Studying abroad is one of the best ways American college students can acquire international experience necessary to succeed in today’s global marketplace. 

According to the Open Doors Report on International and Educational Exchange, 295,000 American college students studied abroad in 2011/12 in credit-bearing and non-credit programs. While that may sound like a lot, it in fact represents less than 10% of the 2.6 million students graduating with associates or baccalaureate degrees each year.

Generation Study Abroad seeks to address that shortfall by bringing employers, governments, associations, and others together to build on current best practices and find new ways to extend study abroad opportunities to tens of thousands of college students for whom traditional study abroad programs aren’t working.  

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. IIE is investing $2 million in the initiative and seeking funds to provide scholarships to college and high school students and grants to institutions. The initiative, which is timed to coincide with IIE’s centennial in 2019, will highlight IIE’s commitment to study abroad and encourage purposeful, innovative action to get more Americans to undertake a meaningful international experience through academic study abroad programs, as well as internships, service learning, and non-credit educational experiences.

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A Call to Action

Winthrop University has pledged to triple its yearly study abroad participation by the end of the decade. The initiative has called on institutions and students alike all around the nation in an attempt to achieve this goal.

To take part in this initiative:

 - STUDY ABROAD!

 - For study abroad alumni: talk about your amazing experience to friends and colleagues and spread the word to empower others to experience the world as well!

 - Get involved with the social media! Create ongoing buzz about study abroad through social media channels using the hashtag #generationstudyabroad, tweeting @IIEGlobal so they can retweet, following @IIEGlobal on twitter, and liking the "IIE Global" Facebook page to share posts.

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