Wandering Educators has joined the Institute of International Education’s Generation Study Abroad initiative to help more Americans to gain international experience through study abroad programs. This is one of more than 450 new commitments announced by IIE.

IIE’s Generation Study Abroad seeks to mobilize resources and commitments with the goal of doubling the number of U.S. students studying abroad by the end of the decade. Wandering Educators is fully committed to expanding the reach, experience, and audience of study abroad and international education. As a member of the White House Travel Bloggers (#WHTravelBloggers), Dr. Jessie Voigts, publisher of Wandering Educators, was inspired by the White House Summit on Study Abroad and Global Citizenship to increase efforts to promote international education and study abroad.

Under the new partnership, Wandering Educators will take concrete, action-oriented steps to expand opportunities for study abroad. You will find on the WanderingEducators.com site an increasing number of #StudyAbroadBecause interviews with students and alumni who have studied abroad. These personal stories are an excellent way of sharing the personal side of international education. Wandering Educators maintains a popular tumblr blog, studyabroadbecause.tumblr.com, which shares stories, comments, tweets, and popular memes and photos relating to study abroad. Wandering Educators also created a study abroad board on pinterest, which highlights many important aspects of study abroad for interested students and parents.

Fulbright-mtvU Fellow Andrew McGill in Malawi. Photo courtesy and copyright US Bureau of Educational & Cultural Affairs, adapted by Wandering Educators

Dr. Voigts notes, “International education is a critical part of globalization. Once you’ve traversed the same paths, eaten the same food, and conversed with locals, the world becomes smaller. Friendship and peace become real. Economies around the world thrive, because of the wide variety of knowledge, education, and experience available to employers. One of the best things that any student – whether in high school, college, or beyond – can do to improve their future, their careers, and their world, is to study abroad. It’s that important.”

She further stated, “Attending the December White House Summit on Study Abroad and Global Citizenship was another inspiring step in my lifelong commitment to international education and the power of study abroad. I’m looking forward to working with IIE and Generation Study Abroad to achieve these critical goals.”

  As of November 2014, Generation Study Abroad partners to date include over 300 colleges and universities of all sizes and types across the country and around the world, as well as 13 governments, 16 education associations, 67 international partners, and 56 study abroad, K-12, and social network organizations who have committed to specific goals to increase the number of U.S. students studying abroad. Commitments include actions to diversity the population of students who participate in study abroad and provide additional financial resources to make this possible. International students should also know in advance about the barriers while planning to study abroad - find more info here.

IIE launched Generation Study Abroad early this year in the belief that the number and proportion of today’s students who graduate with an educational experience abroad is far too low. Currently, fewer than 10 percent of all U.S. college students study abroad at some point in their academic career, according to the Open Doors Report on International and Educational Exchange published by IIE with support from the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. Generation Study Abroad aims to grow participation in study abroad so that the annual total reported will reach 600,000 by the end of the decade.

“Globalization has changed the way the world works, and employers are increasingly looking for workers who have international skills and expertise,” says Dr. Allan Goodman, President of IIE. “Studying abroad must be viewed as an essential component of a college degree and critical to preparing future leaders.”

About Generation Study Abroad

IIE’s Generation Study Abroad seeks to significantly increase study abroad 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 programs. Generation Study Abroad will sustain an ongoing dialogue about the need for more students from all backgrounds and in all fields to gain international experience. This will include research to identify and break down barriers hindering students from studying abroad, communications to share strategies and best practices to increase study abroad, and fundraising to mobilize additional financial resources.  IIE will also hold a Summit on Generation Study Abroad yearly, to engage stakeholders in higher education and all commitment partners.

About Dr. Jessie Voigts and Wandering Educators

Jessie Voigts has a PhD in International Education, has lived and worked in Japan and London, and traveled around the world. She’s published six books about travel and intercultural learning, with more on the way.

Jessie is the publisher of Wandering Educators, a travel library for people curious about the world. She is constantly looking for ways to increase intercultural understanding, and is passionate about study abroad and international education. She founded and directs the Youth Travel Blogging Mentorship Program, teaching teens all around the world.

About the Institute of International Education

The Institute of International Education 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.