Today we are featuring Shannon Bishop, the Senior Program Manager, Membership and Higher Education Services at IIE. 

1. Tell us a little more about the Institute of International Education and its mission. 

An independent nonprofit founded in 1919, the Institute of International Education (IIE) is among the world's largest and most experienced international education and training organizations. We are committed to delivering program excellence to a diverse range of participants, sponsors, and donors.  Our mission is four-fold:

1. Promoting closer educational relations between the people of the United States and those of other countries.

2. Strengthening and linking institutions of higher learning globally.

3. Rescuing threatened scholars and advancing academic freedom.

4. Building leadership skills and enhancing the capacity of individuals and organizations to address local and global challenges.

Through the more than 200 programs managed by our 19 global offices, we create opportunities for people to live in and learn about other societies and cultures.  We do this work in belief that people with this experience are likely to work together across borders to solve problems in their own countries and worldwide, and are unlikely to advocate violence in response to differences among people.

 As a key part of our mission, IIE is working to increase the number and diversity of American students who go abroad and to encourage study in places of growing strategic importance to the United States.

 2. What is your role at IIE and how did you get involved?

I initially came to IIE as an intern in the Membership and Higher Education Services Division as part of my master’s coursework at Columbia University.  After finishing the internship, I applied for a job in the same division and have worked here since. 

 Among other activities, our team is very active in promoting study abroad and helping students and educators get the information they need.  IIE has developed an online study abroad portal, www.iie.org/studyabroad, which provides a single point of entry to access valuable study abroad information, including news coverage, academic articles and research, fact sheets, and dates and deadlines for major scholarship and fellowship programs.  Through our IIEPassport print and online directories and related materials, we help students find programs and choose destinations that meet their needs.

 Our team also manages the IIENetwork Membership Association, a professional membership association for colleges and universities that are active in international education.  We have more than 1,000 member institutions around the world.  Our main focus is to supply IIENetwork members with the resources and services they need to stay up to date with the latest trends, developments, and statistics in international educational exchange.  This includes organizing IIE’s annual Best Practices Conference and our Andrew Heiskell Awards for Innovation in International Education, writing and editing various publications that go out to our members (IIEPassport directories, Funding for U.S. Study, IIENetworker magazine), putting together a weekly online newsletter, and maintaining several websites (iiepassport.org, fundingusstudy.org, studyabroadfunding.org).   For more information about IIENetwork, please visit www.iienetwork.org.

 3. IIE does research on student mobility and administers the Fulbright Program, the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program, and the National Security Education Program David L. Boren Scholarships and Fellowships on behalf of the U.S. Department of State.   What are some of IIE’s more less-known initiatives that students might not be aware of?

The Fulbright, Gilman and Boren programs are some of the largest and best-known scholarship and fellowships that help students to gain international experience and expertise, and we encourage all interested students to consider applying for these excellent opportunities.

IIE also administers other programs that provide funding or opportunities for study abroad, such as the Whitaker International Fellows and Scholars Program competition for biomedical engineers, and the Global Engineering Education Exchange (Global E³), an international exchange program for engineering students at member institutions. The program offers the opportunity for American students to study in one of 17 countries overseas, and for international students at partner campuses to study in the United States.

In addition to working with study abroad students and with colleges and universities that are active in international education, IIE also helps scholars and professionals around the globe.  One unique program is IIE’s Scholar Rescue Fund (SRF), which was launched in 2002 and provides fellowships for established scholars whose lives and work are threatened in their home countries. These fellowships permit professors, researchers and other senior academics to find temporary refuge at universities and colleges anywhere in the world, enabling them to pursue their academic work and to continue to share their knowledge with students, colleagues, and the community at large. During the fellowship, conditions in a scholar’s home country may improve, permitting safe return to help rebuild universities and societies ravaged by fear, conflict and repression. If safe return is not possible, the scholar may use the fellowship period to identify a longer-term opportunity.  For more information on the Scholar Rescue Fund, please visit: www.scholarrescuefund.org.

Another interesting initiative is the Women in Technology Program (WIT).  Funded by the Middle East Partnership Initiative and with support from Microsoft Corporation, WIT has trained over 5,000 women and built the capacity of more than 50 local women’s organizations in nine countries in the Middle East.  Hundreds of WIT participants have secured employment and internships in local companies, academic institutions and government ministries.  WIT participants are forming Professional Development Networks, which organize events relevant to their members and women in their communities such as breast cancer awareness drives, guest lectures, and job fairs.  WIT Partner Organizations use the Business Planning for Sustainability Training they receive through WIT to expand their centers and to operate WIT training centers on a cost recovery model.  To learn more about WIT and other IIE-administered programs, please visit: www.iie.org. 

4. In the past ten years, there has been a significant increase in the number of American students choosing to study abroad, what do you think are some of the reasons that have inspired this change?

According to the 2008 Open Doors Report on International Educational Exchange, the number of American students receiving academic credit for their overseas academic experience has increased close to 150%, from under 100,000 in 1996/97 to nearly a quarter of a million in 2006/07.

This increase is fueled in part by an increase in new program opportunities, partnerships between higher education institutions in the United States and abroad, and a range of fields and program durations to accommodate the needs of an increasingly diverse study abroad population.  In addition, students realize they must acquire intercultural skills to make themselves marketable in this increasingly global economy. 

We at the Institute of International Education believe that students and educators are recognizing that the experiences afforded through study abroad provide American students with the skills needed to live in today’s world.  According to IIE President Allan Goodman, “International experience needs to be a component of every student’s education, equipping them for 21st century careers and for global citizenship.” The Institute of International Education is working with campuses and sponsors to ensure that this experience is increasingly available to all students, including those who previously would not have had the means or the opportunity to go abroad.

5. Countries in South America and Asia have seen particularly large   increases in study abroad participants, what are some of the reasons you attribute this to?

The increasing prominence of Latino culture in the United States has played no small role in promoting this region of the world.  In addition, as fluency in the Spanish language has become a marketable and practical skill to have in the U.S., South America provides the perfect environment for students to hone their Spanish skills. 

According to Open Doors 2008, students electing to study in Asia increased by 20% I 2006/2007.  This increase reflects the growing role Asia is playing in the world economy and students’ desire to gain language and cultural experience in this region.  In addition, both South American and Asian destinations tend to be less expensive than their European counterparts.

Seventeen of the 20 leading destinations of U.S. study abroad students reported in Open Doors 2008 witnessed increases in the number of American students studying in their countries. Campuses reported significant percentage increases of students studying in Ecuador, South Africa, Argentina, China and India. You can see all the leading destinations on the Open Doors website at www.opendoors.iienetwork.org.

6. Are there any funding resources you can recommend for students to study abroad, particularly in this tough economic time?

One resource that might be helpful is StudyAbroadFunding.org.  This online directory lists hundreds of scholarships and grants available to American student for study abroad in all countries around the world.  The directory is searchable by country or subject to help students tailor their search.  Students should also set up an appointment with their study abroad advisor at their institution.  The study abroad advisor will know where students have found funding in the past and whether there is any available funding provided by the institution. 

7. What would you tell a student who is thinking about studying abroad, but is hesitant due to the economic atmosphere?

More than ever, students need to carefully research study abroad programs before they go and consider all possible options.  For example, instead of studying abroad in Spain, how about studying in South America?  Destinations in South America on the whole tend to be less expensive than those in Europe.  Instead of studying abroad in a big city like Paris, consider a smaller town in the French countryside.  Chances are, the cost of living will be less in a small town and you’ll learn more French. 

 Students should also look for ways to cut down on expenses when overseas.  Think about staying with a host family instead of renting an apartment.  Also, discuss your budget with your parents before you go and stick to it.  Most importantly, make sure you have a good understanding of the exchange rate before you start spending.  Some students have found it easiest to keep track of money by withdrawing a designated amount of cash each week from an ATM and avoid using a credit card.

8.  Did you study abroad or have an international experience that shaped your career?

Absolutely.  I went to Venezuela as a Rotary Exchange student the year after I graduated high school.  This first experience not only made college Spanish a breeze, but also made me realize that I wanted a career in international relations.  In college, I studied abroad in Spain and Mexico and did research for my senior thesis in Peru.  After graduation, I decided to go on the JET Program and spent two years in Japan teaching English in a rural village.  My study abroad experiences set me apart from my peers and gave me the global skills and confidence to work in any international environment.  I still use the life lessons I learned living abroad on a daily basis in every aspect of my life.

     9. Are there any books or websites you would recommend to students thinking of going abroad?

The iiepassport.org website has a very thorough Student Center, including downloadable Destination of the Month brochures that give an overview of why various countries would make a good study abroad destination.  The Student Guide, also on the iiepassport.org site, answers a variety of frequently asked questions pertaining to study abroad including how to stay healthy while abroad, what to expect when you arrive, and how to manage your money. 

I also recommend that students read travel essays and novels pertaining to their study abroad destination before they leave.  Literature provides an introduction to life, culture and history in the country and students will appreciate it even more once you have lived in a country for a few months.  If you’re planning to study in India, try reading City of Djinns by William Dalrymple.  If you’re headed to China, read Rivertown by Peter Hessler.  If you’re headed to South America, read something by Marquez or Allende.  Students may also want to set Google or Yahoo email alerts to notify them about current events happening in their study abroad destination. 

10.What can you not travel without?

My black sweater, my watch, and my camera.  And don’t forget to get a passport!

More about IIE:

Founded in 1919, the Institute of International Education (IIE) is the world’s most experienced global higher education and professional exchange agency. Among the IIE-administered programs are the Fulbright Program, the Humphrey mid-career fellowships, the Ford Foundation International Fellowship Program, and many other programs sponsored by foundations, governments, corporations, and international development agencies.

The educational exchange programs, information services, publications and websites, and services to the member institutions form the core of IIE services in its commitment to increasing mutual understanding through international education and exchange.

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