Today the Institute of International Education (IIE), in partnership with Go Overseas and AIFS Study Abroad, CET Academic Programs, IFSA-Butler, STA Travel, launched a nationwide campaign asking everyone who has ever studied abroad to encourage U.S. college students to study abroad by the time they graduate.

The #GoStudyAbroad campaign is part of IIE’s Generation Study Abroad, a five-year initiative to double the number of students who study abroad by the end of the decade. Less than 10% of U.S. students study abroad by the time they graduate from college. With 1 in 5 jobs linked to international trade and employers looking for global talent, more U.S. students must study abroad to broaden their perspectives, understand and tolerate different ways of life and succeed in today's global workforce.

IIE is calling on anyone who studied abroad to pay it forward by nominating U.S. college students to #GoStudyAbroad by the time they graduate. The goal is to mobilize at least 10,000 study abroad alumni to nominate students to #GoStudyAbroad.

Nominated students who enter the contest can win $26,000 worth of scholarships and prizes sponsored by IIE and partners. Individuals who nominate students are also eligible to win travel prizes. The more students someone nominates, the better the chances to win. Teachers, faculty, students, campus leaders and community members can inspire and motivate students to study abroad so that the next generation of Americans is prepared to thrive in our globalized world.

The campaign runs from February 16 to March 31, 2016.

We hope you will join us in making this important awareness campaign a success. With questions, please contact studyabroad@iie.org.

How to Participate in the Campaign:

We encourage higher education institutions, study abroad organizations, government agencies and others to participate in this nationwide campaign by mobilizing your study abroad alumni, students, faculty members and wider campus communities.

Below are a few suggestions for how you can participate in the campaign, along with suggested posts and images you can share on social media. You may also adapt IIE’s press release about the #GoStudyAbroad campaign and use that language to mobilize your constituents.

U.S. Colleges, Universities and Study Abroad Organizations

• Send a message to all of your students currently studying abroad, encouraging them to nominate their classmates, friends and peers to #gostudyabroad.
• Connect with your alumni office and make a plan to reach out to and engage with all your institution’s alumni (not just those who studied abroad). This is a great opportunity to raise awareness about international education.
• Engage with your Diversity office or identify key academic departments to partner with you to help you spread the word and help diversify study abroad.
• Mobilize your international student community and ask them to nominate their U.S. classmates and friends to #GoStudyAbroad in their home countries.

Higher Education Institutions and Government Agencies in Other Countries 

• Connect with U.S. students currently studying at your institution or in your country and mobilize them to nominate others to study abroad at your institution or country.
• Engage with U.S. alumni who studied at your higher education institutions.
• Work with current U.S. partners to highlight your institution or country as a destination.

Don’t forget to use the #Gostudyabroad whenever possible. IIE will be retweeting and reposting throughout the duration of the campaign and we look forward to highlighting your efforts!

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Inspire Students to #GoStudyAbroad: Download and share images on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram 

    Give the gift of travel by nominating a friend to #GoStudyAbroad. Get Travel Prizes for yourself! GoOverseas.com/GenerationStudyAbroad

    Give a friend the chance to #GoStudyAbroad! Nominate them for a $10,000 scholarship: GoOverseas.com/GenerationStudyAbroad

   If you’ve studied abroad, you know that an exchange experience is life changing. Nominate a student you know to #GoStudyAbroad and they could win a $10,000 study abroad scholarship or travel prize. There are prizes for you too! GoOverseas.com/GenerationStudyAbroad. Brought to you by the #GenerationStudyAbroad initiative

   Studying abroad is no longer just an option -- it's a necessity. From education to public health, solutions to the world's most complex problems will come from global thinking and cross-cultural collaboration. Help a student you know win a scholarship so that they can #GoStudyAbroad: GoOverseas.com/GenerationStudyAbroad. Brought to you by the #GenerationStudyAbroad initiative.

 
Suggested posts for reaching current students  

    Want to win a $10K scholarship to #GoStudyAbroad? Enter here: GoOverseas.com/GenerationStudyAbroad

    Looking for funding to #GoStudyAbroad? This is your chance! Enter to win a $10k #GenerationStudyAbroad scholarship: GoOverseas.com/GenerationStudyAbroad

   Did you know that less than 10% of U.S. students ever study abroad? Enter for a chance to win a scholarship so that you can #GoStudyAbroad! The grand prize is $10k. Enter at: GoOverseas.com/GenerationStudyAbroad. Brought to you by the #GenerationStudyAbroad initiative.

   Studying abroad is no longer just an option -- it's a necessity. From education to public health, solutions to the world's most complex problems will come from global thinking and cross-cultural collaboration. Enter for a chance to win a scholarship so that you can #GoStudyAbroad: GoOverseas.com/GenerationStudyAbroad. Brought to you by the #GenerationStudyAbroad initiative.