The four winners of the 2020 Andrew Heiskell Awards have been announced by the Institute of International Education.
Recognising outstanding initiatives among IIE’s membership association of more than 1,300 higher education institutions, winners are at the frontier of developing new models to build international partnerships, internationalise campuses, and promote study abroad.
“These programs are building cultural and leadership skills that are essential to addressing global challenges”
Rice University was awarded the ‘Internationalising the Campus’ category for its Brasil@Rice program, which has served as a hub for meaningful connections between Brazil and the university since 2012.
Harper College‘s The Global Region of Focus Initiative won the ‘Internationalising the Community College Campus’ prize for programs that provide cultural, economic, political, and historical foundations for understanding global issues.
The ‘Study Abroad’ award went to the University of Tulsa for a one-week summer experiential experience for freshmen with local partners in Panama.
Lehigh University took the ‘Partnership’ award for its work with the United Nations for the second year running.
“What we’ve done with the UN is pursue a strategic evaluation of our strengths, and then align them with UN entities such as the International Labor Organization, Sustainable UN and the Environmental Program,” said Bill Hunter, Lehigh’s director of Fellowship Advising and UN Programs.
“We have very strong support from a wide variety of academic departments on campus, enabling us to take a holistic approach to our UN-based affiliations.”
IIE’s president and CEO, Allan E. Goodman noted that innovative thinking in the international education community will “prepare students for working in a complex, international world”.
“These programs are building cultural and leadership skills that are essential to addressing global challenges, both for students who are encouraged to study abroad and for those who benefit from campuses more connected to the world,” he said in a statement.
“We are very proud to recognise these programs with the IIE Andrew Heiskell Awards for their innovative work and hope that their successes spark new ideas in the years to come.”
Honourable mentions went to Kansas State University: The Australian Initiative and Oz-to-Oz Program, Texas A&M International University: Reading the Globe, Texas A&M International University and University of Otago: Tūrangawaewae, Pōkai Whenua (A Place to Stand, A World to Explore).
The four winning campuses will receive a cash award of US$1,000 and a certificate from IIE’s president.
