The 2021 Increase and Diversify Education Abroad for U.S. Students grants have been awarded by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, and its implementing partner, World Learning.
“The US Department of State is committed to expanding study abroad opportunities for Americans of all backgrounds”
Winning institutions represent public and private institutions from 20 states, including five community colleges and nine minority serving institutions.
These US colleges and universities will receive funding and programmatic support to help build and strengthen their capacity to send more American students overseas.
“The US Department of State is committed to expanding study abroad opportunities for Americans of all backgrounds studying at colleges and universities across the United States,” said Heidi Manley, USA Study Abroad chief at the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.
“Americans studying abroad serve as citizen ambassadors by building relationships within their host communities, demonstrating American values, and countering stereotypes. They also gain critical job skills abroad that in turn benefit their home communities.
“We are committed to continuing our strong support for US colleges and universities as they build their study abroad capacity now, in anticipation of a strong return to US student mobility in the future.”
IDEAS grants aim to increase the capacity of accredited US colleges and universities to create, expand, and diversify study abroad programs for US students.
Funded projects will help support new international partnerships and programs, training faculty and staff in program development and implementation, creating resources to “engage diverse student groups in study abroad” and developing virtual exchanges.
“Once international travel resumes in full, these IDEAS grant recipients will be better equipped to deliver impactful and inclusive study abroad programs around the globe,” the US Department of State said in a statement.
The full list of institutions that have been picked for funding can be seen here.