IIE President Allan Goodman writes about a recent delegation from U.S. universities to several cities in Cuba to explore education partnership opportunities. "This was an opportunity for us to understand that Cuba is a country rather than a missile crisis or an embargo," writes Goodman. "There is a 400-year history and a narrative our students would benefit greatly from learning."

Last week, the U.S. Department of State and IIE welcomed 167 Humphrey Fellows from 90 countries to Washington, DC, for the Global Leadership Forum. The event, "Resilience in the Face of Climate change: A Global Perspective on Leadership," took place October 25–29 at the Key Bridge Marriott in Arlington, VA, and featured prominent speakers who discussed climate change, women's empowerment, the current refugee crisis, and economic development. The Fellows also had the opportunity to give presentations on climate change and its effects on their various professional fields such as public health, human rights and journalism and economic development. These Fellows represent the 37th cohort of Humphrey Fellows and join an alumni family of over 5,000 around the world. 

The Humphrey Program provides year of professional enrichment in the United States for experienced professionals from designated countries undergoing development or political transition.

In the recent IIENetworker magazine, Darla Deardorff argues for a holistic approach to assessment that moves the focus away from the program and toward the learner. "The shifting paradigm views intercultural learning within the broader personal development of students," writes Deardorff. "Outcomes are not so much about results as they are about the process—the intercultural journey itself."

Convening partners from diverse sectors, the second annual IIE Scholar Rescue Fund (IIE-SRF) Forum, "Scholar Voices and University Action," will address the urgent need to support scholars who have been silenced at home by censorship, violence, and other human rights abuses. IIE-SRF will dedicate the Forum’s first day to best practices among universities that are offering safe haven to scholars. The second day will give a platform to the scholars, who will share their experiences and discuss several of the key crises of 2015. It will also explore the role of the university in responding to higher education emergencies.

The annual Victor J. Goldberg IIE Prize for Peace in the Middle East recognizes outstanding work being conducted jointly by two individuals, one Israeli Jew and one Arab Muslim, whether or not a citizen of Israel, working together to advance the cause of peace in the Middle East. The two individuals whose work is judged to be most successful in bringing people together and breaking down the barriers of hatred will share a $10,000 prize. Nominations may be submitted by the individuals themselves or by a third party. Nominations are due on February 1, 2016, and the winners will be announced in the spring.

The online applications for 2016 Whitaker International Program awards are now open. Administered by IIE, the Whitaker International Program provides funding for biomedical engineering and bioengineering students and post-docs to conduct a field-relevant activity abroad. All students/post-docs/junior faculty who are considering a period of study or research abroad are encouraged to apply.

The IIE Summit on Generation Study Abroad featured several sessions and think tanks highlighting the career relevance of education abroad. Employers report that graduates with international experience exceed other job candidates in almost every transferable skill that hiring managers are looking for. At the Summit, Ruth Ferguson—Head of Human Resources for Global Corporate and Investment Banking, Bank of America Merrill Lynch—stressed the importance of articulating these skills gained through study abroad in job interviews. Listen to her advice on how to talk about study abroad in an interview. 

Career readiness of college graduates has become an important issue in the workforce, and the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) has recently identified seven competencies associated with career readiness. Many of these competencies are enhanced through study abroad.

Visit the IIE blog to read about eight recent studies showing how study abroad contributes to career readiness. A Student Guide to Study Abroad offers comprehensive advice on how to recognize and demonstrate global learning after studying abroad.