Case Western Reserve University has been awarded the Institute of International Education (IIE)’s Seal of Excellence for its strategic commitment to the Generation Study Abroad initiative, which works to double and diversify the number of U.S. students studying abroad by the end of the decade.
IIE launched Generation Study Abroad in 2014 and now has more than 800 partners around the world. When CWRU joined the initiative, it committed to increasing and diversifying the number undergraduate students who study abroad by 50% by 2020. For its efforts, CWRU was awarded two grants in the amount of $7,500 each in 2016 and 2017. The Center for International Affairs matched the grants and awarded scholarships to CWRU students who studied abroad.
After sending 655 students abroad during the 2017-2018 academic year, CWRU was one of 32 U.S. colleges and universities recognized for achieving its Generation Study Abroad goal at the 2019 IIE Summit.
“Case Western Reserve University consistently demonstrates a strong commitment to widening access and making international a part of what it means to be educated in Cleveland. Its Center for International Affairs is helping to write the guidebook for us all,” said Allan E. Goodman, president and chief executive officer for IIE.
The Center for International Affairs reached its goal by collaborating with departments across campus, mapping out course plans to show students how they can study abroad while fulfilling their major requirements and expanding marketing efforts and outreach with student groups.
Although CWRU has reached its Generation Study Abroad goal, the Center for International Affairs remains dedicated to increasing the opportunities for students to experience the life-changing impact of learning in another country.
“There is currently a war for talent. The marketplace needs smart, hardworking, diverse people who can think critically, write intelligently and get along with others. Education abroad affords our students opportunities to think critically and get along with others. It broadens their perspective, helps them collaborate and problem-solve with people from different cultures and helps them better understand themselves,” said Angela Miller, director of education abroad in the Center for International Affairs. “At CWRU, we are committed to helping students gain not only the requisite skills in their field, but also global competencies to make them competitive in the global marketplace.”