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Registration Open- IDEAS Workshop: Developing Impactful Study Abroad Programs to Prepare Students for their Future Careers

The U.S. Department of State’s IDEAS (Increase and Diversify Education Abroad for U.S. Students) Program is pleased to announce that registration is now open for an upcoming in-person IDEAS workshop. In partnership with North Dakota State University, the IDEAS Program will host a free day-long workshop on October 25, 2024 in Fargo, North Dakota titled “Career Catalyst: Developing Impactful Study Abroad Programs to Prepare Students for their Future Careers”. 

This day-long in-person workshop, co-hosted by the IDEAS Program and North Dakota State University (NDSU), will focus on how study abroad professionals can leverage international experiences to prepare students for the next steps in their careers. Session topics include building strategic partnerships abroad; best practices for creating internships, volunteer placements, and clinical experiences; and how to encourage independent thinking through place-based learning. NDSU faculty will also highlight their successful integration of clinical and undergraduate research experiences into study abroad for students in a variety of disciplines, a method to help prepare students for work in scientific and medical fields as well as for advanced graduate study. Through interactive activities and sessions led by topical experts and NDSU faculty, workshop participants will gain expertise in training students in hard and soft skills through study abroad for use in their future careers or graduate studies. 

The IDEAS Program invites study abroad stakeholders from accredited U.S. colleges and universities – including, but not limited to, study abroad advisors, faculty, and other staff involved with or interested in broadening, enhancing, and/or expanding study abroad opportunities for U.S. students at their institution – to attend this free one day in-person workshop.

This workshop is limited to 50 participants. Should registrants exceed that number, the following considerations will be taken into account to select the final 50 participants from among all registrants: 1) time and date of application (priority will be given to those who register first); and 2) variety of institutional types, states, and faculty/staff roles among registrants to promote an inclusive workshop that represents the breadth of study abroad stakeholders. Final workshop participant selection will be determined in early September, and participants will be contacted to confirm their attendance.

Partial or full travel grants may be available to help offset the cost of participation for those coming from over a two-hour drive away. If you need financial support, in addition to that provided by your home institution, in the form of travel (mileage or tickets), lodging, and meals, please note this in your registration application form. World Learning anticipates that the maximum funding amount available per individual will be approximately $800, though it may be less based on the number and level of travel grants requested. If additional funding becomes available, we reserve the right to increase the funding amount based on participant financial need, distance traveled, or other factors as determined by ECA. 

The IDEAS Program will confirm registrants’ acceptance and financial support, if requested by September 5, 2024.  

For any other questions or information, please email the IDEAS Program at IDEAS@worldlearning.org.  You may also sign up for the IDEAS Program email list via https://www.studyabroadcapacitybuilding.org/  and follow us on LinkedIn to receive regular updates about the grant competition and other capacity building initiatives.  

The IDEAS Program is designed to broaden, enhance, and expand American student mobility in support of U.S. foreign policy goals. The program expands the institutional capacity of U.S. colleges and universities to support study abroad programs through IDEAS grants, IDEAS workshops and webinars, and an online library of resources.