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 the most outstanding initiatives that are being conducted in international higher education by IIENetwork member universities and colleges. By recognizing excellence and innovation, IIE hopes to support IIENetwork members in their endeavors and to signal a new and important role for international education on campus.
The 2022 IIE Heiskell Awardees
Georgia State University’s Free Passport Initiative
The Free Passport Initiative (FPI), launched in February 2021, has provided over 1,000 students at Georgia State University with a free first U.S. passport in the course of just one year. The initiative has succeeded beyond expectations, with traditionally underrepresented groups disproportionately benefitting from the opportunity.
University of Richmond’s EnCompass Program
EnCompass is the University of Richmond’s flagship program to provide access to international experiences for students least likely to study abroad. Faculty members lead formative, fully-funded short-term trips to places they know well and can share deeply with the intention of introducing underrepresented students to international travel in a way that will empower them to travel again.
Northwestern University’s Virtual Global Engagement Studies Institute Program
The Global Engagement Studies Institute (GESI) is Northwestern University’s largest study abroad program and for-credit, overseas internship program. While the COVID-19 pandemic halted international travel and traditional study abroad programming, Northwestern’s Global Learning Office launched a virtual iteration of GESI to maintain opportunities for a diverse spectrum of Northwestern students to engage in global learning. During this pivotal time, many students reported feeling a strong sense of responsibility to contribute to addressing global challenges exacerbated by the global pandemic, and GESI’s Virtual Global Development in Action program gave them the opportunity to do so.
Babson College’s Babson Collaborative for Entrepreneurship Education
The Babson Collaborative for Entrepreneurship Education is a global institutional membership organization connecting universities around the world that are building and expanding their entrepreneurship ecosystems. Membership provides access to pedagogical best practices, expertise, and thought leadership from Babson College, and a network of like-minded global peers from other member institutions.
Louisiana State University’s LSU & MENDELU Partnership
The LSU and Mendel University partnership is a multidimensional and multi-disciplinary partnership initiated by the Agricultural Center and is primarily focused on agricultural science. The goals of the partnership include joint research, grant proposals, student exchange, faculty exchange, joint courses, a summer school, and a food symposium.
University of Arkansas’ International Education Catastrophic Fund
The International Education Catastrophic Fund provides need-based assistance to undergraduate and graduate international students with an unforeseen financial emergency beyond their control that hinders their ability to continue enrollment at the University of Arkansas.