To date, more than 350 partners have joined and committed to take specific, measurable actions to expand study abroad opportunities for American students by the end of the decade. Partners so far include over 250 U.S. and foreign higher education institutions, as well as governments and exchange agencies, education associations, and other organizations. We are deeply grateful to those who have already made a commitment to expanding the number and diversity of students who study abroad.

Since its launch in March of this year, the campaign has already generated a great deal of awareness about the importance of U.S. student mobility and study abroad.

How can my organization join Generation Study Abroad?
Please visit the Join Generation Study Abroad webpage or click the links below to see how you can get involved. You will need to download the Commitment Form for your type of organization, and outline the specific actions your institution will take.

We are building a global coalition of educators at all levels and stakeholders in the public and private sector to directly address how to extend study abroad opportunities to hundreds of thousands of college students who are not currently taking part in study abroad. Together, we are working to shift the paradigm so that study abroad is seen as an essential part of a college education, and not a luxury.

Individuals, students, and study abroad alumni can subscribe to receive updates on the campaign, and find out what they can do to support the initiative.

Campuses become Generation Study Abroad partners by setting an ambitious goal to increase participation in study abroad to a specific target level for their campus, and pledging to take concrete actions to meet the study abroad goal.

Some of the actions pledged include:

• increasing funding and committing new scholarships for study abroad
• improving training and support for departments and advisors
• integrating study abroad more closely with the curriculum
• expanding diversity of students who participate in study abroad
• examining and breaking down institutional barriers

Non-campus entities can commit to other actions, such as funding scholarship programs, convening events, sharing best practices, and providing study abroad services. You can also choose to donate to the Generation Study Abroad fund.

IIE will support all partners joining the initiative by providing resources and tools to help them reach their Generation Study Abroad goals. By becoming a part of this network, partners also have the opportunity to share best practices and learn from one another in order to advance our shared goal of doubling the number of U.S. students studying abroad by the end of the decade.

Commitment partner benefits include:

• exclusive access to commitment partner toolkits and resources
• a members-only LinkedIn group to collaborate across sectors
• access to Generation Study Abroad specific grants and scholarships
• an invitation to the 2015 Generation Study Abroad Summit
• access to commitment partner webinars on expanding study abroad funding, data collection, innovative partnerships, diversity and more

Globalization is changing the way the world works, and employers are increasingly looking for workers who have cross-cultural competence and cutting-edge technical skills. Currently, less than 10% of the 2.6 million students graduating with associates or baccalaureate degrees each year have studied abroad.  Generation Study Abroad seeks to address that shortfall by bringing employers, governments, associations, and others together to build on current best practices and find new ways to extend study abroad opportunities to tens of thousands of college students for whom traditional study abroad programs aren’t working.  We know it will take all of us to mobilize the resources to double the number of students studying abroad by the end of the decade.

With your help, future generations of Americans will be ready to succeed in the global economy.