Academic Excellence

We're an Academic Leader in Study Abroad

Our mission is simple: to provide students with the best study abroad and internship programs possible—which includes the highest quality academic and cultural experiences.

Since our start in 1950, we have built a reputation for an emphasis on top-notch academics. We consistently refine what it means to be an international education organization, often creating innovations that are the first of their kind. With annual program assessments, student evaluations, and even the prestigious Quality Improvement Process certification, our programs are unique. All programs are overseen by an in-house academic team comprised of highly-qualified global thinkers, many of whom have PhDs. What's more is that we also value the input and thoughtful eye of our Academic Council and Curriculum committee, which is made up of IES Abroad colleagues and elected members of our academic consortium schools.

One of the most ground-breaking innovations to come out of our own academic team is the IES Abroad MAP Series: a rigorous system of assessment that set the standard for all study abroad programs in the field. Sharing these high standards with the field at large is just one way we contribute to the international education community. As a leader in the field, we believe in sharing our wealth of knowledge to strengthen study abroad for all students as a whole and ultimately transform international education for the better.

What Sets Us Apart

From the prestigious QUIP designation for international education organizations to our partnership with world-renowned institutions, we set the standard for academic excellence in the field. But we don't stop there. On top of our award-winning faculty, every semester, we continue to develop and refine our portfolio of programmatic offerings through rigorous student evaluations.

Recognized Quality

The prestigious Quality Improvement Process (QUIP 2A) designation from the Forum on Education Abroad is received by an organization that meets the highest standards of quality in the field.

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Valued Partners

We're proud to partner with more than 275 prestigious U.S. colleges and universities, nearly 100 distinguished international institutions, and top organizations from the study abroad field.

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Award-Winning Colleagues

Our faculty and staff across the globe embrace curricular innovation, model global citizenship, and create lifechanging experiences for our students.

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Student Evaluation

Because we put students first, every term we survey all students about their academic and personal experiences while on their program, and uses that to inform programmatic improvements.

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Academic Leadership

Based at our headquarters in Chicago, the Academic Department works closely and directly with the academic consortium to develop programming and maintain program and curriculum excellence. Our Academic Department features an organizational structure similar to that of colleges and universities.

Provost & Associate Vice Presidents for Academic Affairs

Our Provost & Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs (based out of our Headquarters in Chicago) is dedicated to ensuring our continued academic excellence—managing the team of US-based Associate Vice Presidents within the Academic Affairs department, as well as the global Center Directors.

Multiple Ph.D. staff members focus on new program creation and assessment, and on identifying new opportunities in international higher education. These academic leaders develop protocols for assessing programs, such as the IES Abroad MAP for Study Abroad Programs, and serve as the final judge in student grade appeals. Senior academic department staff also determine the best use of educational technology in our classrooms.

Meet Our Staff

Center Directors

As local leaders of academic programs at our locations, Center Directors work in close collaboration with Assistant/Associate Vice President for Academic Programs to develop academic programs and ensure their optimal performance. This is accomplished through consistent monitoring of syllabi, reviews of all student and program evaluation results, and recommendations of new curricula designs.

In addition to developing curricula, many Center Directors are also degreed academicians and teach IES Abroad courses in their field. The vast majority are natives of the countries where their programs are located. They also identify and partner with leading universities and institutions in the host country.

Meet Our Center Directors

Faculty-Led Programs

Associate, Senior Associate, and Assistant Vice Presidents

Working with internationally-based Center Directors, our Associate, Senior Associate, and Assistant Vice Presidents help identify and hire the finest, most experienced faculty, safeguard academic policies, and conduct strategic planning for the programs operating at those Centers. They also regularly monitor course syllabi.

Our Assistant/Associate Vice President for Academic Programs have advanced degrees and extensive international education experience. Assistant/Associate Vice President for Academic Programs also direct all program and Center reviews, leading review teams comprising faculty and staff from our consortium schools and IES Abroad staff members. Assistant/Associate Vice President for Academic Programs also serve as liaisons to other IES Abroad departments to ensure that academic quality is at the forefront of all services.

Registrar

Our Faculty

We have more than 500 faculty members selected for their world-class academic and professional qualifications and achievements. To enhance our students’ cultural experience and linguistic development, faculty and staff at our Centers are composed primarily of local experts and scholars working in the community.

Many of our instructors are chaired professors at local universities and have published extensively in their fields. Many are well-known journalists, novelists, or public intellectuals in their countries. Most have Ph.D.s or the international equivalent from foreign or Western universities, and all IES Abroad faculty members are uniquely skilled in cross-cultural instruction.

Provost & Associate Vice Presidents for Academic Affairs

Our Provost & Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs (based out of our Headquarters in Chicago) is dedicated to ensuring our continued academic excellence—managing the team of US-based Associate Vice Presidents within the Academic Affairs department, as well as the global Center Directors.

Multiple Ph.D. staff members focus on new program creation and assessment, and on identifying new opportunities in international higher education. These academic leaders develop protocols for assessing programs, such as the IES Abroad MAP for Study Abroad Programs, and serve as the final judge in student grade appeals. Senior academic department staff also determine the best use of educational technology in our classrooms.

Meet Our Staff

Associate, Senior Associate, and Assistant Vice Presidents

Working with internationally-based Center Directors, our Associate, Senior Associate, and Assistant Vice Presidents help identify and hire the finest, most experienced faculty, safeguard academic policies, and conduct strategic planning for the programs operating at those Centers. They also regularly monitor course syllabi.

Our Assistant/Associate Vice President for Academic Programs have advanced degrees and extensive international education experience. Assistant/Associate Vice President for Academic Programs also direct all program and Center reviews, leading review teams comprising faculty and staff from our consortium schools and IES Abroad staff members. Assistant/Associate Vice President for Academic Programs also serve as liaisons to other IES Abroad departments to ensure that academic quality is at the forefront of all services.

Center Directors

As local leaders of academic programs at our locations, Center Directors work in close collaboration with Assistant/Associate Vice President for Academic Programs to develop academic programs and ensure their optimal performance. This is accomplished through consistent monitoring of syllabi, reviews of all student and program evaluation results, and recommendations of new curricula designs.

In addition to developing curricula, many Center Directors are also degreed academicians and teach IES Abroad courses in their field. The vast majority are natives of the countries where their programs are located. They also identify and partner with leading universities and institutions in the host country.

Meet Our Center Directors

Registrar

Faculty-Led Programs

Our Faculty

We have more than 500 faculty members selected for their world-class academic and professional qualifications and achievements. To enhance our students’ cultural experience and linguistic development, faculty and staff at our Centers are composed primarily of local experts and scholars working in the community.

Many of our instructors are chaired professors at local universities and have published extensively in their fields. Many are well-known journalists, novelists, or public intellectuals in their countries. Most have Ph.D.s or the international equivalent from foreign or Western universities, and all IES Abroad faculty members are uniquely skilled in cross-cultural instruction.

Award-Winning Faculty

We have remarkable colleagues across the globe who help foster meaningful study abroad experiences for our students. The IES Abroad Center Awards are given to faculty and staff to recognize the way they embody our mission of educating global citizens and demonstrate exceptional dedication to enhancing the student’s journey.

A man smiling in a white shirt and black vest with his hands clasped.

Excellence in Teaching

Bertrand Pineau • IES Abroad Nantes

This award is given in recognition of dedicated, creative, and inspirational teaching to an instructor recognized by students, peers, and staff as going above and beyond in the classroom. Bertrand has achieved outstanding accomplishments through his one-of-a-kind Theater Production course at IES Abroad Nantes in which he writes or adapts a new, unique play tailored to match his students each semester. His commitment to creating a welcoming, safe, and non-judgmental space allows for a truly transformative classroom. At the end of each semester, students report tremendous progress in their language expression and self-confidence.

Faculty Innovation

Maite Aparicio • IES Abroad Granada

This award recognizes someone who demonstrates curricular innovation in the content of their courses, their teaching methods, and throughout the study abroad experience in general. Maite is a constant, dependable presence in her students’ academic lives. Her dynamic curriculum centers the student through hands-on, project-based learning, which fosters engagement and creates a safe space for students to express themselves in Spanish. She has led many invaluable initiatives at the IES Abroad Granada Center and has served as a jury member for our Study Abroad Film Festival.

Global Good Staff Service

Ángel López • IES Abroad Madrid

This award is given to an outstanding staff member at an IES Abroad Center who has served the organization in invaluable ways, modeling the kind of global citizenship that and dedication to our mission that we hope to see in our students. Ángel is a vital member of our IES Abroad Madrid Center staff. Through his unwavering dedication, professionalism, and kindness over the past 21 years, Ángel has fostered a work environment that prioritizes inclusion, diversity, cooperation, and communication. His substantial impact on the IES Abroad Madrid Center is felt by the entire faculty.

Academic Excellence

We're an Academic Leader in Study Abroad

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