NEW YORK, November 17, 2014— Eight months after the official launch of Generation Study Abroad, the Institute of International Education (IIE) has announced that 142 new partners have joined as part of a third round of commitments, bringing the total to 450 partners. Many of the new partners are international universities and organizations that have committed to increase the number of U.S. students going to their countries to study. In addition, several major U.S. higher education organizations have pledged specific, actionable goals and tangible financial commitments that will contribute significantly to IIE’s ambitious goal of doubling the number of American students who study abroad by the end of the decade.
Studying abroad is one of the best ways American college students can acquire international experience necessary to succeed in today’s global marketplace. The 2014 Open Doors Report on International and Educational Exchange, released today, demonstrates the clear need to take bold action to increase study abroad participation. Open Doors reports that study abroad by American students increased by just 2% in 2012/13, and less than 10% of U.S. students now study abroad as part of their undergraduate education.
“Studying abroad must be viewed as an essential component of a college degree and critical to preparing future leaders. Globalization has changed the way the world works, and employers are increasingly looking for workers who have international skills and expertise,” said Allan E. Goodman, president and CEO of the Institute of International Education.
Noteworthy partners joining the coalition in this round include the Council on International Educational Exchange (CIEE), the State University of New York (SUNY), and CollegeWeekLive.
- CIEE has pledged a generous package of $20 million in scholarships and actions designed to help students throughout the United States to take advantage of international opportunities.
- SUNY, the largest comprehensive state university system in the country, has pledged to increase study abroad by 25% across it 64 campuses, working with businesses to provide international internships and better prepare New York’s future workforce to take part in the global economy.
- CollegeWeekLive, IIE, and the U.S. Department of State will host the first ever Virtual Study Abroad Fair, scheduled for February 25, 2015, and provide opportunities for students to engage live, online with study abroad organizations and colleges and universities from around the world.
IIE president Allan E. Goodman will give a keynote address outlining IIE’s vision for Generation Study Abroad at the CIEE Annual Conference, “Breaking Barriers: Cost, Curriculum, Culture” on Thursday, November 20 in Baltimore.
Generation Study Abroad urges partners to work not only on increasing the numbers but also in changing the perception of study abroad so that all students enter college with the expectation of having an international experience before they graduate. Campuses of all types are taking steps to reach out to specific underrepresented groups by using peer-to-peer advising, training faculty and advising staff, and developing tailored programs. New commitment partners, including Diversity Abroad, Fund for Education Abroad, Student Language Exchange, WeSpeke, and K-12 organizations, such as Global Glimpse and Global Citizen Year are working to shift the landscape of study abroad.
A total of 450 partners have joined Generation Study Abroad to date. They include: 298 U.S. colleges and universities from 48 states; 67 international universities and organizations; 16 education associations; 56 organizations including study abroad, K-12, and social network agencies; 13 U.S. and foreign government entities, including the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. The full list of new partners and select commitments are highlighted on the news site.
About IIE’s Generation Study Abroad
Building on its nearly 100-year commitment to study abroad, IIE launched Generation Study Abroad in the belief that the number and proportion of today’s students who graduate with an educational experience abroad is far too low. IIE will lead the Generation Study Abroad coalition and sustain an ongoing dialogue about the need for more students from all backgrounds and in all fields to gain international experience. This will include research to identify and break down barriers hindering students from studying abroad, communications to share strategies and best practices, and fundraising to mobilize additional financial resources. Generation Study Abroad aims to grow participation in study abroad so that the annual total reported will reach 600,000 by the end of the decade. Visit the Generation Study Abroad website for details on how to Join the Campaign.
IIE ANNOUNCES NEW GENERATION STUDY ABROAD ACTIVITIES FOR 2015
IIE Study Abroad Fund: A component of Generation Study Abroad, the Fund recognizes U.S. universities and institutions that are making outstanding progress in achieving their study abroad targets and provides them with incentive grants to help their students pursue educational opportunities abroad. In March 2015, IIE will provide the first incentive grants of $5,000 to $10,000 to U.S. campus partners who are making good progress towards their goals.
The Virtual Study Abroad Fair (February 25, 2015): CollegeWeekLive, IIE, and the U.S. Department of State will conduct a virtual fair on study abroad. The virtual fair will provide students and their families access to live video presentations about study abroad topics such as the benefits of a global perspective on future job prospects, and enable them to chat live with representatives from study abroad organizations and colleges and universities from around the world.
Convening partners from all sectors: IIE has announced the first annual IIE Summit on Generation Study Abroad, to be held on October 1-2, 2015 at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Washington, DC, to bring together commitment partners to share best practices and develop new partnerships and ideas. A call for proposals will be issued in December 2014 and registration will open in spring 2015. The IIE Summit on Generation Study Abroad will engage all commitment partners, including U.S. and non-U.S. higher education institutions, the K-12 community, foreign language community, study abroad organizations and social networks, education associations, private sector corporations and foundations, and U.S. and foreign government partners.
Reaching high school students, parents, and teachers: IIE will launch its second round of IIE Passport Awards for Study Abroad, supplemental grants for high school students to study abroad when they are in college (the winners will be announced in June 2015). In partnership with AIFS, IIE will also publish A Parent’s Guide to Study Abroad. IIE will introduce its Generation Study Abroad Teacher Campaign this winter with the goal to have 1,000 teachers pledge be advocates for study abroad.
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