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About CIEE

The World Leader in International Education

Founded in 1947, CIEE is the country’s oldest and largest nonprofit intercultural education and exchange organization. For more than 75 years, CIEE has helped thousands of people gain the knowledge and skills necessary to live and work in a globally interdependent and culturally diverse world by offering the most comprehensive, relevant, and valuable exchange programs available.

We began with a mission:

To help people gain understanding, acquire knowledge, and develop skills for living in a globally interdependent and culturally diverse world.

CIEE Leading Change 

Today, CIEE serves more than 340 U.S. colleges and universities, 1,000 U.S. high schools, and more than 35,000 international exchange students annually. CIEE is leading change by leveraging our strengths to help the field of international education and exchange evolve to better help participants acquire the skills needed to tackle the topics that challenge us globally.

CIEE Students

The Most Comprehensive Programs and Services

CIEE operates centers in more than 45 cities around the world, along with teach abroad programs and various specialty and custom programs for secondary, post-secondary, and international students.

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The CIEE Difference

Each year, CIEE hosts the annual CIEE Study Abroad Conference to bring our global network of faculty, researchers, higher education leaders, study abroad professionals, policymakers, and community activists together to discuss key topics of our time.

Join us as we bring our unique perspectives and expertise together to expand our collective global networks, explore innovative approaches to study abroad that emphasize environmental consciousness and social responsibility, and continue CIEE’s mission of living in a globally interdependent and culturally diverse world. Our conference participants can expect the following:


Faculty/Researchers

  • Interdisciplinary Insights: Engage with experts from different disciplines and professions and explore how to integrate diverse perspectives into your own research. 
  • Educational Strategies: Discover innovative teaching methods and effective strategies for climate education to design curricula that better prepare students to tackle climate challenges. 
  • Policy and Advocacy: Understand the policy dimensions of climate change and how they inform your advocacy efforts or collaborations with policymakers and community organizations. 
  • Cultural Awareness: Learn how climate issues intersect with cultural practices and values to help design inclusive and culturally appropriate educational programs and research studies.
  • Networking Opportunities: Build connections with attendees for future collaborations, partnerships, and joint educational initiatives.
  • Institutional Impact: Bring conference learnings to your home campus to help influence policies, contribute to sustainability efforts, and integrate climate change topics into broader educational and research agendas. 


Higher Education Leaders

  • Educational Innovation and Leadership: Gain a deeper understanding of how educational initiatives can be designed and implemented to foster climate literacy and action to prepare students to engage with climate challenges effectively.
  • Influence on Policy and Practice: Gain insights into emerging trends and effective strategies for institutional policy-making to help shape your campus policies with best practices in sustainability and climate action. 
  • Networking and Collaboration: Forge valuable partnerships with thought leaders, researchers, and policymakers, explore collaborative projects, and gain access to a network of experts who can support and enhance your institution’s climate initiatives. 
  • Institutional Reputation and Student Engagement: Come prepared to discuss how your institution is committed to climate action and gain new perspectives on how to foster a campus culture that is engaged and proactive in addressing climate issues. 
  • Equitable Solutions and Inclusivity: Understand the intersectionality of climate change with social justice issues to help your institution lead in creating inclusive and fair solutions, both within the campus community and in broader societal contexts. 


Study Abroad Professionals

  • Enhanced Program Development: Understand the global impacts of climate change to design programs that address climate issues from a cross-cultural perspective.
  • Cultural Sensitivity and Relevance: Explore cultural dimensions to better tailor programs to reflect the local context of the host countries and ensure students gain a nuanced understanding of how climate change interacts with cultural practices and local challenges. 
  • Educational Innovation: Develop innovative approaches to climate education to enhance your programs and promote climate awareness among students. 
  • Global Perspective: Gain a broader perspective on how different countries are addressing climate challenges and how international collaboration can be fostered. 
  • Networking Opportunities: Build new relationships with conference attendees for potential partnerships, collaborative projects, and opportunities to expand meaningful student international experiences related to climate action. 
  • Institutional Impact: Apply your conference learnings to the development of study abroad programs, integrating climate change as a key component of global education initiatives and promoting sustainability within your institution. 


Policymakers

  • Informed Policy Development: Gain a comprehensive overview of the latest scientific research, cultural insights, and policy frameworks related to climate change to craft more informed, effective, and evidence-based climate policies. 
  • Integrating Science and Policy: Discover the latest advancements and emerging trends in climate science to shape policies that are both scientifically sound and practical in addressing climate challenges.
  • Cultural and Social Dimensions: Understand how different populations experience and respond to climate issues and apply this knowledge to developing policies that are equitable and inclusive, ensuring that solutions address the needs of all communities. 
  • Enhancing Educational Initiatives: Learn about successful educational programs and initiatives to support and expand climate education efforts and foster a more informed and proactive public that can contribute to effective climate policies. 
  • Strengthening Collaboration: Network with industry experts to facilitate collaboration, share best practices, and potentially lead to joint initiatives that enhance the effectiveness of climate policies and programs. 
  • Public and Stakeholder Engagement: Understand the intersection of education, culture, and policy to design communication strategies that resonate with different audiences and garner broader support for climate initiatives. 
  • Evaluating Policy Impact: Explore how education can improve climate action and use this understanding to evaluate current policies and identify areas for improvement.


Community Activists

  • Deepening Understanding of Climate Science: Enhance your ability to advocate for evidence-based solutions and effectively communicate the urgency and impact of climate issues within your community. 
  • Cultural and Social Context: Understand how climate change affects different cultures and communities and develop a broader perspective to address the unique needs and challenges faced by diverse populations in your advocacy efforts. 
  • Influencing Policy through Knowledge: Gain insights into how policies are formulated and implemented to better influence local and national climate policies, advocate for more equitable and impactful measures, and work more effectively with policymakers. 
  • Leveraging Educational Initiatives: Develop the tools and ideas needed to enhance climate education efforts in your own community, empowering individuals for effective climate action. 
  • Building Networks: Connect with researchers, fellow activists, and educators for potential collaborations, sharing of best practices, and support for community-based initiatives, amplifying your impact. 
  • Strategic Advocacy: Understand the intersections between science, culture, and policy to tailor your campaigns more effectively, address gaps in current efforts, and mobilize community action more strategically. 
  • Empowering Your Community: Explore the scientific, cultural, and policy aspects of climate change to equip your community with increased awareness, stronger grassroots support, and more effective collective action on climate issues.