Impressions From the Inaugural IIE Summit
Thank You to Our Summit Participants, Sponsors, Partners and Exhibitors
We would like to thank everyone who took part in the inaugural IIE Summit on Generation Study Abroad. In particular, we thank our Diamond Sponsor, AIFS, our Platinum Sponsor, IES Abroad, and our Gold Sponsor, University of Dayton China Institute. The IIE Summit would not have been possible without their support. We encourage you to take a moment to review the list of sponsors and partners and exhibitors to learn more about their study abroad opportunities and resources.
Media partners Diplomatic Courier, INSIGHT Into Diversity, and The Chronicle of Higher Education played a valuable role, and we look forward to working with them to highlight some of the Generation Study Abroad commitments and alumni stories going forward.
Bringing New Voices into the Discussion
More than 600 attendees from the higher education sector, corporations, U.S. and foreign government agencies, K-12, social networks, and study abroad organizations joined IIE for the inaugural IIE Summit on Generation Study Abroad on Oct 1-2 in Washington, DC. The tremendous interest in the IIE Summit from across all sectors demonstrates how many national and international partners are inspired to take action to move us forward in our shared goal of doubling study abroad participation by the end of the decade.
We heard from many Summit participants that you appreciated hearing from people outside of academia, and we are pleased to share the four plenaries and a few brief videos showing their perspectives on why study matters here:
Wagaye Johannes, Project Director of Generation Study Abroad, highlights in her blog that the IIE Summit provided an opportunity to look at the pipeline of study abroad, from high school to college to employment. Partners shared "Commitments That Work", such as developing innovative fee models, building endowments, working with faculty to map curricula, and providing passports to all freshmen. U.S. government agencies and foreign governments also discussed programming options to diversify study abroad destinations and attract new types of students.
Feedback and Outcomes
We are pleased that so many attendees completed the feedback survey (open until Wednesday, Oct. 21). Many of you told us that the two-day Summit generated new ideas. 75% of the participants said the IIESummit provided them withinspiration to new action. Among the top rated areas for action are enhancing efforts to assess the impact of study abroad, enhancing support services for American students studying abroad, and building new international partnerships.
We invite you to take a look at the IIE Summit session presentations and session outcome notes that are posted after each session description in the agenda section of the IIE Generation Study Abroad Summit website.
You also told us about topics that you would like to see covered in the future. These include more targeted strategies for community colleges, more specific best practices from K-12 schools, employer perspectives for hiring study abroad graduates, attention to wider geographies, more strategies for engaging faculty, and connecting international institutions with U.S. partners and students.
We appreciate these great suggestions, and we will plan to address these areas through webinars, issue briefs, and further discussion sessions in the months and years ahead. In terms of what worked for the Summit sessions, participants told us that they particularly liked the Think Tank format, the small roundtables, networking time, and sessions that left time for in depth Q&A; as we plan future Summits and events, we will look to provide expanded opportunities for these kinds of interactivity.
If you have not yet completed the feedback survey, we encourage you to do so now.
Stay in Touch and Connect Post-Summit
Commitment Partners can join the LinkedIn Group "IIE Generation Study Abroad Commitment Partner Network". This group will allow Generation Study Abroad Commitment Partners to connect and share advice and information to advance the goal of doubling U.S. students studying abroad by the end of the decade. We look forward to collaborating with each of you going forward.
For the latest news on new commitments, resources and funding opportunities sign up for the Generation Study Abroad Newsletter.
View the IIE Summit slideshow:
IIE Summit in the News
Panel: Study Abroad Students Have Leg Up in Job Market – USA Today
Make Study Abroad Relevant to Careers, Urges IIE Summit – The PIE News
A Push to Send Students Abroad – Inside Higher Ed
One Year In, IIE Reflects on the Impact of Generation Study Abroad Initiative –INSIGHT into Diversity
Groundswell of Support for Increasing Study Abroad – University World News
U.S.: $185m So Far Invested in IIE’s Generation Study Abroad – The PIE News
Studying abroad: Germany in focus. American students are increasingly interested in studying for a period of time at German universities – Deutschland.de
Study Abroad Initiative Sets Sail at More Than 350 Colleges, Universities – dailytarheel.com
IIE
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