
Internationalizing the Campus
- St. Louis Community College, Forest Park: Global Education Committee
- Honorable Mention, Florence-Darlington Technical College: A Global Village for Two Year Institutions–Domestic & Abroad
- Honorable Mention, Leeds Metropolitan University: Internationalization Strategy
Study Abroad
- Rice University & The University of Tulsa: NanoJapan: Summer Nanotechnology Research Program for Undergraduates
- Honorable Mention, Grand Valley State University: Barbara H. Padnos International Center
- Honorable Mention, State University of New York at Buffalo: International Comparative Urban Planning “Studio”
International Exchange Partnerships
- The State University of New York System Administration: Turkish Dual Diploma Programs
- Honorable Mention, Bard College: Smolny College–A Joint Venture Between Bard College and St. Petersburg State University
Internationalizing the Campus
- University of Delaware: Advancement of a Campus-Wide International Curriculum
- Honorable Mention, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University: Global Studies Certificate Program
Study Abroad
- Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU): Global Opportunities on I-10
- Emory University: Emory College’s Science Experience Abroad: Study Abroad Program for Science Students
- Honorable Mention, University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire: Removing Barriers and Extending the Reach
- Honorable Mention, Valdosta State University: Study Abroad Program in Guadalajara
Internationalizing the Campus
- George Mason University: Provost’s Advisory Committee on Global Research and Education
- Honorable Mention, Georgia Institute of Technology: The International Plan
- Special Recognition, Atlantic Coast Conference Consortium: Atlantic Coast Conference International Academic Collaborative
Study Abroad
- Higher Education Consortium for Urban Affairs (HECUA): Community and Development Program in Bangladesh
- Honorable Mention, Glendale Community College: The Baja California Field Studies Program: Field-Based International Education for Community College Students
- Honorable Mention, Voorhees College: Developing Cultural Context and Intercultural Entrepreneurship Competencies
- Special Recognition, University of Kansas Medical Center: International Health Electives
Faculty Programs
- Central Missouri State University: Maastricht Center for Transatlantic Studies
- Honorable Mention, University of North Dakota: Shanghai-North Dakota Joint Business Management Initiative
Internationalizing the Campus
- Santa Fe Community College: SFCC International Education Initiative
- Honorable Mention, American University: AU Abroad and Abroad at AU
- Honorable Mention, University of Hawaii – Kapiolani Community College: Island Roots and Global Reach: Kapiolani Community College’s International Education Program
Study Abroad
- University of Pittsburgh: The Plus3 Program: An Early Exposure to Study Abroad
- Honorable Mention, Kalamazoo College: People, the Environment, and Development: Landscape-Based Studies of Southeast Asian Ecosystems and Cultures
- Honorable Mention, The University of Arizona: Trilateral Consortium on Capacity Building in Community Rehabilitation and Disability Studies
Faculty Programs
- Tecnológico de Monterrey, México: Educational Model
Internationalizing the Campus
- Northeastern Illinois University: Internationalization of Northeastern Illinois University
- Honorable Mention, Binghamton University, State University of New York: Languages Across the Curriculum
- Honorable Mention, Georgia State University: Cross-Cultural Conversation and Service Partners
Study Abroad
- Tufts University: The International Research Program: Integrating Study Abroad and International Research
- Honorable Mention, University of Arkansas: Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural Global Studies Program
- Honorable Mention, Worcester Polytechnic Institute: The Global Perspective Program
Faculty Programs
- Colorado State University: The International Development Studies Faculty Mentoring Program
- Honorable Mention, University of Richmond: Faculty Seminar Abroad
- Honorable Mention, California State University: San Bernardino Professors Across Borders
Internationalizing the Campus
- Chatham College: Global Focus Program
Study Abroad
- Fox Valley Technical College: Transatlantic Automotive Technology (TransAutoTEC) Project
- Honorable Mention, University of Southern Mississippi: Vietnam Studies Program
- Honorable Mention, Lake Superior College: Mexico Study Abroad Learning Community
Faculty Programs
- University of Missouri-Columbia: Global Scholars Program
- Honorable Mention, University of Richmond: Faculty Seminar Abroad
- Honorable Mention, Emory University: Faculty Study Trip Program of the Claus M. Halle Institute for Global Learning
- Honorable Mention, Colorado State University: International Development Faculty Mentoring Program
Internationalizing the Campus
- Juniata College: Language in Motion
- Montana State University: Arabic Language and Middle East/North Africa Cultural Studies Program
- Honorable Mention, University of Nebraska, Omaha: International Studies and Programs Campus and Community Service Project
- Honorable Mention, University of Colorado, Denver: International Colleges Program
Study Abroad
- San Diego State University: Undergraduate International Business Program
- Honorable Mention, Barnard College: Study Abroad Communications Project
- Honorable Mention, Brookdale Community College: Faculty-Led Short-Term Study Abroad Programs