Internationalize Your Campus

The International Student Assistantship (ISA) program began in 1982 with the sole purpose of placing students attending IES Abroad’s partner institutions overseas in professional positions at colleges and universities in the United States. More than 40 years later, it's a robust program, serving 10+ of IES Abroad's U.S. Consortium Member institutions with Student Assistants from nearly 20 of IES Abroad's international partner universities.

How it Works

Overview

  • IES Abroad Centers conduct outreach to international students at our partner institutions abroad located in Europe and South America.
  • The U.S. IES Abroad Consortium schools act as hosts for these international students seeking these professional opportunities.
  • The coordinating team at IES Abroad’s Chicago headquarters acts as an intermediary and support contact throughout the entire application process. 

Time Frame

The assistantship typically runs for a U.S. academic school year (fall and spring semesters).

Process

  • IES Abroad Centers promote to international partner schools.
  • The IES Abroad Chicago coordinating team announces the new cycle, usually in October, to participating U.S. school contacts and takes their requests/requirements.
  • IES Abroad Center Directors interview/vet candidates and provide the Chicago team with finalist candidates’ dossiers for material review.
  • Finalist dossiers are sent to participating U.S. school contacts, initiating the matching process.
  • The Chicago team facilitates matching, assisting U.S. host schools with communications to students to whom they wish to offer positions, and connecting both sides for additional interviews as needed.
  • Students accept offers and complete the necessary paperwork, usually directly with the U.S. college or university, before coming to the United States.

Possible Positions for Student Assistants

The responsibilities of Student Assistants are determined by your institution. Below are a few of the most common positions assigned to Student Assistants.

Two students holding up their Chinese character writings

Language Department Assistant

Department Assistants may work in an administrative capacity, assist students with conversational aspects of the language in foreign language laboratories, or organize cultural events.

instructor teaching two students standing at a white board

Teaching Assistant (TA)

Used at the undergraduate and graduate level, TAs may assist professors with lesson preparations, instruction in the classroom, or with corrections of student papers and tests. Occasionally, the TA may team teach and offer the conversation component of a language course.

two students standing in a dorm hallway

Foreign Language Resident Hall Assistant

Resident Assistants usually live in language residence halls or houses and are responsible for promoting the everyday use of their native language.

Benefits for Participants

Past Participating U.S. & International Universities

Interested in our student assistantship program?

Internationalize your campus and bring valuable linguistic and cultural resources to your students through the IES Abroad International Student Assistantship Program!

Request Student Assistants