International Education Week 2024 (IEW) comes at a pivotal time for the field. A new president and a new Congress could mean big changes in policies—changes with significant implications for institutions, students, and their families. This makes the current moment an opportune time to reflect on some of the things we're most proud of as an association and that portend a bright and resilient future for international education.
- On November 18, following the IEW tradition of more than 20 years, NAFSA, in partnership with JB International, released its annual analysis of the jobs and economic activity that international students contribute to the United States. The data, which can be viewed on national, state, and congressional levels, give us important fodder for making the case that international students generate significant economic benefits, in addition to bringing new ideas, perspectives, and intercultural experiences to U.S. classrooms, communities, and workplaces. Explore this page to view top-producing states, congressional districts, and year-over-year trends.
- Advocates will have the chance to relay this message and convey the vital importance of study abroad in person at NAFSA's first-ever hybrid Advocacy Day. Participants will join virtual meeting prep with their peers and NAFSA's expert staff. Then a week later, on April 2, 2025, attendees will meet with members of their Congressional delegation on Capitol Hill. Don't miss this chance to educate a new Congress on how international education is a bipartisan issue that enhances U.S. competitiveness, students' career readiness, and national security. Registration is now open and we do expect a sellout!
- In addition to driving forward the policy and regulatory changes needed to advance the field, NAFSA is continually expanding its professional development offerings to serve today's professionals in a rapidly changing landscape. IEW marks the arrival of the complete set of modules that comprise the International Education Professional Certificate (IEPC). Created in partnership with Times Higher Education and Common Purpose, the fully asynchronous IEPC provides flexible access to career-building tools that serve you at every stage of your career. NAFSA's new online Leadership Essentials for Comprehensive Internationalization e-Learning course is specifically designed for the newly appointed or aspiring internationalization leader. Let NAFSA help you take your next step!
- Another important custom is the annual release of the NAFSA's Internationalizing the Campus report, which profiles the recipients of the Senator Paul Simon Awards for Campus Internationalization. Flip through the digital pages (free for NAFSA members) to be inspired by the continued evolution of the field, as demonstrated by a wide range of winning institutions in 2024, including large flagship universities, community colleges, and minority-serving institutions.
- Effective partnership is a key strategy for the field to survive and thrive in all political climates, and NAFSA continues to innovate in this area. In addition to helping found the U.S. for Success Coalition—which just marked its one-year milestone with new goals and new members—NAFSA, Studyportals, and Oxford Test of English combined to launch the inaugural Global Enrolment Benchmark Study. Its findings on student mobility trends around the world affirm the importance of government policy and factors such as affordability, housing, and language proficiency in shaping students' study abroad decisions. Read the report and join a webinar on December 2, with the principals to explore the full findings and implications.
While political winds are creating uncertainty in the United States, our field has a powerful story to tell, during IEW and all year long!