About

The Increase and Diversify Education Abroad for U.S. Students (IDEAS) 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 initiative seeks to increase the capacity of higher education institutions to grow and diversify study abroad programs for U.S. students through the provision of small grants and capacity building initiatives.

In collaboration with the U.S. Department of State, World Learning manages a competitive review process to annually award grants of up to $35,000 to selected U.S. colleges and universities. The program will also offer U.S. colleges and universities opportunities to participate in a series of study abroad capacity building initiatives, both virtual and in-person, to help create, expand, or diversify their study abroad programs.

PROGRAM BENEFITS

The grants are designed to assist U.S. higher education institutions to expand and diversify U.S. student mobility overseas. U.S higher education institutions will increase institutional study abroad capacity and will create, expand and/or diversify study abroad programming. The grant competition is open to U.S. institutions of higher education that have a broad range of capacity to administer study abroad programs. Institutions that currently have no or limited experience administering study abroad programs as well as those with established programs are eligible to apply for grant funding. Community college and minority-serving institutions are encouraged to apply. For example, grant recipients can use their awarded funds to:

• Create a faculty-led study abroad program,
• Create a new study abroad position at the college or university,
• Develop study abroad resources, programs, or materials targeting student groups underrepresented in study abroad. This may include but is not limited to students who are racial/ethnic minorities, students in underrepresented majors, students with disabilities, or students from institutions and/or states/territories with traditionally low study abroad numbers,
• Form or further develop relationships with universities in a wide variety of international locations, particularly destinations that are underrepresented in study abroad; and/or
• Develop virtual exchange models and programs that complement in-person exchange programs and campus internationalization goals.