About IIE

International Education for All

IIE’s commitment to creating a more peaceful world through exchange, now and throughout our history, is a critical part of our effort to engage thoughtfully with all of our internal and external constituents around the world, and reaffirms our deep commitment to these principles. And while IIE has worked for over a century to build a more peaceful, equitable world, we recognize that there is much work yet to do. We support programs with a universal commitment to multiculturalism and international understanding and cooperation.

Three interlocking circles with "Action & Accountability; Cultural Competency & Awareness; and Education & Engagement" written inside them.

In 2020, we took deliberate steps to formalize practices that foster accountability and purpose both within our organization and in our external engagements. This effort resulted in a comprehensive strategy centered on three core areas: Action & Accountability, Cultural Awareness, and Education & Engagement. By focusing on these priorities, we aim to achieve measurable progress across five key domains: Talent, Work, Governance, Opportunity, and Training. Over the past year, we have made significant advancements, laying a strong foundation for continued growth and progress.

Actions We’ve Taken:

  • Established principles of equity and inclusion as a foundational pillar in our five-year strategic plan.Continued annual workplace training, ensuring all team members and Board members actively participate.Launched employee affinity groups to provide a platform of support and provide IIE with feedback to help drive positive change within the organization
  • Organized virtual roundtables and forums to explore topics such as race, bias, and understanding personal triggers.Provided specialized training to foster an environment where all team members feel valued and included.
  • Created recruitment tools and training programs for hiring managers and candidates to enhance equitable hiring practices.
  • Partnered with organizations aligned with our values to address gaps in access and representation within international education.
  • Launched and coordinated the National Academy for International Education, galvanizing a group of distinguished thinkers to shape and advance international higher education.
  • Launched the Center for Access and Equity to deepen our commitment to fairness and ensure our values guide current and future programs that support the experience of international  exchange and education for everyone.

Partnerships:

IIE’s efforts to engage our internal and external environment thru the convening of thought leaders and practitioners worldwide is integral to our core mission. 

  • IIE partnered with Dickinson College to launch a virtual workshop series that combines the strengths of both institutions. This collaboration leverages shared expertise and global networks to develop new frameworks for international education that emphasize cross-cultural understanding and fairness. IIE and Dickinson hosted workshops exploring the connections between intercultural learning and global education while addressing practical strategies for professionals to implement changes on their campuses and within their organizations. These virtual and in-person events have brought together 300+ participants from 90+ institutions across multiple countries.
  • An expanded series of workshops has continued over the past years bringing together educators, researchers, and students across different countries,  disciplines and cultures to develop collaborative approaches for fostering trust and building bridges in international education. 
  • ‘How do you know you are meeting your Global DEI Outcomes?: Assessing and Communicating Impact‘ (2022): Conducted in December 2022, IIE and Dickinson designed this virtual workshop to help demystify the process of assessment and evaluation by providing creative ideas, a roadmap and case studies so that participants can develop or enhance their own strategies. One of the more daunting elements of Global DEI work at our institutions and organizations can be how we assess and communicate our progress. It takes a great deal of time and energy to do the work of making our institutions, offices, programs, policies, and practices more inclusive and equitable, so we often neglect the important work of assessing and communicating our progress. What do we mean by assessment? A better understanding of the data and stories one may already have and what one may still need to set goals and outcomes and measure progress.