There were many important outcomes of study abroad for me but there is one in particular that I am most grateful for!

I met my wife while studying abroad in Valladolid, Spain. We were on the same study abroad program. Here we are on top of the Alcázar in Segovia, Spain shortly after we started dating (we were 20 years old)!

Today is our 22nd wedding anniversary!

Learn More about ICEF Mentor and ICEF Achieve at #nafsa17

This is a long overdue post about some very interesting developments happening at ICEF.  This goes back to the 2016 NAFSA Annual Conference in Denver but my family life, my work and my side projects prevented me from fully investigating and posting to IHEC Blog.

ICEF now offers expanded development and advisory services to further support international educators in a growing and complex field.  In this post I will briefly describe two services that I think IHEC Blog readers may find to be of interest and may wish to learn more about by following the links provided.

ICEF Mentor
ICEF Mentor is a complete market readiness programme based on established best practices, current research, and input from industry leaders.  It is designed to help international education institutions maximize their potential, avoid common pitfalls and progress toward their goals more quickly and efficiently.

ICEF Mentor connects you with an experienced international educator to examine every part of the international student journey within your institution and looks to build on strengths, integrate best practices and paces emphasis on solutions.

You can learn more about ICEF Mentor here.

ICEF Achieve
ICEF partnered with Barton Carlyle to develop and deliver ICEF Achieve.  ICEF Achieve helps you to succeed in all aspects of international enrollment management by combining ICEF's market insights and Barton Carlyle's team of international education specialists.

ICEF Achieve Supports Institutions Seeking to:

• Increase international student enrollments, increase student diversity, or both
• Develop strategies and goals aligned with the resources, capability, mission and vision of your institution
• Decide on the level of investment needed for large-scale initiatives such as in-country operations, major partnerships, or significant market entry
• Work effectively in partnership with agents/representatives, government bodies, other institutions, and service providers worldwide to deliver goals and objectives
• Effectively navigate the risks involved in delivering an internationalization strategy

You can learn more about ICEF Achieve here.

If you are interested in learning more about what ICEF has to offer and you are attending the upcoming 2017 NAFSA Annual conference in Los Angeles swing by the ICEF Booth (#P1401) in the exhibit hall.

Disclosure:  I receive no compensation or other benefits for this IHEC Blog post.

Follow the Twitter Backchannel from the 2017 Annual NAFSA Conference from May 28 to June 2, 2017 in Los Angeles #NAFSA17

#NAFSA17 Tweets

The 'Fearless Global Citizen' Initiative

Today, the American Institute For Foreign Study (AIFS) launched the Fearless Global Citizen initiative.  This is a great initiative and something I'm very excited about and I thought IHEC Blog readers will also find interest so I'm sharing the news!

According to the press release, Fearless Global Citizen is a “non-partisan, international campaign designed to motivate youth to travel without fear.  This effort is in direct response to recent world events; the intent is to combat negativity and highlight the importance of understanding other cultures. The mission is to bring the world together by encouraging international exchange and travel around the globe.

What defines a Fearless Global Citizen? It is an individual who:

• Steps outside their comfort zone—leaving behind the familiar, unafraid to travel to learn more about themselves and the world.
• Experiences a variety of cultures firsthand—learning about the world, its people and its cultures through travel simply has no substitute.
• Explores the world to enhance their career: gaining an international perspective creates a broader understanding and respect of ideas and commerce around the world.
• Gains appreciation of the world around them—respecting fellow global citizens begins with the understanding of their lives, culture and values, which results in genuine appreciation.
• Embraces diversity—whether it's religion, race, culture or gender, diversity comes in many forms. In order to learn from one another, we must first gain an understanding about one another.

Fearless Global Citizen will spotlight individuals from around the world, who have embraced the spirit of international exploration, on its website at www.fearlessglobalcitizen.org. The site allows people to share why they decided to explore the world and their experiences. The site highlights how being a global citizen is vital to a peaceful and diverse world.

If you will be attending the upcoming NAFSA Annual Conference in Los Angeles and want to learn more stop by the AIFS booth (#P1716) in the exhibit hall.


Disclosure:  I receive no form of compensation from this post.  It's a wonderful initiative and one that I fully support and I wanted to post about it.

Two Tweets Today by Congressman Gerry Connolly (D-VA) on Importance of International Students to the U.S. and his District #YouAreWelcomeHere

In my district alone, nearly 5000 #Intlstudents contribute $137.3 million, supporting 1,725 jobs each year. #YouAreWelcomeHere pic.twitter.com/TxPx5DofXk

— Gerry Connolly (@GerryConnolly) May 23, 2017

#Intlstudents make a vital contribution to our country's security & economic wellbeing. We must remain open and welcoming #YouAreWelcomeHere

— Gerry Connolly (@GerryConnolly) May 23, 2017

Forthcoming Book: "Promoting Inclusion in Education Abroad: A Handbook of Research and Practice"

A forthcoming book I contributed a chapter to entitled Promoting Inclusion in Education Abroad: A Handbook of Research and Practice will be published later this year by Stylus Publishing.

The book is edited by Heather Barclay Hamir and Nick J. Gozik, with Foreword by Esther Brimmer, and includes the following chapters:

Table of Contents:
Part I: Framing the Discussion
1) Introduction: The Case for Equitable Access in Education Abroad
2) The Changing Face of U.S. College Students
3) Underrepresentation in Education Abroad: A Review of Contemporary Research and Future Opportunities (my chapter with Lily Lopez-McGee and Eduardo Contreras Jr. - Many thanks to Lily for leading our efforts with this chapter!)

Part II: Research & Practice
4) Students of Color and Study Abroad: From Barriers to Results
5) First-Generation College Students and Study Abroad: Examining the Participation Gap and Successful Strategies for Promoting Access
6 There and Back Again: A Study Abroad Journey with Men
7) Commitments that Work: Removing Barriers for Students with Disabilities in Education Abroad
8) Promoting Education Abroad Among Community College Students: Overcoming Obstacles and
Developing Inclusive Practices
9) Strategies for Mobilizing Students in the Sciences: A Case Study
10) Engineers Abroad: Opportunities for Sophomores in International Education
11) Undocumented Students and Access to Education Abroad

Part III: Next Steps
12) A Way Forward: Advocacy and Action
13) Concluding Thoughts and Moving Forward

I will post to IHEC Blog with more details once the book is available for purchase. You can read more about Promoting Inclusion in Education Abroad: A Handbook of Research and Practice here.

Follow the Twitter Backchannel from Going Global 2017 - 22-24 May 2017 in London #GoingGlobal2017

#GoingGlobal2017 Tweets