IES Abroad Joins as a Founding Partner in The Forum on Education Abroad's The Career Catalyst

In our 75th year, we're proud to announce our role as a Founding Partner and Lead Sponsor in The Forum on Education Abroad’s The Career Catalyst—a bold, first-of-its-kind initiative to demonstrate the transformative impact of education abroad on individual career outcomes and on the national economy.

Led by The Forum, this industry-wide campaign will unite higher education institutions, study abroad providers, and advocates around a shared message: education abroad builds the future workforce by cultivating the global skills, cultural agility, and perspectives today’s employers value most.

We're in great company as a lead sponsor alongside API and CEA CAPA. Additional sponsors include Arizona State University, CIS Abroad, WorldStrides, ISEP, and USAC. As one of the eight Founding Partners, we are helping to shape the strategic direction and amplify the reach of this nationwide effort. Together, we’re investing in new research, advocacy tools, and compelling media to elevate the field of education abroad and beyond.

In this effort, we’re proud to be working closely with Melissa Torres, President of The Forum on Education Abroad and a former IES Abroad staff member, whose leadership and long-standing dedication to the field continue to shape the future of global education.

The value of education abroad has never been more important—or more at risk of being overlooked. This campaign makes the case for why study abroad must remain a core part of higher education. It’s not just about where students go, rather it’s about who they become, and how they contribute to a thriving global workforce and economy.

For 75 years, we’ve witnessed the ripple effect of study abroad experiences on students, institutions, and communities around the world. Supporting this campaign is a natural extension of our mission to make high-quality, life-changing global education accessible to more students.

This campaign centers what matters most: student voices, measurable outcomes, and a shared belief that global education changes lives. It reminds us why we do this work—and why we must continue to fight for it.

We’re proud to support this effort, not just to mark our 75th year, but to help ensure the next 75 years of international education are even stronger.