Congratulations to the Tampa Bay Trade & Protocol Council on their receipt of the 2015 IIE Generation Study Abroad Award. The Tampa Bay Trade & Protocol Council is an international organization that promotes the Tampa Bay region internationally for trade and protocol, connects companies and institutions with international opportunities, and educates the public on topics related to the international economy. 

The work of the Tampa Bay Trade and Protocol Council serves as a model for cross-sectoral partnerships and cross-border collaboration. Their recent work with the City of South Dublin, Ireland, and local universities, who are Generation Study Abroad Partners, is a great example of how they are integrating study abroad into their work.

Learn more about the Tampa Bay Trade and Protocol Council. 

The IIE Generation Study Abroad Award recognizes individuals and organizations that encourage purposeful, innovative action to get more Americans to undertake an international experience by supporting IIE's "Generation Study Abroad," a 5-year initiative to double the number of U.S. students studying abroad by the end of the decade. 

Learn more about the Generation Study Abroad Award.

Together with The New York Times in Education, IIE asked study abroad alumni to join Generation Study Abroad and share their voices. We wanted to know how study abroad gave them an edge, and what impact it had on their lives and the world, and how using New York Times content helped them. The winning videos are by Alejandro Alba and Christine O’Dea and were announced at the IIE Summit on Generation Study Abroad.

Released at the IIE Summit on Generation Study Abroad, this impact report spotlights examples of Generation Study Abroad commitment partners who have made noteworthy progress to date and details what they have committed to accomplish to help double the number of U.S. students going abroad by the end of the decade.

Highlights from the report:

•  More than 600 commitment partners have pledged to expand study abroad opportunities.
•  Partners have committed $185 million in financial support over the next five years.
•  84% of the U.S. colleges and universities plan to create or expand scholarships for underrepresented study abroad students, such as minority or ethnically diverse students or first generation students.
•  64% of the U.S. institutions are increasing the number of academic programs (certificates, minors or majors) that require or offer a study abroad component.

Download the full report and see partner profiles

Featuring commitment partners from Lincoln University, Western Michigan University and Davidson County Community College, this Commitment Partner webinar will highlight what institutions are doing to increase diverse student participation in study abroad. Highlights include programming for children of migrant parents, and diversifying community college and HBCU student participation.

Generation Study Abroad Project Director, Wagaye Johannes and Commitment Partner Manager, Nikki Davis, will present on key outcomes and highlights from the IIE Summit as well as how to keep the momentum moving forward.

This webinar will discuss how international partners can make the most of the Generation Study Abroad network and resources and highlight their critical role in the initiative. Though internationally focused, U.S. based partners are welcome to attend and learn how they may further engage with international institutions and organizations as well.

IIE is delighted to invite you to nominate your program for the 2016 Andrew Heiskell Awards for Innovation in International Education. IIE created these awards to honor outstanding initiatives in international higher education by IIENetwork member universities and colleges. IIE's Heiskell Awards showcase the most innovative and successful models for internationalization of campuses, study abroad, and international exchange partnerships in practice today. There are four award categories for 2016: Internationalizing the Campus, Study Abroad, International Partnerships, and Internationalizing the HBCU or Community College.

As a committed partner of Generation Study Abroad, ITESO , the Jesuit university in Guadalajara, Mexico, is offering one full tuition scholarship each semester to encourage and promote student mobility to their campus. The scholarship will be awarded every semester for the duration of the Generation Study Abroad initiative. The scholarship covers all tuition fees for the semester, a value of up to $3,000 USD.  There is no minimum language requirement.