Research abroad, global public health partnerships, future educator preparation, and professional development initiatives among this year’s honorees
Washington, D.C., August 27, 2026 — The Institute of International Education (IIE) today announced the winners and honorable mentions of the 2026 IIE Andrew Heiskell Awards for Innovation in International Education. This year’s honorees represent innovative approaches to growing the field of international education, strengthening global research collaboration, and advancing virtual exchanges, service learning, and career readiness.
Winners include the University of Florida, Texas A&M University, the University of Kentucky, and Illinois State University. Indiana University Bloomington, the University of Michigan, Princeton University, and the University of Colorado Denver received honorable mentions.
This year marks the 25th anniversary of the IIE Heiskell Awards. Created by IIE to recognize and elevate innovative approaches to international higher education, the awards celebrate promising models and practices that can inspire institutions across the field.
The awards also provide members of the IIENetwork with an opportunity to build visibility and support for their initiatives. By amplifying successful models and effective practices, the Heiskell Awards contribute to the continued growth and professionalization of international education on campuses and in communities around the world.
“At IIE, we are committed to advancing innovative practices that help international education adapt to an ever-changing global landscape,” said Jason Czyz, President and CEO of IIE. “For 25 years, the IIE Heiskell Awards have demonstrated that commitment by recognizing institutions and leaders whose pioneering work strengthens the field and expands its impact. This year’s recipients exemplify the ingenuity and leadership needed to keep international education responsive, relevant, and forward-looking. Their accomplishments offer models for the broader international education community. We are proud to celebrate their achievements while honoring the vision and legacy of Andrew Heiskell, whose commitment to educational exchange continues to inspire these awards.”
Over the past quarter century, IIE Heiskell Awards have recognized institutions and organizations around the world with nearly 100 selections and awarded nearly $100,000 to help advance outstanding initiatives among IIENetwork members.
The award is named in honor of Andrew Heiskell, a former member of the Executive Committee of IIE’s Board of Trustees, renowned international and cultural philanthropist, and longtime supporter of international education.
Learn more about the awards and this year’s honorees at iie.org/HeiskellAwards. The public is also invited to register for and attend the virtual 2026 IIE Heiskell Award Convocation and Silver Jubilee Celebration on Monday, September 14, from 11:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. ET.
Congratulations to the 2026 IIE Heiskell Award recipients!
Winner: University of Florida,
COIL/VE for Staff
In recognition of the vital role that administrative and professional staff play on campus, the University of Florida launched COIL/VE for Staff in 2024, extending the benefits of Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) and Virtual Exchange (VE) to staff who may have limited access to international mobility and professional opportunities. The program includes six to eight weeks of structured collaboration with peers abroad to build intercultural competence, digital collaboration skills, and language proficiency while applying global perspectives to real institutional challenges. A cohort-based model creates cross-campus professional networks and cultivates staff advocates for international education while deepening collaboration with partner institutions.
To date, 105 staff members have participated, with cohorts spanning the University of Florida, CEU Cardenal Herrera (Spain), UNESP (Brazil), and UNAM (Mexico). Currently, UF is developing a comprehensive implementation guide and train-the-trainer program, positioning COIL/VE for Staff as a scalable model for advancing internationalization through staff engagement.
Honorable Mention: Indiana University Bloomington, Refugee Task Force
Indiana University Bloomington (IU) established a Refugee Task Force in 2020 to bring together management-level representatives from key student service offices, including financial aid, housing, academic and career advising, student affairs, faculty, and community resettlement organizations. Through partnerships with organizations and creative scholarship funding from federal, state, institutional, philanthropic, and community sources, IU has enrolled more than 40 displaced students, provided full scholarships to 42 students. Sixteen have graduated from IU.
The task force’s collaborative approach allows members to respond quickly to complex challenges, from credential evaluation to housing and family support.
Student Mobility & Exchange
Winner: Texas A&M University, Introduction to Research Abroad Program (IRAP)
The Introduction to Research Abroad Program (IRAP) at Texas A&M University is a collaborative research and exchange program for first- and second-year undergraduate students to focus on shared challenges facing the United States and Mexico. Through a combination of immersive experiences in Yucatán, Mexico, virtual collaboration, and reciprocal exchange, students work alongside peers from partner institutions to develop research proposals on topics such as energy, agriculture, education, and water quality.
A distinctive feature of the program is its emphasis on binational co-creation, cultural immersion through host family experiences, and sustained collaboration, helping students build research skills, global competence, and intercultural understanding at a formative stage in their academic careers.
Supported by the Texas A&M–Yucatán Initiative, the SIIDETEY research consortium, NSF-LSAMP funding, institutional investment, and community partnerships, IRAP has grown into a scalable model for integrating research, global learning, and workforce development.
Since launching in 2015, nearly 600 students have participated, including 468 Texas A&M students and 124 students from Yucatán institutions. With expansion into disciplines beyond engineering, IRAP offers a scalable and replicable framework for institutions seeking to create impactful international education experiences.
Honorable Mention: University of Michigan’s Ross Global Initiatives Short-Term Program Model
Michigan Ross Global Initiatives has developed a study abroad model that combines customized short-term international programs with traditional exchange partnerships. Designed in collaboration with partner business schools, these programs provide Ross students with affordable, high-impact experiences focused on local business contexts, engagement with international faculty and companies, and peer collaboration abroad. In return, partner institutions send students to Michigan Ross for full-semester exchanges, creating an exchange model that benefits both sides. By reducing program costs to roughly one-third of previous models and supplementing participation with donor-funded scholarships, particularly for first-generation and high-need students, Michigan Ross has removed significant financial and scheduling barriers to global education.
In two years, student participation grew from 69 students to 249 students – a 261% increase, demonstrating strong demand for these global experiences. The approach also brings approximately 75 additional exchange students to Ann Arbor each year, enriching classroom discussions and campus culture with international perspectives.
Following a successful pilot, Michigan Ross doubled the number of programs offered and continues to refine the model to ensure quality and scalability. By leveraging existing partnerships rather than building new infrastructure, the initiative offers a practical, replicable framework for institutions seeking to expand global learning opportunities, manage rising study abroad costs, and create sustainable, mutually beneficial international collaborations.
Strategic Partnerships
Winner: University of Kentucky, Shoulder-to-Shoulder Global (STSG)
Shoulder to Shoulder Global (STSG), a University of Kentucky initiative, has developed a community-driven partnership in Ecuador that integrates education, service, and research to improve health outcomes while providing transformative global learning opportunities. Centered on the Centro de Salud Hombro a Hombro (CSHH) clinic, the program brings together students, faculty, staff, and community partners in interprofessional short-term global health experiences.
The partnership has demonstrated a significant impact on both communities and participants. Since 2007, STSG has expanded to involve all University of Kentucky colleges and a broad network of U.S. and Ecuadorian partners. Together, they have provided more than 113,000 medical visits and 25,000 dental consultations to over 46,000 patients while sustaining year-round healthcare services and developing innovative approaches in global health education, telehealth, research, and cultural exchange.
More than 1,300 learners have engaged in the program, with alumni reporting increased intercultural competence, civic engagement, and professional growth, and nearly half indicating that the experience influenced their career paths. It is supported by a diversified funding model and strong local leadership through the Ecuador-based Hombro a Hombro Foundation and has generated a network of university, NGO, and government partners. This model has provided inspiration to other regions of Ecuador, as well as India and Kenya.
Honorable Mention: Princeton University, Princeton-Mpala Research Centre Partnership
Since 1994, the Princeton–Mpala partnership has demonstrated a distinctive model of international collaboration that integrates research, education, conservation, and community engagement through a shared governance structure involving Princeton University, Kenyan national institutions, and the Smithsonian. Centered on a 48,000-acre research and conservation landscape in Kenya, Mpala serves as a “living laboratory” where students and scholars investigate global challenges.
Since Princeton became the managing partner in 2015, the initiative has expanded into a global platform involving 65 institutions, approximately 250 Kenya-based staff, and more than 50 Princeton students. Through field courses, semester programs, and hands-on research, students engage directly in inquiry-driven learning while collaborating with Kenyan researchers and communities. The partnership has generated significant research, educational, and community impact.
Global Career Readiness
Winner: Illinois State University, International Student Teaching and Internships-Global Awareness & Career Readiness Experience
Illinois State University’s International Student Teaching and Summer Internships–Global Awareness & Career Readiness Experience integrates international teaching directly into teacher licensure programs.
Launched in 2019, the program offers short-term teaching placements and internships in Taiwan, Spain, Thailand, Panama, and Costa Rica, allowing students to work with multilingual learners and gain cross-cultural teaching experience without delaying graduation. This hybrid model combines a 10-week domestic student teaching placement with a 4–5-week international experience. Participants benefit from hands-on teaching experience, mentorship from both U.S. and international educators, and opportunities to complete TESOL clinical requirements abroad.
Through scholarships, grants, alumni support, and in-kind contributions from international partners, the initiative reduces traditional barriers to participation and remains accessible to students of all backgrounds. Over the past five years, the program’s flexible and scalable design has driven steady growth, with participation increasing from four to 14 students. Early career readiness outcomes indicate increased instructional preparedness, stronger intercultural communication skills, and enhanced competitiveness in the job market, with many graduates pursuing international employment opportunities.
Honorable Mention: University of Colorado Denver | Anschutz, International Scholars Collaborative Opportunity for Research Exchange (ISCORE)
ISCORE (International Scholar and Undergraduate Research Engagement) is an innovative mentorship program at the University of Colorado Denver and CU Anschutz Medical Campus that connects undergraduate students in pre-health programs with international scholars in research laboratories. Established in 2017 by the Office of International Affairs, the program addresses two critical needs simultaneously: increasing undergraduate access to hands-on research experiences and supporting the international scholars navigating a professional and cultural landscape. Through an eight-week, cohort-based model, students gain exposure to high-level biomedical research while scholars develop mentorship, leadership, and cross-cultural communication skills.
Since its launch, ISCORE has placed more than 170 undergraduates into research opportunities and engaged over 100 international scholars from more than 20 countries. The program has produced measurable outcomes, with 83% of student participants reporting increased clarity about their academic and career goals and improved research confidence. International scholars also reported significant growth in their ability to communicate scientific concepts and mentor others.