IES Abroad is hosting its annual Global Institute in Milan, Italy from June 3-5, 2026. To provide a holistic perspective of the Global Pillars model of learning, three seats at the Global Institute will be held for exceptional alumni who’ve taken one of our Global Pillars courses, Designing the Sustainable City or Equitable Living: The Human Right to Migration.
Applications will be accepted until January 2, 2026 at 4.30 p.m. CDT
The Global Institute is an initiative designed by IES Abroad to empower educators and faculty to reimagine global learning. Through immersive workshops, collaborative exchanges, and a focus on addressing real-world challenges, the Institute offers a vibrant platform to advance education’s role in developing students’ understanding of IES Abroad's Global Pillars—sustainable living, equitable living, and human well-being—from a global perspective.
Other than receiving a free trip to Milan, participants in IES Abroad's Global Institute will:
The finalists will be invited to participate, present, and share their experience as Global Pillars students at the Global Institute and spend some time enjoying Milan.
You will:
All finalists are expected to be available to attend all three days of the Global Institute, commit to attending certain pre-identified key sessions, and complete a brief following the Global Institute to identify tangible learning outcomes from their attendance, and to provide feedback for both the Global Institute and the Global Pillars project as a whole.
The goal of your participation in this event is to provide educators and administrators with firsthand accounts of the impact of the unique design of these courses. In order to develop stronger and more effective curriculum, institute members will use insights gained from course alumni to workshop ideas for future course development.
All applicants must have:
You will need:
Submission Period
To be considered for the initial review, you must enter the contest before the deadline (January 2, 2026). Be sure your submissions meet all the requirements!
The panel will rank each application based on 1) measure of thoughtful engagement with application questions; 2) strength of final project; and 3) clarity of goals for time spent in Milan.
Initial Review
A panel of IES Abroad staff and faculty review student submissions and select those with the best responses as semi-finalists.
Instructor Feedback
The selection panel will contact the instructor of your course to hear feedback on your time as a student and academic.
Phone Screening
Semi-finalists will be asked to participate in a short phone screening to get a sense for their ability to present information and thoughtfully reflect on their time in a Global Pillars course.
Leadership Selects Finalists
Our Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs will review all semi-finalists and select the three finalists.
IES Abroad will not pay for additional partners or guests of selected applicants.
IES Abroad reserves the right to set a maximum amount per alumni.
IES Abroad will notify the winners via the email address entered on the application entry form on a rolling basis and in any event, no later than two weeks following the submission deadline. If a selected winner does not respond within seven (7) calendar days of an initial notification, an alternate winner may be selected and the initial winner will forfeit their award. IES Abroad may also announce the winners publicly on its website at www.IESAbroad.org and on IES Abroad’s social media profiles, including without limitation, Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), and TikTok.
Q: Can I bring a friend or family member with me?
A: IES Abroad will not cover the travel expenses of anyone outside the selected alumni. A companion may travel with you at their own cost, but will not be a part of the events nor be eligible for any financial benefits provided by IES Abroad.
Q: I want to travel outside of June 3-5, 2026. Can I extend my trip?
A: IES Abroad will pay for flights to and from Milan and provide lodging and meal expenses for the five allocated days. Flights may be booked on dates prior to planned arrival or after planned departure, but additional travel costs will not be covered.
Q: Will I have time to sightsee?
A: Yes, but this time will be limited. Depending on the times of arriving and departing flights, individuals may have more leisure time on the days surrounding the events. On June 3-5, alumni should expect a majority of their day to be taken up by the Institute, with time in the evening to sightsee.
Q: I don't speak Italian. Can I still visit Milan?
A: Yes! Milan has a high population of English-speakers and tends to have signage in both English and Italian. Language will present a minimal barrier for the duration of the trip. The Global Institute attendees themselves will be from a number of locations around the world, as well.
Submissions will be accepted until January 2, 2026 at 4.30 p.m. CDT