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Inaugural IDEAS grantee symposium energizes and empowers study abroad practitioners

December 11, 2024

Eleven adults pose as a group while holding merchandise from the different universities they represented at the symposium.
Symposium participants pose with merchandise from the universities they represent.

The IDEAS (Increase and Diversify Education Abroad for U.S. Students) Program recently hosted a symposium for IDEAS grantees and alumni institutions in Washington, DC, on how to sustain the impact of their IDEAS-funded projects and expand their study abroad partnerships and programs to new destinations. Forty leaders from 40 higher education institutions in 22 states that previously received IDEAS grants to build their study abroad capacity and programs participated in this inaugural training.

Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for Academic Programs for the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs Marianne Craven welcomed grantees to the U.S. Department of State with remarks on the role of higher education partnerships and the imperative of U.S. study abroad in advancing U.S. foreign policy. Attendees then connected with representatives from the State Department’s regional bureaus and with multiple foreign embassies in the D.C. area to learn about regional priorities and resources for developing U.S. study abroad programming.

Attendees also met with representatives from several other government agencies and international education organizations in the DC area to discuss resources and strategies for developing, funding, and sustaining programming in new and existing global destinations.

Throughout the sessions, attendees were encouraged to share best practices and brainstorm new ways to strengthen or expand study abroad programming and build a campus community that supports continued internationalization. At the event’s closing, they discussed ways to set concrete goals for their respective institutions and projects.

An adult stands and speaks into a microphone in a room of symposium participants, who are sitting down at a table around him.
Symposium participants shared their thoughts and ideas during sessions and workshops.

“One of the greatest strengths of the IDEAS Program is the breadth of institutions we engage across the country,” said World Learning Program Manager Rachel Rice. “This training brought together faculty in a variety of disciplines from education to emergency management, professionals from technical colleges and one-person offices, HBCUs and rural-serving institutions. The diversity of these experiences allowed for invaluable information sharing, resource pooling, and potential for future collaboration in a range of overseas destinations and industries critical to U.S. national security and economic prosperity.”

In post-symposium feedback, many attendees celebrated the symposium as insightful and inspiring, noting the event’s range of knowledgeable speakers and the opportunities to connect with like-minded international educators and governmental and non-governmental experts in the field. 97% of post-event survey respondents noted that they had learned new tools and information that they planned to use in their future work as a result of the symposium.

Four adults pose for a group selfie together at a table. Four other adults can be seen in the background in front of a window.
Symposium participants pose for a group selfie.

“This symposium was the best professional development program in international education in which I have ever participated because of the range and depth of relevant topics covered, the incredible access to high-level officials from key government and private sector agencies, and the networking opportunities with motivated and talented colleagues from across the U.S.,” said Rebekah de Wit, director of global education at the Community College of Baltimore County. “I gained new information and inspiration and am now working on collaborations created during the symposium with several of the attendees and presenters.”

100% of post-event respondents noted that the networking and sharing opportunities provided by the symposium were effective, and that they were able to learn from colleagues at other institutions.

“The IDEAS Symposium was incredibly inspiring, primarily because it underscored the global demand for diverse perspectives in study abroad programs,” said attendee Stanford Fichtman. “Representing Kapiʻolani Community College, I not only gained valuable insights into U.S. State Department programs but also connected with study abroad leaders from across the country.”

The IDEAS Program is a program of the U.S. Department of State with funding provided by the U.S. Government and supported in its implementation by World Learning since 2018.