For more than 20 years, The Forum’s Conference has provided a space for dialogue exploring the pressing issues facing education abroad. The 2026 Forum Annual Conference will reflect on the history of education abroad, the current state of the field, and trends on the horizon.
IES Abroad looks forward to attending this year's Conference as a Diamond Sponsor. We also welcome you to stop by and meet the team at our tables (404 and 406).
Virtual Event
📅 When: February 11th, 2026 | 11:15 AM – 12:15 PM CT
February 12, 2026 | 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM CT
📍 Where: Virtual
Learn More About Forum
Virtual IES Abroad Sessions at Forum
Wednesday, February 11, 2026 | 11:15 AM – 12:15 PM CT | I didn’t expect that! Leveraging Expectation Setting for Empowering, Successful Internships
Thought Leadership Session (sponsored by IES Abroad)
International educators supporting internship programs outside the U.S. navigate one central dichotomy: the interplay between local and U.S. cultural expectations. Working at the intersection of these worlds means continually building bridges, fostering equilibrium, and ensuring that no stakeholder becomes anchored to a single perspective. Achieving this balance requires intentional and structured expectation setting. This presentation examines, through the Italian context, how expectation setting functions as a strategic tool for both risk prevention and participant empowerment in international internships. The goal is a dynamic, circular dialogue that advances both learning and professional development.
Presenters: Marta Brambilla, Academic Department & Internship Manager, IES Abroad Milan Brandi DeMont, Lecturer, IES Abroad Milan
Destiny Oppe, Assistant Director, Internship Programming, IES Abroad
- Thursday, February 12, 2026 | 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM CT | But No One Helped Me! Reframing the Story of Student Support Abroad
*Knowledge to Action Session
*Track: Health, Safety, and Well-Being
Students often claim they weren’t helped, even after multiple forms of support were provided. This session examines the gap between support offered and support accepted in education abroad. We’ll explore barriers to follow-through, emotional vs. logistical needs, and strategies to match students with the right kind of help.
Presenters: Rachael Ulrich, Assistant Dean of Student, IES Abroad
Chicago, Illinois, United States
Brittan Duffing, Advising Coordinator, St. Olaf College
