Institute for the International Education of Students

Institute for the International Education of Students
Founder(s) Paul Koutney, Clarence Giese, Alberta Giese
Type Not-for-profit
(IRS exemption status): 501(c)(3))
Founded 1950[1]
Location Chicago, IL, Headquarters
Key people Dr. Mary Dwyer
President & CEO
Area served Global
Focus Education, Study Abroad, Intercultural leadership
Employees 250+
Formerly called The Institute of European Studies
Website www.IESabroad.org
Member of NAFSA, Forum on education abroad, and Diversity Abroad

The Institute for the International Education of Students, or IES Abroad, is a non-profit study abroad organization that administers study abroad programs for U.S. college-aged students. Founded in 1950 as the Institute for European Studies, the organization has since been renamed to reflect additional offerings in Africa, Asia, Australia, New Zealand, and South America. The organization now provides nearly 100 programs in 34 different cities. Over 80,000 students have studied abroad on IES Abroad programs since its founding, with more than 5,000 students studying abroad each year.[1]

IES Abroad is recognized for its Academic Consortium, composed of over 185 high-quality academic institutions. In addition, IES Abroad offers up to $2.5 million in scholarships to help finance qualified students abroad.[2] In accordance with its mission and vision statement, IES Abroad provides "the highest quality education" and highlights cultural immersion through the use of homestays and field trips to “[promote] the development of interculturally-competent leaders.”[3] IES Abroad’s services include pre-departure advising, visa assistance, alumni mentors, and safety plans at Centers abroad.[4] IES Abroad has a diversity initiative[5] and a green initiative.[6]

IES Abroad’s current marketing campaign is based around the concept of “your World [redefined].” IES Abroad markets study abroad as a typical college experience, redefined by one's new geographic location. Students are encouraged to submit photos of how study abroad has [redefined] them.

Contents

History

IES Abroad offered its first program in September 1950, when Paul Koutney, an Austrian student living in the U.S. on a Fulbright scholarship, brought American students to live and study in Vienna, Austria for a year. Two of the students from the original program, newlyweds Clarence and Alberta Giese, returned after the program inspired to help other students study abroad. From their Chicago home, they worked with Koutney to recruit more students and send them abroad.

IES Abroad led the study abroad field in many important firsts, including formalized program reviews to ensure that programs met academic standards, appointment of a Dean of Students in charge of student safety and well-being, and offering customized programs. IES is well-regarded for Model Assessment Practice (IES Abroad MAP), a tool with which to evaluate study abroad programs. In 2010, it was the first third-party provider to receive the Forum on Education Abroad’s Category 2b Quality Improvement Designation.[7]

Notable Alumni

Programs

IES offers programs in the following locations:

Africa

South Africa

IES Abroad Cape Town course offerings include a field experience placement, in addition to a wide array of classes about North African culture and history. The summer program is for students who are considering pursuing a career in a health-related field.

Morocco

Undergraduate students can take classes at IES Abroad center, a partner university, or participate in internships for credit.

Asia

China

Undergraduate level students from US institutions can enroll in one of two for-credit programs at the IES Abroad Beijing Center. The Language Intensive Program (LI) provides students with 20 hours of language study per week along with area studies classes. The Contemporary Issues Program (CI) concentrates on specialized 300 level English language taught courses like China's Environmental Challenges and Media and the Rise of Civil Society in China. Both programs travel extensively throughout China taking students to areas such as Kashgar, Xinjiang and Shangri-la in Yunnan province. The center is located at Beijing Foreign Studies University and was established in 1990.
Students can study either Environmental Studies or Southeast Asian Development during the summer and use resources at Kunming University.
IES Abroad Shanghai consists of three options: a language-intensive track, a Business track, or a track that highlights 21st Century Chinese culture, economy, and growth.

India

IES Abroad Delhi focuses on contemporary India in its cultural and historical context.

Japan

This direct enrollment program allows students to enroll at Nanzan University’s Center for Japanese Studies to learn the Japanese language.
The IES Abroad Tokyo Program consists of two separate programs, a language intensive program at Meikai University in Shin-Urayasu, Chiba, and a Japanese culture program at Kanda University in Kaihinmakuhari, Chiba.

Europe

Austria

Vienna is the site of the first IES Abroad program. Some students may participate in a European Society and Culture course, whereas others might focus on the Music program and take advantage of the rich “city of Music” and its history.

England

IES Abroad London has the largest array of programs. Offerings include direct enrollment at a variety of universities, including City University, Courtauld Institute of Art, Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts, Queen Mary University of London, the School of Oriental and African Studies, Slade School of Fine Art, and University College London; a health studies program (with joint lectures at the University of Oxford); and a theatre studies program. In the summer, there are internship offerings and a UK Today program which emphasizes London culture.
Students study at St. Catherine’s College at the University of Oxford.

France

The summer program in Arles requires students to have at least four semesters of college-level French. Students participate in language-intensive lunches throughout the week and courses are taught in French.
IES Abroad Nantes is a language intensive program that introduces students to contemporary France and its role in the European Union through classes and for-credit internships.
IES Abroad Paris has programs in Business and International Affairs and French Language Intensives.

Germany

IES Abroad Berlin consists of a language and area studies program and a metropolitan studies program.
Freiburg Language and Area studies program students must have a background in college-level German. Environmental Studies and sustainability students will use the Black Forest and nearby Swiss Alps in their studies.
The IES Abroad European Union program is a multi-country program based in Freiburg. Students participate in internships (in the Spring), many field studies and field trips, German language courses, and courses about the EU today.

Ireland

IES Abroad Dublin Irish General Studies students can take courses from a wide variety of disciplines about Ireland, can choose a Peace and Conflict Studies Concentration, or can directly enroll in programs at Dublin City University, Trinity College Dublin, or Gaiety School of Acting, The National Theatre School of Ireland. An internship program is offered in the summer.

Italy

There are no language requirements for IES Abroad Milan, but students must study Italian while abroad. Special music opportunities are available for instrumentalists, vocalists, composers, and Music Performance majors.
Students studying with IES Abroad in Rome can participate in the Italian Studies program, which combines cultural studies and language studies, or community-based learning and internships. Those with sufficient Italian skills may also study at some of Rome’s leading universities, such as Universita degla Studi Roma Tre, Universita deli Studi di Roma 1 “La Sapienza”, and Rome University of Fine Arts.
Siena students can take IES Abroad courses on Italian culture, economy, history, literature, sociology, and politics.

Netherlands

Amsterdam students can take classes at the IES Abroad Amsterdam Center or directly enroll at either the Conservatorium van Amsterdam or Gerrit Rietveld Academie.

Spain

Two different programs are offered through IES Abroad Barcelona: Liberal Arts and Business and Advanced Studies Spanish. Students are encouraged to also take courses at one of IES Abroad’s partner universities: Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Universitat Ramon Llull, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona, or Universitat de Barcelona.
Students can participate in either an Intermediate Spanish Program or Advanced Spanish program. Two semesters of college-level Spanish at minimum are required.
IES Abroad Madrid Language and Area Studies program offers a comprehensive look at modern Spain. The IES Abroad Madrid Engineering Program allows engineering students to take courses at Universidad Carlos III.
IES Abroad Salamanca is an entirely Spanish-taught program and many students enroll in at least one additional course at the Universidad de Salamanca or Universidad Pontifica de Salamanca. Political science internships are offered in the fall and education internships are offered in the spring.

Oceania

Australia

IES Abroad Melbourne is a direct enrollment program where students can enroll at La Trobe University or University of Melbourne.
IES Abroad Melbourne is a direct enrollment program where students can enroll at Macquarie University, the University of New South Wales, or The University of Sydney.

New Zealand

IES Abroad Auckland is a direct enrollment program where students enroll at the University of Auckland.
IES Abroad Christchurch is a direct enrollment program where students enroll at the University of Canterbury.

South America

Argentina

Beginning, Intermediate, Advanced, and Advanced Honors Spanish Language programs are offered through IES Abroad Buenos Aires.

Chile

The IES Abroad Santiago program has internship and service-learning options. All students participate in homestays. There is also a Summer Health Studies Program.

Costa Rica

Ecuador

IES Abroad Galapagos Islands is a direct enrollment program where students enroll at the Galapagos Academic Institute for the Arts and Sciences, a part of the Universidad de San Francisco de Quito.
IES Abroad offers an area studies and language program or the option to directly enroll at the Univerisidad de San Francisco de Quito.

See also

External links

References

  1. ^ a b https://www.iesabroad.org/IES/About_IES/aboutIES.html
  2. ^ https://www.iesabroad.org/IES/Scholarships_and_Aid/financialAid.html
  3. ^ https://www.iesabroad.org/IES/About_IES/mission.html
  4. ^ https://www.iesabroad.org/IES/About_IES/whyIES.html
  5. ^ https://www.iesabroad.org/IES/Diversity/diversity.html
  6. ^ https://www.iesabroad.org/IES/About_IES/GoGreenInitiative.html
  7. ^ https://www.iesabroad.org/IES/About_IES/IES_News/Articles/newsArticle0156.html?print=y