[December 18, 2014]

CIEE To Award $1.2 Million in Grants as the First Part of Its $20MM Commitment to IIE's Generation Study Abroad Initiative

In an effort to make the study abroad experience accessible to more college students, CIEE: Council on International Educational Exchange (CIEE) today announced it will award $1.2 million in grants to college students for study at one of its two new Global Institutes in London or Berlin. One hundred grants of $6,000 will be awarded per semester during the 2015-2016 academic year, with the first round available through CIEE on January 15 for fall 2015.

The $1.2 million in grant monies for students is the first allotment of CIEE's $20 million scholarship pledge to Generation Study Abroad™, a five-year initiative of the Institute of International Education (IIE) to mobilize resources and commitments with the goal of doubling the number of U.S. students studying abroad by the end of the decade.

"Study abroad has never been as critical a component of education as it is in today's globalized marketplace," said James P. Pellow, Ed. D., president and chief executive officer of CIEE. "These grants are paired with an innovative academic model that will help students overcome the barriers of cost and curriculum as they strive to develop the skills needed to compete and excel in our interconnected world."

The decision to distribute the first allocation of grants to college students attending CIEE's new Global Institutes in Berlin or London is deliberate, as it squarely tackles the three central barriers that keep students from studying abroad: cost, curriculum, and culture. CIEE's Global Institutes - debuting fall 2015 - offer accessibly priced programs, maximum cultural immersion in the host city, and unmatched curriculum flexibility. Each features an innovative Open Campus academic model that couples courses for all majors taught in English with innovative 12- or 18-week accredited programs to accommodate students' diverse needs. Students will be able to choose from five academi tracks and select a variety of academic internship, community service, and guided research programs.

IIE has documented the outcomes of their Generation Study Abroad Think Tank in a green paper designed to inspire and provoke discussion about the topic of study abroad. Among its many findings is that study abroad is no longer a luxury, but rather one of the most important components of a 21st-century education, as globalization brings with it the demand for a U.S. workforce that possesses knowledge of other countries and cultures and is competent in languages other than English. The ability to work across cultures is no longer a nice-to-have skill set of elite executives, they conclude. Rather, it is essential to a successful and satisfying life and career. Studies show students who study abroad have better grades, experience less attrition, and graduate from college at higher rates than students who do not study abroad.

"The barrier to integrating study abroad into the curriculum affects how well a student is prepared for and can readily adapt to both the cross-cultural experience and a new and challenging academic system," said Institute of International Education President and Chief Executive Officer Allan E. Goodman, Ph.D. "CIEE's grants address all three of the primary challenges that prevent students from studying abroad: cost, curriculum, and culture."

In addition to providing scholarships to students, other commitments by CIEE to Generation Study Abroad include sponsoring passports for 10,000 students to enable greater participation. CIEE will also make an annual $20,000 grant to college faculty to support innovative approaches for custom study abroad programs.

For more information:

About CIEE: Council on International Educational Exchange

Founded in 1947, CIEE is the country's oldest and largest nonprofit study abroad and intercultural exchange organization, serving more than 300 U.S. colleges and universities, 1,000 U.S. high schools, and more than 35,000 international exchange students each year. CIEE operates 61 study centers in 43 countries, sponsors international faculty training programs, teach abroad programs, and various specialty and custom programs for secondary, post-secondary, and international students. Visit www.ciee.org.

About Institute of International Education

Institute of International Education (IIE) is a world leader in the international exchange of people and ideas. An independent, not-for-profit organization founded in 1919, IIE has a network of 19 offices and affiliates worldwide and over 1,200 member institutions. IIE designs and implements programs of study and training for students, educators, young professionals and trainees from all sectors with funding from government agencies, foundations, and corporations. IIE also conducts policy research and program evaluations, and provides advising and counseling on international education and opportunities abroad. Visit www.iie.org.

About Generation Study Abroad

Generation Study Abroad is a five-year initiative of the Institute of International Education (IIE) to mobilize resources and commitments with the goal of doubling the number of U.S. students studying abroad by the end of the decade. Generation Study Abroad seeks to significantly increase participation by bringing employers, governments, associations, and others together to build on current best practices and find new ways to extend study abroad opportunities and resources to tens of thousands of college students whose needs are not currently served by existing study abroad programs.

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