Beginning in August, graduate students enrolled in U.S. universities can apply through the IIE for support to conduct doctoral research at one of 15 prestigious universities in China under the Joint Research Ph.D. Fellowship of the Confucius China Studies Program.  The fellowships are one component of an array of scholarships and fellowships offered by Hanban, which is a public institution affiliated with the Chinese Ministry of Education. IIE has been selected to manage the recruitment and review of fellowship applications for students from U.S. universities.  

Students can be U.S. citizens or any non-Chinese citizens who are enrolled in graduate level programs at U.S. universities. To be eligible for the fellowship, students should be enrolled in a Ph.D. program, a dual Master’s Ph.D. program, or a joint Ph.D. degree program.  The fellowship will support 60 doctoral candidates to go to China to study, conduct research, and write their doctoral dissertations for a period of six months to two years. Funding will cover tuition, research costs, medical insurance, airfare and a stipend for living expenses. 

"We are pleased to partner with Hanban to provide this excellent opportunity for U.S. students," said IIE's President and CEO Allan E. Goodman. "At a time when increasing numbers of Chinese students have been coming to the United States for higher education, these fellowships will enable more American students to live and study in China and gain an in-depth understanding of Chinese language and culture."

The International Student Identity Card (ISIC) Association has awarded the 2014 ISIC Award to the Institute of International Education (IIE) for its dedication and efforts to advance access to higher education and boost student mobility worldwide.

"IIE was a distinct winner for the ISIC Association, particularly for their ambitious Generation Study Abroad initiative which aims to see the annual number of students from the United States studying abroad doubled to 600,000 students in the next five years. Generation Study Abroad recognises that international experience, and understanding and appreciating cultural differences is one of the most important components of a 21st century education, a view wholly supported by the ISIC Association," explained Sandra Hummell, Deputy Director of ISIC.

Ms Hummell added "IIE plays a key role in international education, student mobility and exchange at a global level. With programmes spanning fair and transparent scholarship and exchange opportunities, and research and policy development, to emergency funding enabling students facing crises to complete their studies, IIE is a leader in education and admirable winner of the 2014 ISIC Award."

As part of the Award, IIE will receive a €10,000 (US$13,500) financial contribution, sponsored by MasterCard, to support the continuation of the organization’s work to promote education access and foster an inter-connected world. This is the fourth consecutive year MasterCard has supported the monetary component to enhance the prestige and recognition of this award.

On March 12, 2014, IIE hosted a "think tank" in New York with professionals from higher education, NGOs, associations, non-profits, government and the private sector to brainstorm ideas surrounding the question: What will it take to double study abroad?

The outcomes from the day have been documented in the first Generation Study Abroad "green paper," so titled because it has been created not as a final product but a living document to which additional ideas will be added. This green paper lays the foundation for an ongoing discussion around how to increase the number of students studying abroad in the short term and to shift the paradigm over the long term.

As the Institute moves into the next phase of Generation Study Abroad, we hope that this green paper inspires and provokes discussion among existing and new stakeholders, and invites readers to offer new and expanded specific actions that build on this foundation so that together we can affect real change in study abroad. 

We encourage you to share your insights and best practices with the community by commenting on any of the 11 Big Ideas outlined in the green paper. Through this collaborative effort we hope to expand support of study abroad and reach our goal of doubling by 2019.

The U.S. Department of State, through the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA), will welcome 75 first-year Fulbright foreign students from 42 countries to Seattle, Washington this week for a seminar focused on energy and the environment. The seminar, "From Lab to Market," will provide a forum for participants to exchange ideas and resources with a focus on how technological advances across scientific disciplines can be translated into innovative products and services in the energy and environmental sectors.

The seminar, taking place at sites throughout Seattle, will include discussions with experts, visits to industry-leading companies and research institutions, and interactive workshops. Participating Fulbright students will build upon their knowledge and establish a peer network to address changing energy needs and environmental challenges worldwide.

The Seattle "From Lab to Market" Seminar is one of eleven enrichment seminars hosted across the United States by the State Department, and supported by the Institute of International Education, in 2014. These enrichment seminars are an integral part of first-year Fulbright foreign students’ experiences. They support the overall mission of the Fulbright Program, to address critical priorities while building relationships, knowledge, and leadership that benefit the United States and the world. 

A video about the 2013 Fulbright Enrichment Seminars demonstrates their impact.

Read more about the Seattle "From Lab to Market" Seminar