This month, the Institute of International Education (IIE) is pleased to announce the launch of its Generation Study Abroad initiative. Generation Study Abroad is a five-year initiative of IIE to mobilize resources and commitments with the goal of doubling the number of U.S. students studying abroad by the end of the decade. IIE is investing $2 million in the initiative and seeking funds to provide scholarships to college and high school students and grants to institutions. The initiative, which is timed to coincide with IIE’s centennial in 2019, will highlight IIE’s commitment to study abroad and encourage purposeful, innovative action to get more Americans to undertake a meaningful international experience through academic study abroad programs, as well as internships, service learning, and non-credit educational experiences.

On March 12, 2014, IIE brought together leaders from the public, private and educational sectors for a one-day Think Tank at its New York headquarters. In several brainstorming sessions, participants discussed obstacles to studying abroad and ideas to promote study abroad. In the afternoon, participants analyzed the feasibility of the top solutions presented by different groups and shared ideas on how to implement these solutions. "I thought the initiative was an excellent way to bring together different team players within the educational realm in order to develop feasible and sometimes radical ideas that can possibly spark student interest to get a global education and create opportunities for more students to study abroad," Wei-Ee Cheng, Fulbright Distinguished Awards in Teaching Program alumna and Think Tank participant, reflected after the event

To learn more about this initiative, please visit IIE's Generation Study Abroad website. 

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