Voy commits to broaden initiatives aimed at encouraging students to overcome the many challenges in turning their dreams of study abroad into rewarding realities.
August 22nd, 2017 – Voy has joined the Institute of International Education’s Generation Study Abroad initiative to help more Americans to gain international experience through study abroad programs. This is one of more than 740 commitments announced by IIE.
IIE’s Generation Study Abroad seeks to mobilize resources and commitments with the goal of doubling and diversifying the number of U.S. students studying abroad by the end of the decade. Voy seeks to provide prospective and returnee study abroad students, and their mentors, with concrete advice and answers to their most fundamental questions and concerns about going abroad. Voy provides friendly forums for students to discuss their situation with their peers, and highlights study abroad via regularly publishing articles on the latest trends, scholarships, and high-quality programs, as well as what to see, do, and eat in top-destination countries. Theretofore, the organization strives to help guide students from initial interest in study abroad, to confidently and passionately moving forward with their study abroad prospects.
Under the new partnership, Voy will aim to take concrete, action-oriented steps to expand opportunities for study abroad. Future goals of the organization include setting up and conducting fund-raising initiatives to be able to award mini-scholarships to students who demonstrate financial need, represent underserved minorities, and who demonstrate exceptional writing skills.
“By partnering with such an esteemed organization as the Institute of International Education and committing to Generation Study Abroad,” says Paul Joseph Downey, founder and Editor-in-Chief of Voy, “we will have added impetus to play our part, however big or small, in helping reach industry goals of doubling the number of students going abroad by decade’s end.”
As of January 2017, Generation Study Abroad partners to date include over 400 colleges and universities of all sizes and types across the country and around the world, as well as 19 governments, 50 education associations, more than 100 international partners, and 100 study abroad, K-12, and social network organizations who have committed to specific goals to increase the number of U.S. students studying abroad. Commitments include actions to diversity the population of students who participate in study abroad and provide additional financial resources to make this possible.
IIE launched Generation Study Abroad in the belief that the number and proportion of today’s students who graduate with an educational experience abroad is far too low. Currently, fewer than 10 percent of all U.S. college students study abroad at some point in their academic career, according to the Open Doors Report on International and Educational Exchange published by IIE with support from the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. Generation Study Abroad aims to grow participation in study abroad so that the annual total reported will reach 600,000 by the end of the decade.
“Globalization has changed the way the world works, and employers are increasingly looking for workers who have international skills and expertise,” says Dr. Allan Goodman, President of IIE. “Studying abroad must be viewed as an essential component of a college degree and critical to preparing future leaders.”
About Generation Study Abroad
IIE’s Generation Study Abroad seeks to significantly increase study abroad participation by bringing employers, governments, associations, and others together to build on current best practices and find new ways to extend study abroad opportunities and resources to tens of thousands of college students whose needs are not currently served by existing programs. Generation Study Abroad will sustain an ongoing dialogue about the need for more students from all backgrounds and in all fields to gain international experience. This will include research to identify and break down barriers hindering students from studying abroad, communications to share strategies and best practices to increase study abroad, and fundraising to mobilize additional financial resources. IIE will also hold a Summit on Generation Study Abroad on October 1-3, 2017 in Washington, D.C. to engage stakeholders in higher education and all commitment partners.
About Voy
Voy’s mission is to connect the world through study abroad, international education, and meaningful travel. It achieves this mission by regularly publishing informative and engaging pieces written by students, for students covering a wide range of topics related to these topics.
Voy also offers valuable internships in the fields of creative writing, marketing, social media, and other related fields to college students all over the country, providing professional development experience and serving as a platform for students to learn from other students who have faced the same concerns and challenges around study abroad and other forms of meaningful travel.
About the Institute of International Education
The Institute of International Education is a world leader in the international exchange of people and ideas. An independent, not-for-profit organization founded in 1919, IIE has a network of 19 offices and affiliates worldwide and over 1,200 member institutions. IIE designs and implements programs of study and training for students, educators, young professionals and trainees from all sectors with funding from government agencies, foundations, and corporations. IIE also conducts policy research and program evaluations, and provides advising and counseling on international education and opportunities abroad.
-Paul Joseph Downey, Founder of Voy