IIE has announced its first round of Generation Study Abroad Scholarships, to be awarded to 160 students at 26 commitment partner colleges and universities. The goal of the scholarships is to help make study abroad opportunities accessible to all students, especially those that are typically underrepresented in U.S. study abroad. As a lead partner, the Government of Ireland is supporting Ireland-IIE Generation Study Abroad Scholarships for study in Ireland. Additional scholarships will be awarded by IIE's Study Abroad Fund with the support of IIE, STA Travel, and individual donors, with matching funding provided by the selected campuses. 

As Generation Study Abroad continues to gain momentum, the team is excited to welcome over 100 new commitment partners from around the world, bringing the total to more than 630 partners who have pledged significant actions to increase U.S. students studying abroad. Many of the new partners are international universities and organizations that have committed to increase the number of U.S. students going to their countries to study.

IIE and the Generation Study Abroad Team are thrilled to see our network expanding and extend a warm welcome to all new partners.

In a bold effort to double the number of U.S. students who study abroad by the end of the decade, the Institute of International Education, in partnership with the New York Times in Education, is seeking 1-3 minute digital submissions from study abroad returnees that demonstrate how study abroad gave them an edge, the impact it had on their life and the world, and how reading the New York Times helped them navigate, enhance, or make sense of their experience.

Two winning digital stories will be selected and highlighted in the New York Times in Education, IIE’s Generation Study Abroad website, and across social media.

Additionally, the winners will receive:

• An iPad
• $1,000
• A trip to Washington, DC, to attend the IIE Summit on Generation Study Abroad on October 1- 2, 2015 as a "Generation Study Abroad Voice"

For additional information, eligibility requirements and submission guidelines please visit www.iie.org/studyabroadalumni.

Released just in time for graduation season and college students’ summer break, A Parent Guide to Study Abroad offers much-needed straight talk on how parents can and should participate in one of the most important decisions of their children’s academic career. This short guide is a must-have for families seeking to better understand the ins and outs of study abroad and how it enhances a student’s path to success in college and beyond.

To kick off this release, we are offering bulk orders of 20 guidebooks for $20.00, or $4.95 each at www.iie.org/publications. You may also receive a free copy with each purchase of A Student Guide to Study Abroad.

Educators often talk about how U.S. high school students lag behind many international peers. This article highlights the importance of an international experience for high school students. — Huffington Post

The number of American students studying abroad is on the rise, but more than just increasing the numbers, colleges should also ensure that they are providing students with a quality study experience at an affordable price. — The Chronicle of Higher Education

There is a new push by community colleges nationwide to attract students from not just around the block, but from around the world. — The Patriot Ledger

Recent studies have shown that international experiences may improve cognitive abilities associated with creativity. — The Atlantic

The Japanese government will invest $15 million to support Japanese studies at nine U.S. universities. — Read more

Students at West Virginia University will have expanded opportunities in Latin America as the University is one of 10 to receive a "100,000 Strong in the Americas" award. — Read more

Norwegian Centre for International Cooperation in Education (SIU) led a delegation of high-level officials representing twelve U.S. higher education institutions to Norway. — Read more

Jackson State University, in Mississippi, has started a crowdfunding campaign to support at least 140 students who are planning to study abroad later this spring. — Read more

The William Jefferson Clinton Scholarship at the American University in Dubai (AUD) seeks to further the goals of the Clinton Presidential Foundation to strengthen the capacity of people in the United States to meet the challenges of global interdependence. In partnership with AUD, the program provides American students based in the US the opportunity to expand their educational and cultural horizons by studying in the Arab world. The Scholarship gives a full waiver of tuition for one term and covers the housing.

December 17, 2014, marked a historic moment for U.S.–Cuba relations. In response, IIE is pleased to announce the International Academic Partnership Program (IAPP), focusing on increasing academic engagement between U.S. and Cuban higher education institutions. IAPP Cuba is the main component of the IIE Cuba Higher Education Initiative that was launched in February 2015. 

If your institution is seeking to develop strategic institutional partnerships with higher education institutions in Cuba, please consider applying for IAPP Cuba.