The IDEAS Program is designed to increase and broaden 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 broaden, expand, and enhance study abroad for U.S. students through IDEAS grants and capacity building initiatives for the wider U.S. study abroad community.
The IDEAS grant competition assists U.S. colleges and universities in creating and/or expanding their study abroad programming in support of U.S. foreign policy goals through the issuance of $35,000 grants. Each year, U.S. colleges and universities are invited to submit applications for projects to create, expand, and/or enhance outbound study abroad programs and/or resources that align with U.S. foreign policy goals. More details can be found in the Grant Competition section of this website. For examples of how grant funding has been used, review the 2019 and 2020 IDEAS Grant Competition Impact Highlights and 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 expand, broaden and enhance their study abroad programs. More details and registration links for upcoming capacity building events and trainings can be found in the Trainings & Resources section of this website.
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 range of U.S. higher education, including community colleges and Minority Serving Institutions.
The 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 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.