Amid rising and ongoing crises, it is understandable to feel disheartened. Let’s pause to acknowledge something truly remarkable—the tireless work that people like you do daily to make our world a better place. 

We see you, and we appreciate your impact. We must remember that it is often in the everyday where lasting change takes root.

As we bid farewell to this year, let us carry the torch of hope and continue working steadily and incrementally toward a more compassionate, equitable, and resilient world.  

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You may hear answers such as airplanes, financial services, and even Hollywood films. All correct. But before the conversation ends, please make sure they learn that international higher education is a top 10 U.S. export. In fact, the U.S. Department of Commerce reports that international students contributed nearly $38 billion to the U.S. economy last year.

As you know, last month was momentous for those of us in this field. The U.S. saw the fastest growth in international student enrollment in more than 40 years, sending a resounding message that students are, indeed, on the move again and eager to gain an education in the country. And while we are eager to put the pandemic behind us, we also know that we cannot retreat to business as usual.

That is why IIE joined ten of our peers to create the U.S. for Success Coalition last month. Together, we are calling for a national, coordinated strategy that will unlock the full potential of this valuable sector. If your organization has not yet joined the coalition, please sign up and participate in our survey. We want to hear from leaders and practitioners like you.

I am incredibly grateful for your commitment to international education.

Wishing you and yours a safe and happy New Year,

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In commemoration of International Day of Persons with Disabilities, IIE is pleased to feature Dev Dhatta Joshi’s final installment from the IIE Centennial Fellows Blog. IIE selected Dev Datta Joshi as a 2022-2023 IIE Centennial Fellow to continue his work advocating for persons with disabilities and particularly the challenges faced by refugees with disabilities.

Dev Datta Joshi’s Centennial project worked to increase education opportunities for refugees with disabilities by engaging those with disabilities, policymakers, and university deans on the boundaries limiting refugees with disabilities access to higher education. Joshi has been advancing disability rights nationally in Nepal and internationally for over 20 years. He is the Founder and Executive Director of Equip for Equality Nepal (EEN) which develops and implements, innovative projects such as “The Role of Civil Society Organizations and Movements in the Fight against Racism and Discrimination”. As a Hubert H. Humphrey Fellow, he pursued coursework on asylum and refugee law at American University’s Washington College of Law.

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The data is in — Indian students and scholars are on the move globally. Last year, nearly 300,000 Indian college and graduate students came to the United States to pursue higher education, an all-time high for the world’s fifth-largest economy and now the most populous country (Open Doors, United Nations, The World Bank). With more than 40% of the demographic powerhouse’s 1.4 billion population under the age of 25 and demand for education far exceeding in-country supply, the time is now to forge new, mutually beneficial collaborations to both expand India’s higher education system and better support Indian students in the U.S.

The role of quality higher education in India’s advancement is crucial. The country’s higher education landscape is ranked as the second largest globally (38 million students in 50,000 academic institutions, including 1,057 universities) and encompasses a diverse array of institutions, including esteemed public universities, private institutions, and numerous research laboratories with significant contributions to various academic disciplines. With a thriving economy, technological advancements, rich cultural heritage and history, and a substantial pool of students and scholars, India’s higher education system is set for significant expansion and collaboration in the coming years.

The latest iteration of the National Education Policy (NEP), enacted in 2020, is ushering in an era of educational reform in India, focused on internationalization and fostering partnerships with foreign universities. This move aims to address issues related to capacity, equity, access, quality, and bureaucratic hurdles. The NEP promises a major infusion of funds for higher education and research and increasing foreign university collaboration. India’s newly established National Research Foundation (NRF) is committed to making major new investments in scientific areas. In addition, the Indian government’s recent decision to allow foreign universities and educational institutions to establish international branch campuses in Gujarat, India, is underpinned by three key objectives: providing high-quality higher education options for Indian students, thereby reducing the need for them to seek education abroad; attracting reputable foreign higher education institutions (HEIs) to foster a high-quality teaching and research ecosystem in the country; and increasing competition to encourage emerging private universities to enhance their capacity and quality.

While the National Education Policy (NEP) is expected to boost higher education internationalization, substantial reforms and investments from universities and the government are imperative for success. A realistic approach to future collaborations and partnerships, grounded in an understanding of the context, is essential to leverage the tremendous opportunities at hand.

The U.S.-India relationship is critical to the future of both countries. The U.S. and India share opportunities to strengthen each other’s economies by enhancing educational cooperation and investing more in research and development.  And there have been momentous developments. Last June, President Biden and Prime Minister Modi announced several initiatives to increase cooperation between the two countries, including initiatives to facilitate cooperative programs and closer research partnerships between U.S. and Indian universities. The two governments are working to facilitate U.S. universities to expand their presence in India, to create joint degree programs, and foster joint research programs in STEM fields as well as upskilling opportunities through community colleges. 

To foster stronger academic collaborations, we are launching the IIE Spotlight Initiative: India this academic year. This initiative will focus on India through a series of programs, activities, and research that will bolster bi-national efforts to enhance U.S.-India collaboration and mobility. One of the central components of this initiative is the IIE Leadership Delegation. In February 2024, IIE will lead a delegation to India to assist U.S. higher education leaders with integrating India into their internationalization goals.  The delegation will feature a visit to India, where institutional representatives will receive a comprehensive understanding of the current Indian higher education landscape and explore the key factors at play in the internationalization of India. IIE executive leaders, IIE India Director Vivek Mansukhani, and IIE Lead of Higher Education Initiatives Sylvia Jons will lead structured sessions and casual conversations for a robust learning experience in India. For more information, contact Sylvia at sjons@iie.org or visit IIE Spotlight Series: India.

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Like and share our kickoff video to get a first look at what International Education Week means at IIE. Then join the celebration by sharing your thoughts on the benefits of expanding access to international educational exchange, using the hashtag #IntlEdForAll.

Starting at 9:00 a.m. ET on Monday, November 13^th, leaders from the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and IIE’s Research, Learning, and Evaluation (REL) department will lead a virtual briefing to unveil new data from the Open Doors® Report on International Educational Exchange. The first data release since the end of the COVID-19 pandemic, the report will include details such as the total number of international students in the U.S., international students’ top countries of origin, the proportion of U.S. students opting to study abroad, and the lengths of study abroad among U.S. students during the 2022/23 and 2021/22 academic years, respectively.  

In addition, Courtney Temple, Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer of IIE, will attend and speak at The PIE Live North America in Boston, November 13^th through 14^th.

Tuesday marks the official release of the IIE Center for Access and Equity’s second open-access publication, Supporting First-Generation College Students in International Education Resource Guide. Building on the latest U.S. study abroad data, the publication outlines resources and high-level recommendations for higher education practitioners seeking to create more international education opportunities among underrepresented student populations, including first-generation college students.

On Wednesday, November 15,  IIE will explore even more recent data about international student enrollment in the U.S. Drawing on a survey of more than  500 higher education institutions, the Fall 2023 Snapshot on International Student Enrollment details patterns and insights into international student enrollment as of the fall 2023 semester. Bookmark IIE’s Research page to access the Fall 2023 Snapshot.

On Thursday, IIE will announce an exciting new partnership designed to assist institutions as they navigate the future of higher education. In Italy, Co-President A. Sarah Ilchman will participate in the UNI-Italia Conference with International Higher Education Agencies, hosted by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, the Ministry of University and Research, and the Ministry of the Interior. Ilchman will join other panelists to discuss the economic impact of international students in the country and the mutual and global benefits of international exchange.

When the week comes to a close on Friday, we want to hear from YOU. How did you celebrate the week? IIE will share looks from behind the scenes of our busy week and information you might have missed from the busy schedule outlined in this blog. Bookmark IIE’s Latest News and Opening Minds Blog, and follow us on Facebook, X (Twitter), Instagram, and LinkedIn to ensure you don’t miss a moment. We look forward to celebrating international education together!

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Educational exchange between Europe and the United States has been a hallmark of higher education for years. Scenes of exchange students exploring ancient ruins and enjoying local cuisine are still part of the American imagination of the college experience. Likewise, European scholars and students have long enrolled at U.S. institutions at strong levels, enriching the holistic learning environment on American campuses.

But in today’s rapidly changing world, it is more critical than ever to convene, in person, to nurture relationships and revisit both regions’ strategies. That is why I am grateful for organizations like the Academic Cooperation Association. For 30 years, ACA has helped leaders and professionals to connect and collaborate with their numerous peers across Europe, including governments and institutions, in the interest of internationalizing higher education in the region.

A delegation of IIE leaders and I visited Brussels October 9 through 12 to participate in ACA’s Strategic Summit, visit partners, and co-lead a Transatlantic Roundtable on EU-US people-to-people exchanges with our longtime partners at the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD). Sarah Ilchman, IIE Co-President; Kari Kuja, Senior Advisor for European Affairs; Clare Overmann, Head of Higher Education Initiatives; and Kate Campbell, Board Secretary and Government Affairs Manager joined me from IIE. I had the distinct honor of presenting ACA with an IIE Century Medal in celebration of their 30-year anniversary and their contributions to the field through academic exchange and global mobility leadership.

My IIE colleagues and I were encouraged and inspired by the amount of energy our European counterparts had when discussing new ideas for strengthening educational ties between European countries and the United States. We agree that there are two growing areas for collaboration: crisis response, and equity and inclusion. With more than 110 million people –including potential future leaders – forcibly displaced worldwide, universities in both regions stand to gain talented new students and scholars. Creating the right mechanisms for administering to these populations, however, will require agility, international partnerships, and continual improvement. In addition, with the professionalization of equity and inclusion in the field of international education comes new opportunities to work with and better serve historically underrepresented regions, institutions, and students.

Ilchman, who was a speaker during the Transatlantic Roundtable, said, “The conversation was not just about exchanges; it was also about how U.S. and Europe can work together to help solve some of our big issues of the moment, including supporting higher education institutions in Ukraine and investing in higher education for Afghan women.” Overmann added, “The European Union has been a model of international cooperation and student mobility for decades now; finding ways to expand those relationships to include the U.S. and other partners, such as those in the Global South, is a key growth opportunity. We also have many shared goals such as a focus on diversity, access, and inclusion, addressing global challenges through joint initiatives, and expanding partnership and mobility frameworks.”

I would like to thank ACA for bringing us all together for the Strategic Summit, and DAAD for co-organizing the Transatlantic Roundtable. Let us continue learning how we can do more, together.

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The IIE Scholar Rescue Fund (IIE-SRF) was honored to support Khalifa during his year in residency at Harvard University in 2015-16. During the IIE-SRF fellowship, he focused on writing his fifth novel, Death Is Hard Work, which describes Syria’s civil war through the eyes of three fictional characters whose predicaments ring with the truth of Khalifa’s lived experience. The novel was a finalist for the 2019 National Book Award for Translated Literature. Khalifa also began his most recent book, No One Prayed Over Their Graves, while at Harvard. The novel, which was released in July, depicts multiple generations living in 19th and 20th century Syria who experience devastating changes and forge friendships across religious and ethnic lines. Read The New York Times’ review here. Khalifa’s novels have been banned in Syria.

“The Scholars at Risk Program at Harvard University mourns the passing of the remarkable Khaled Khalifa, who was a vibrant member of our academic and artistic communities during his year as a visiting writer in the Department of English. Being able to witness Khaled’s practice as a literary artist (a daily and nightly presence in libraries and cafés throughout Harvard Square) and to experience his indomitable spirit, his sense of humor, and his love of people were gifts to all of us who had the opportunity to know him,” wrote Jane Unrue, Program Director of Harvard Scholars at Risk.

After one year of the IIE-SRF fellowship, Khalifa returned to Syria, where he lived the rest of his life. He passed away on September 30, 2023, at his home in Damascus. BBC News, The Guardian, and Voice of America are among the media outlets paying tribute to the acclaimed writer upon his passing. Lina Sinjab wrote the following for BBC News:  

“In an interview for a short film I directed in 2019, [Khalifa] told me that even though he felt like an exile in his own country, he couldn’t start a new life somewhere else. ‘This is my home, my country, where my mother’s grave lies,’ he said. ‘I don’t want to be somewhere else. I don’t want to create new memories.’ He was constantly worried that he would die as a stranger somewhere else in the world and always wanted his friends to return to Damascus. On Monday, he was buried in Damascus surrounded by dozens of his friends and loved ones, with a crowd cheering and celebrating his life with tears and clapping. Khaled touched countless people and will always be remembered for his way with words and for his loving heart.”

Khalifa’s legacy lives on through his works and in our hearts. Watch “Exiled at Home” to hear Khalifa describe life in Damascus amidst the Syrian crisis:

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In 2005, two scientists, Dr. Drew Weissman and Dr. Katalin Karikó, published groundbreaking research about messenger RNA. It received little attention at the time, but more than fifteen years later, it led to the rapid development of COVID-19 vaccines. And this month, they received the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for their contributions. Where would we have been without the collaboration and persistence of Dr. Weissman and Dr. Karikó? What if Dr. Karikó, a biochemist originally from Hungary, had not received an invitation to conduct her research at a U.S. higher education institution?

International education is a long game, and most benefits are intangible. Yet, moments like this one remind us of its promise.

In September, the U.S. Department of Commerce reported that the U.S. labor force lost 1.4 million Americans in the last three and a half years, leaving critical shortages in aviation, K-12 education, construction and manufacturing, and nursing.

Thankfully, institutions, businesses, and people are coming together to create innovative solutions. For example, a Boston startup is partnering with the MGH Institute of Health Professions to enroll international students in its accelerated bachelor of nursing program. This is welcome news for everyone: if successful, this can provide a viable pathway for the 32,000 international students who come to U.S. institutions for health professions, and it can help to alleviate an overburdened healthcare system.

But as is the case with this year’s Nobel Prize laureates, solutions like this one will take experimentation, time, and persistence.

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At IIE, diversity describes the range of differences within a group with regard to social identity, such as race, gender identity, age, religion, sexual orientation, class, ability, and nation of origin. At IIE, we aim to uphold this value by continually examining our outcomes, portfolio, and practices to ensure that multiple perspectives are represented.

In August, USAID Burma awarded us with a contract to administer the all-new Diversity and Inclusion Scholarship Program (DISP) to support current and future community leaders in the country — particularly those from vulnerable groups — to gain access to quality higher education. The five-year program will offer scholarships, grants, and a variety of regional and local higher education opportunities.

Also, this summer, we worked with the University of Buffalo to administer the Zimbabwean Emerging Faculty Development Program (ZEFDP). Sponsored by the U.S. Department of State’s Fulbright Program, the ZEFDP consists of comprehensive training and mentorship in the interest of advancing the country’s higher education capacity, particularly in pharmaceutical sciences. A cohort of nine Zimbabwean mid-career higher education professionals spent six weeks at the University of Buffalo to network and participate in cultural exchange and research and design, pedagogy, innovation, and industrialization workshops. Participants developed individual project plans to execute upon returning to their home institutions.

As an implementing partner of USAID Higher Education System Strengthening Activity (HESSA), IIE administered the second annual Student Support Services Annual Summit in Pakistan this summer. The summit convened professionals from sixteen higher education institutions for intensive training sessions, remarks and panels, and networking about the various facets of student support services. The HESSA project is a five-year, $19 million initiative designed to advance the capacity of Pakistan’s higher education institutions and systems to develop employable graduates.

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, led to the displacement of 700,000 Ukrainian students and has destroyed over 2,000 schools, according to the World Bank. Chef and activist José Andrés; democracy activist Garry Kasparov; social entrepreneur and KIND Snacks Founder Daniel Lubetzky; and Retired U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Vindman joined together to chair the Global Democracy Ambassador Scholarship (GDAS), which IIE has the honor of managing. GDAS awarded more than a half million in funding to twenty Ukrainian students, enabling them to complete their undergraduate degrees or study abroad in the United States.

Equity means promoting fairness and justice. It addresses the past or present conditions that may continue to hold some people back by actively helping them access opportunities more easily available to privileged groups.

The IIE Odyssey Scholarship provides a comprehensive scholarship package, including tuition, housing, and living expenses, for student refugees and displaced individuals. A recent UNHCR study found that only six percent of refugees have access to higher education compared to the average forty percent enrollment rate among non-refugees. This scholarship, like the IIE American Passport Project, works to remove barriers marginalized groups often encounter in their pursuit of education. Offered by the IIE Center for Equity and Access, the American Passport Project prioritizes underrepresented student communities at diverse higher education institutions within the IIENetwork; recipients help Pell-eligible undergraduates acquire a U.S. passport, a critical first step to studying abroad. To date, 127 U.S. colleges and universities have received funding from IIE, reaching an estimated 3,175 U.S. college students. This supports our vision to increase and diversify study abroad participation so that all students can unlock the academic, career, and social benefits of international experience.

The Taliban-led prohibition on women attending universities left many Afghans hopeless, but the IIE-administered Qatar Scholarship for Afghans Project (QSAP) is bringing hope to those robbed of their future when the government fell in 2021. Sponsored by Afghan Future Fund, Education Above All Foundation, Qatar Fund For Development, Yalda Hakim Foundation, and Schmidt Futures, QSAP has pledged to award half of its scholarships to Afghan women so they may attain a higher education in the U.S. We are honored to administer the largest single-country scholarship for displaced students in higher education.

IIE practices inclusion by going beyond listening to differences to instill a sense of belonging, which allows all people to fully engage and contribute to a group setting.

IIE and Dickinson College have led the way in spreading the value of inclusion by partnering to offer three virtual workshop series aimed at leaders in the international education field. These workshops explored the oft-overlooked intersection between intercultural and global learning and diversity, equity and inclusion. This partnership led to the forthcoming publication, Models of Change: Equity and Inclusion in Action in International Education.

In 2020, IIE formalized its commitment to internal team member inclusion, launching voluntary affinity groups comprised of team members with similar identities, interests, and goals. Today, with the recent launch of the Dis/Ability group this summer, six affinity groups are active at IIE.

Accessibility consists of giving equitable access to everyone along the continuum of human ability and experience. Accessibility encompasses the broader meanings of compliance and refers to how organizations make space for the characteristics that each person brings.

In addition to the launch of IIE’s internal Dis/Ability affinity group, we have made strides in expanding access for external stakeholders. Webinars and information sessions now provide closed captioning and, when possible, sign language for guests with different abilities. One recent highlight was the Fulbright Program and Mobility International USA’s Fulbright for Scholars with Disabilities webinar on July 19 that featured Fulbright Scholars who traveled to Jordan and Canada to share and further their research. Panelists discussed challenges they encountered during their Fulbright year and the methods they used to overcome these challenges. As part of the IIE Centennial Fellowship, 2022-23 fellow Dev Datta Joshi used his grant to further his project advocating for better conditions and rights for persons with disabilities in Nepal.

IIE’s Research, Evaluation, and Learning department published two reports to further scholarship on accessibility in international education. “Mental Health and Well-Being in International Education” and the “Open Doors Special Report on International Students with Disabilities” document current practices colleges and universities use to provide accessibility for all and provide ways to further develop resources and support for students with varying needs.

Global Diversity Awareness Month offers the higher and international education fields to take stock of the efforts we are taking to embed diversity, equity, access, and inclusion into everything we do. While progress has been made, we recognize that there is much work to be done – together. To all the institutions, organizations, and individuals working to advance these values, we look forward to working together to build a more peaceful, equitable world, dedicated to diversity, equity and inclusion, multiculturalism, and international understanding and cooperation.

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When a poll conducted by as respected a source as The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research finds that in our country, “Only about 1 in 10 U.S. adults give high ratings to the way democracy is working in the United States or how well it represents the interests of most Americans,” there is reason for international concern.

IIE promotes the exchange of scholars and students, rescues scholars, students, and artists from persecution, displacement, and crises, conducts research on international academic mobility, and administers the Fulbright program sponsored by the U.S. Department of State. We work every day with people from around the world who see the United States and our democratic institutions, imperfect as they may be, as nothing less than beacons of hope. Freedom of religion and expression, the rule of law and individual liberties are the cornerstones of democracy and the promises we’ve made not just to ourselves, but to people from all corners of the globe. 

Here’s what I see: Despite the political and cultural battles that may be dampening our spirits at home, there is no place I go where people don’t want to come here to work or go to school. “Give us your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,” is an invitation seen as sincere and still operable because of our core belief in democracy.

Just the other day, a young student from Ukraine said to me, “I feel empowered to share my experiences and help others understand the value of democracy and why it’s needed. I also think my role as an ambassador involves educating myself as much as possible and helping people understand the more intricate moments of democracy.”

The world has never needed America and democracy more.  

According to statistics compiled by the United Nations Refugee Agency, at the end of 2022 there were 108.4 million, “forcibly displaced” people, including 43.3 million children, worldwide as a result of “persecution, conflict, violence, human rights violations or events severely disrupting public order.” Of the 35.3 million refugees in this total, half are from just three countries: Syrian Arab Republic (6.8 million); Ukraine (5.7 million); and Afghanistan (5.7 million).      

IIE’s programs are focused on helping refugees from these three nations and others. We know from our more than 100 years of experience assisting displaced students and scholars that following crises these individuals desperately seek opportunities to engage in higher education and build bridges through academia. We also know that these brilliant, motivated people, who have the potential to play a critical role in shaping a better future for their nation and the world, look to America for help.

In fact, one of the industries that define American prosperity, goodwill and strength on the world stage is education. Our nation has been the destination of choice for international students wishing to study abroad for more than a century. The open, tolerant environment of democracy is one of the most important reasons our country is such an attractive destination. That’s been a very good thing for the students, our country and the world. 

In 2021, the U.S. Department of State and the Department of Education issued a “Joint Statement of Principle in Support of International Education.” The statement affirms:

“The robust exchange of students, researchers, scholars, and educators, along with broader international education efforts between the United States and other countries, strengthens relationships between current and future leaders. These relationships are necessary to address shared challenges, enhance American prosperity, and contribute to global peace and security.”

Prior to the COVID pandemic, the number of international students studying in the United States exceeded one million. Last year, the number recovered to 950,000 and continues to grow. These students will be enrolled in 4,000 colleges and universities in all 50 states and the District Columbia. 

What does the U.S. get in return from these relationships? In all but the rarest cases, America has a friend for life in each and every international student who comes here to study. For those who go back to their home country, they have been exposed to American companies, products, customs, culture, and so much more. The future of American commerce and global influence is dependent on the U.S. being a destination for international students. For those who stay, we gain capable, educated and driven people —our plumbers and electricians, doctors and nurses, researchers and students — who have adopted America as their country and will go on to win Nobel Prizes.

So, let’s not let our pessimism and divisions dampen our belief in democracy, an institution the rest of the world, no strangers to conflict, understands we’re still working to perfect. Examined in the context of human history, it’s still an experiment. And we must never forget that people around the world, who dream of coming here to live, work or go to school, are trusting in us to keep the flame of freedom alive.

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