IES Abroad Hosts First-Ever International Annual Conference in Vienna for 75th Anniversary

First and foremost, let's just say that this was so much more than just a Conference—it was an unforgettable experience.

From October 15–17, study abroad professionals from around the world gathered in Vienna, Austria for the 2025 IES Abroad Annual Conference. This was our first-ever international Conference, hosted in Vienna in honor of IES Abroad’s 75th Anniversary, returning to our roots where it all began in 1950. Plus, IES Abroad celebrated its 60th anniversary of the Annual Conference!

This year’s Conference brought together colleagues and partners for three unforgettable days of learning, inspiration, and connection. From thought-provoking sessions and cultural tours around Vienna to a one-night-only 75-year exhibition at the Museum of Applied Arts and our celebratory Study Abroad Film Festival at Das MuTh Concert Hall, the 2025 Annual Conference was a milestone event—honoring our past, energizing our present, and setting the stage for the future of study abroad.

It was wonderful to join our institutional partners, Center Directors and staff, and IES Abroad colleagues who help make our mission possible to provide access to life-changing study abroad programs.

If you weren't able to join us, here's a recap of everything that took place at this year's Annual Conference.

Top 10 Conference Highlights

1. Our First-Ever International Conference

   We made history by hosting our first international Annual Conference and it was a resounding success! And there was no better place to celebrate 75 years of IES Abroad than in Vienna, Austria where our roots were born in 1950.

2. A Grand Welcome Dinner at the Museum of Applied Arts (MAK)

   Our Annual Welcome Dinner took place at the world renowned Museum of Applied Arts (MAK Museum), where our guests had the opportunity to immerse in an upscale dinner.

3. A One-Night-Only 75th Anniversary Exhibition

   As part of the Welcome Dinner, we unveiled a special exhibition showcasing IES Abroad’s 75-year legacy. Each display highlighted a decade of our organization’s evolution and the global milestones that shaped us along the way.

4. Music Performance From IES Abroad Vienna Students

   Our guests had the incredible opportunity to hear a live music performance from our current IES Abroad Vienna students during the Welcome Dinner. We heard everything from opera to instruments and it was so spectacular that it left attendees giving a standing ovation.

5. 11th Annual Study Abroad Film Festival

   Hosted at Das MuTh, Vienna’s most modern concert hall, this year’s Film Festival was pure magic. Attendees celebrated student filmmakers from around the world and witnessed the announcement of this year’s Grand Prize Winner.

6. Inspiring Plenary Speakers

   We heard from three powerful plenaries that left attendees inspired and energized for the future of international education.

   Dr. Edward L. Wheeler, distinguished educator and proud IES Abroad Vienna alumnus (1967–68), reflected on his transformative year abroad and the lifelong impact of intercultural connection—earning a standing ovation for his heartfelt remarks.

   In Unpacking the Moment: Study Abroad in a Shifting World, industry leaders conducted a panel where they tackled the challenges facing global education today and shared actionable insights for shaping its future.

   Finally, Ali Mahlodji, entrepreneur and education advocate, closed with a dynamic plenary on resilience, authenticity, and purpose, reminding us of the power we have to shape the next generation of global citizens.

   Read more below for details about each plenary session!

7. Immersing in Viennese Culture Through DiscoverIES Tours

   Our belief that academic excellence transcends the classroom extended to this year’s Annual Conference as well. Attendees had the opportunity to participate in one of five exclusive DiscoverIES Cultural Tours, designed to complement the week’s programming and offer a firsthand look at Vienna through the lens of a study abroad student. Each tour highlighted a different facet of the city’s culture, history, and everyday life, inviting participants to see why Vienna remains one of the most inspiring places in the world to live and learn.

   The five DiscoverIES options included a Private Tour of Vienna’s Natural History Museum, Why Vienna is Ranked the Best City in the World to Live: A Tour, a Private Tour of Vienna’s Jewish Museum, Vienna: As Seen Through Food & History, and an Albertina Museum Tour.

8. Engaging Expert-led Sessions

   We tuned in to expert-led sessions from colleagues around the world, covering topics like community engagement in study abroad, sustainable STEM programming, LGBTQIA+ inclusion, risk management, and effective communication strategies. These sessions sparked meaningful discussion, collaboration, and new ideas for advancing international education. Read more below!
    

9. Awards Honoring Our Colleagues and Partners 

   Visionary leaders from our partner schools were presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award, Professional Development Award, and Volunteer of the Year Award. And, we recognized our outstanding faculty and staff for Excellence in Teaching, Faculty Innovation, and the Global Good Staff Service. Keep reading to see the recipients!

10. Inside the Center Expo: A Closer Look at IES Abroad's Offerings

    The Center Expo was an opportunity for guests to meet our Center Directors and learn more about the 140+ study abroad programs we offer. Plus, guests were able to learn and inquire about IES Abroad's Financial Aid & Scholarships, Student Life, Health, and Safety, the Engineering Consortium, Access & Strategic Partnership, IES Internships, and Customized & Faculty-Led Programs. 

    Plus, in addition to the Center Expo, we even had an IES Abroad Vienna Center Open House, where guests had the opportunity to tour our historic Center, explore classroom spaces, and gain a deeper understanding of the student experience in Vienna. 

Over the course of three days, guests attended Concurrent Sessions, which covered captivating topics with tangible takeaways, led by subject matter experts including IES Abroad staff and Center staff, as well as many of our colleagues from our partner universities.

18 sessions took place over the course of the Conference, diving into notable themes including:

• Clarity Under Pressure: Communicating in the Information Flood to cut through communication noise and deliver clear, effective messages
• Integrating community service and engagement into study abroad programming
• Designing sustainable STEM abroad programs and expanding opportunities for technical majors
• First-year and graduate study abroad as catalysts for global learning
• Centering queer joy and LGBTQIA+ inclusion in education abroad experiences
• Balancing study abroad enrollment between semesters to support both home campuses and Centers
• Innovating faculty and student engagement through Customizable Global Pathways
• Expanding equity and access for students from diverse and underrepresented backgrounds
• Navigating risk management and student data privacy in a changing global landscape
• The future of language learning and intercultural immersion in study abroad
• Supporting first-generation and limited-income students through targeted partnerships and financial strategies
• Demystifying study abroad costs through clear financial aid communication and collaboration

The list goes on, and we're blown away by the engaging presentations that evoked meaningful discussions and offered valuable takeaways across a range of topics relevant to the field. 

Reflections on IES Abroad Vienna with Dr. Edward L. Wheeler

Our guests had the incredible opportunity to hear from Dr. Edward L. Wheeler, a distinguished educator, proud IES Abroad Vienna alumnus (1967–68), and lifelong advocate for education, equity, and global understanding. A Morehouse College graduate and Charles E. Merrill Jr. Scholar, Dr. Wheeler credits his year in Vienna with confirming his call to ministry and broadening his worldview—a transformative experience that became the foundation for his life’s work. 

Discussing his journey from Atlanta to Austria, Dr. Wheeler shared deeply personal stories about his time abroad during the Civil Rights Movement, and connected his experience to the power of intercultural connection. His moving words reminded attendees why immersive global experiences remain essential in today’s world, earning a heartfelt standing ovation from the entire room.

"Learn the language so that you can learn the people. Learn the language so that you can show empathy for them, because they show love for you." -Dr. Ed Wheeler

Watch the full plenary

Unpacking the Moment: Study Abroad in a Shifting World

Attendees also joined an interactive plenary panel, hearing from industry experts Melissa Torres, President of the Forum on Education Abroad, Eddie Contreras, Vice Provost for Global Engagement at Baylor University, and John Ockey, IES Abroad London Center Director & Northwestern Europe Dean.

With U.S. higher education facing enrollment cliffs, shifting public perceptions, and political headwinds, this timely discussion explored the evolving state of global education and what’s at stake for the future of study abroad. Panelists engaged in a candid, forward-looking conversation about how we can reassert the value of international experiences amid rapid change, offering honest dialogue, informed perspectives, and actionable insights for a sustainable path forward.

"The business students who studied abroad earned 6.3% more than the students who did not. When you think about bonuses and contribitions to retirement plans and raises over time and you multiply that by a 40 year career, a 6.3% advantage at the beginning is really significant." -Melissa Torres, President & CEO at the Forum on Education Abroad

The Power to Shape Tomorrow: A Vision for the Next Generation of Global Citizens with Ali Mahlodji

We also welcomed Ali Mahlodji, an internationally recognized entrepreneur, storyteller, and education advocate, for an inspiring plenary on resilience and reinvention. Drawing from his personal story as a refugee-turned-founder of the global platform whatchado, Ali explored what it means to embrace change, lead with authenticity, and help young people find purpose in uncertain times. His dynamic energy and powerful message left the audience with deep reflection and valuable takeaways empowering us for the future of international education.

"When taking a look at nearly 8000 interviews we made with people, with random people, we found out that 85% of the CV's of people had zigzags. But the truth is, in life, we sometimes think that we need to make a decision and it needs to be that perfect decision for us. We do not understand that as human beings, we're born to deal with uncertainty." -Ali Mahlodji, CEO of FutureOne, Entrepreneur and Advocate

Partner Awards & Center Awards

During the Conference, four leaders in global education from our partner universities were recognized for their extraordinary contributions to IES Abroad and the study abroad field at large. We are incredibly grateful to work with dedicated professionals like the three listed below who help make our mission possible:

🏆Lifetime Achievement Award: Susan Holme, Senior Director of Off-Campus Studies & International Student and Scholar Services | Whitman College (Retired)

🏆Professional Development of the Year Award: Katie Radande, Director of Study Abroad | Lehigh University

🏆Volunteer of the Year Award: Janna Behrens, Associate Dean & Director of Global Education | Amherst College

🏆Volunteer of the Year Award: Dr. Paulina Brouder, Director of Study Abroad & International Partnerships |University of Missouri – Columbia

Read more about the Partner Award Winners

In addition to our valued partners, we were ecstatic to honor IES Abroad Center staff and faculty who advance our ideals of academic excellence, embrace curricular innovation, model global citizenship, and create life-changing experiences both inside and out of the classroom for our students. Their passion and leadership inspire both colleagues and students alike, paving the way for the future of study abroad.

2023/24 Center Award Winners

🏆Award for Excellence in Teaching: Bertrand Pineau | IES Abroad Nantes Faculty

🏆Faculty Innovation Award: Maite Aparicio | IES Abroad Granada Faculty

🏆Global Good Staff Service Award: Ángel López | IES Abroad Madrid Head of Student Affairs

2024/25 Center Award Winners

🏆Award for Excellence in Teaching: Dr. Susann Neuenfeldt | IES Abroad Berlin Faculty

🏆Faculty Innovation Award: Dr. Diane Atkinson | IES Abroad London Faculty

🏆Global Good Staff Service Award: Céline Chataing | IES Abroad Paris Head of Student Life and Facilities

Read more about the 24/25 Winners

For the first time since its inception in 2014, the IES Abroad Study Abroad Film Festival was hosted internationally! The milestone event honoring IES Abroad’s 75th Anniversary took place at Vienna’s most modern concert hall, Das MuTH Concert Hall. 

It was a history-making audience, packed with a record number of students and IES Abroad alums. The evening celebrated eleven years of powerful storytelling and unforgettable student experiences brought to life on the big screen. The films made us laugh, brought us to tears, and made us feel all the emotions that capture the study abroad experience. 

Charlie took home the Grand Prize for their film "Maybe." He received the $1,500 Grand Prize and secured the $5,000 IES Abroad Barbara Bobrich Annual scholarship for a future University of Indiana study abroad student in financial need, made possible by a $600,000 donation by the late Barbara Bobrich.

Naomi Seekings, Director, Producer & Editor, IES Abroad London Film Studies Faculty Member, received the Standing Ovation Award for her dedication to the festival over the years. Naomi has been an IES Abroad Film Faculty member since 2009 and a Film Festival Jury member since 2014 when the Film Festival began. 

Read More About the Festival

Thank you to everyone who traveled from near and far to attend the Conference, and to everyone who helped make this experience a reality. 

Save the date and join us October 26-28th, 2026 at the Radisson Blu Aqua Hotel Chicago for the 2026 IES Abroad Annual Conference. Get ready for another three days of learning, sharing, and being re-energized to serve your study abroad students. We're looking forward to hearing about your professional experience and newfound research in 2026 when we call for proposals. Details forthcoming.

For updates on what IES Abroad is doing between conferences, check out our news and announcements. For any inquiries, please email us at annualconference@IESabroad.org.