Over the past year, the Institute of International Education has published a series of user-friendly guides for U.S. institutions interested in expanding their study abroad offerings. IIE, with the support of the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA), launched this initiative to expand the capacity of key nontraditional destination countries to host a larger number of U.S. study abroad students. The project has been carried out in partnership with EducationUSA, the Forum on Education Abroad, the American Association of Community Colleges, and the U.S.-India Educational Foundation (USIEF). The resulting white papers have focused on expanding U.S. study abroad to key nontraditional destinations such as India, Turkey, Indonesia, and Brazil.

These four white papers include an overview of the focus country's higher education sector, with a particular emphasis on its partnerships and exchanges with the United States, and the current state of U.S. study abroad to that country. The reports also discuss challenges and opportunities for expanding study abroad to the focus country. Overall, these white papers are valuable resources for expanding academic engagement with and increasing study abroad to key countries.

For more information and to download a copy of the white papers, please visit:

• Expanding U.S. Study Abroad to Brazil
• Expanding U.S. Study Abroad to Turkey
• Expanding U.S. Study Abroad to India
• Expanding U.S. Study Abroad to Indonesia

The Institute of International Education recently launched three new IIEPassport Study Abroad columns to help student throughout the entire study abroad process. These engaging resources offer students information on such topics as choosing the destination that's right for you, the importance of study abroad for your future career, and working with your study abroad adviser.

The columnists are: 

• "Stuff Your Study Abroad Adviser Says" by Ken Lewandoski of Appalachian State University 
• "Pack Your Bags and Study Abroad!" by Colleen V. Tomanek of Harper College 
• "Comings/Goings" by Taso G. Lagos of the University of Washington 

These columnists will be posting throughout the year on a variety of topics that are relevant to students who are applying for or currently on a study abroad program. For more information on IIEPassport, please visit, www.iiepassport.org.