The IDEAS (Increase and Diversify Education Abroad for U.S. Students) Program is designed to increase and diversify American student mobility in support of U.S. foreign policy goals. It is imperative that our next generation of leaders – American students of all backgrounds – engage internationally to foster mutual understanding and develop critical skills in support of U.S. national security and economic competitiveness. The program expands the institutional capacity of U.S. colleges and universities to Increase and Diversify Education Abroad for U.S. Students through IDEAS grants and capacity building initiatives for the wider U.S. study abroad community.
The 2023 IDEAS grant competition has concluded. Applicants can expect to receive an update on their proposal status in June 2023. The next IDEAS grant competition will open in fall 2023, pending funding from the U.S. Government.
The U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs’ (ECA) 2023 IDEAS grant competition assists U.S. colleges and universities in creating, diversifying, and/or expanding their study abroad programming in support of U.S. foreign policy goals.
The two-phase 2023 grant competition will award approximately 30 grants of up to $35,000 each to accredited colleges and universities. This cycle will also pilot an opportunity for consortia of U.S. colleges and universities to apply for additional funding for collaborative projects focused on building capacity at higher education institutions serving Indigenous peoples of the United States. Approximately one IDEAS consortium grant of up to $50,000 will be awarded in this category.
Phase One of the competition was open from October 26, 2022 through December 16, 2022. Semi-finalists were announced on February 6, 2023. Phase Two was open between February 6 and April 14, 2023. Finalists will be announced in late June 2023. More details can be found in the Apply section of this website. For examples of how grant funding has been be used, review the Grantee Profiles.
The IDEAS Program also offers U.S. colleges and universities opportunities to participate in a series of study abroad capacity building activities, both virtual and in-person, to help create, expand, or diversify their study abroad programs. See here for more details and registration links upcoming capacity building events and trainings.
The IDEAS grant competition and capacity building initiatives are open to all accredited U.S. colleges and universities. The program seeks to engage the full diversity of U.S. higher education, including community colleges and Minority Serving Institutions.
The IDEAS (Increase and Diversify Education Abroad for U.S. Students) Program is a program of the U.S. Department of State with funding provided by the U.S. Government and supported in its implementation by World Learning.
The IDEAS (Increase and Diversify Education Abroad for U.S. Students) Program is a program of the U.S. Department of State with funding provided by the U.S. Government and supported in its implementation by World Learning.