A Global Good Commitment Grounded in Our Roots

The goal of our Global Good Commitment is to ensure that we are doing all that we can to be an active participant in bettering the world. We take this work seriously. We are conscious that our actions are interconnected and have impact, and we know that this is a continuous journey towards change. We continue to learn, adapt, and assess to ensure we are an informed participant in doing more good than harm.  

Since the first IES Abroad students arrived in Vienna in 1950, we have seen study abroad as a catalyst for peace and change. Alongside this belief, we know that our work, and the values that drive our work, require constant assessing, learning, and adaptation. In 2021, facing a range of crises around the world, from climate issues to systemic racism and inequities within our communities, we saw the need to highlight and elevate our mission, initiatives, and programming in global good.

Thus, the Global Good Commitment was borne. Drawn from the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, this multifaceted approach to creating a more sustainable and just world grounds who we are and what we do within four key categories: People & EquityEducation, Academics, Curriculum, & Career-ReadinessEngagement & Resources; and Sustainable Operations & Services. 

People & Equity

This is how we, an international education provider, break down our efforts in big and small ways to create global good for a more sustainable and equitable world, today, tomorrow and for the future. 

A group of students posing for a photo in front of British Parliament and the River Thames

Our Commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Anti-Racism

Cultivating and educating global citizens who reflect the world’s rich diversity is complex. At IES Abroad, we’re invested in the complexity of human connection that inclusive excellence requires.

table decorated with flags, an IES branded coffee mug full of pens sits on top of it

Inclusive Hiring Practices

Just as we are strongly committed to increasing the diversity of our student body, we are also committed to increasing the diversity of our global workforce. We’re aspiring to be a workplace family that is highly reflective of our headquarters city of Chicago and of our world.

a professor teaching while on a field trip in Bosnia

Guided by Ethical Principles

IES Abroad is committed to placing the interests of our students first, to the delivery of superior academic programs and to providing excellent service to our students and educational partners around the world. These are our highest priorities.

A student wearing a mask looks out at the sunset.

Health & Safety

With more than 70 years of experience, we are proud to set the standard for health and safety in study abroad. Our Chicago-based and on-site staff are all highly trained and experienced in the matters of health, safety, and crisis management.

two students sitting in a kayak on a canal smiling and laughing with ores in hands in front of boats and buildings

Study Abroad Scholarships

As a not-for-profit, any income we generate goes right back into our programs and students. It's not just a business model, it's a belief system. Our High-Impact Aid Commitment designed to increase accessibility to study abroad—awarding the financial aid where it matters most.

large group of people sitting in grassy area in front of trees and mountains

Global Pillars Courses

Offered on many of our programs, “Designing the Sustainable City” and “Intersectional Equity” are grounded in sustainable and equitable living respectively, connecting a cohort of students and faculty from a variety of academic backgrounds to discuss, assess, and contribute to solutions for global issues.