Education Abroad: The Career Catalyst

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World wise. Work ready.

In today’s world, being career-ready means being globally prepared.

Education abroad isn’t just an academic milestone—it’s an accelerator for building leadership, growth, and career success.

Students who participate in education abroad experiences—like study abroad, international internships, research, and global learning—develop critical skills employers are looking for, including:

Adaptability and agility

Communication skills

Cultural intelligence

Language and interpersonal confidence

Network growth

Problem-solving in complex situations

Download Research Summary

About the Campaign

Education Abroad: The Career Catalyst is a field-wide campaign to showcase the career-defining impact of education abroad—how it equips students with real-world skills, professional agility, and a broader perspective that sets them apart in the workforce.

This campaign centers student voices, data-driven outcomes, and compelling stories that show how education abroad helps professionals not only survive in today’s ever-evolving global job market but thrive.

Take action and amplify your voice to promote the economic and career benefits of education abroad—it matters more than ever.

Education abroad is no longer just an academic experience—it’s a career accelerator. Education Abroad: The Career Catalyst reframes the conversation to focus on how these experiences prepare students to lead, adapt, and contribute in powerful ways across industries and borders.

– Melissa Torres, President & CEO of The Forum on Education Abroad

How Education Abroad Drives Impact

50% Median percentage of career success alumni attribute to studying abroad.

+$4,159 Salary bump in first job for business students who studied abroad.

90% Alumni said that study abroad helped them build job skills.

With their earnings premium, employed alumni added $1.8 billion in income to the U.S. economy in 2024.

Join Us in the Campaign

The evidence is clear—and it’s time to amplify it.

Collaborating with us means helping ensure that this evidence reaches the people who need it most: students, families, employers, institutional leaders, and policymakers.

By supporting, you can:

Amplify proven data and messages
Leverage shared research, statistics, and messaging that clearly connect education abroad to career readiness, hiring advantage, and earnings so we speak with one strong, unified voice.
Extend the reach of the evidence
Use campaign‑ready resources, research summaries, and storytelling tools to spread the word across campuses, communities, and professional networks.
Strengthen the field through shared impact
Contribute to an aligned, coordinated effort that elevates education abroad as a high‑impact, workforce‑relevant practice backed by credible, national data.
Position your organization as a leader
Showcase your commitment to student success, economic mobility, and global workforce preparation alongside organizations advancing the same priorities.
Move beyond awareness to action
Help shift how education abroad is understood, valued, and invested in—by employers, institutions, and decision‑makers—through consistent, evidence‑based messaging.

How You Can Get Involved Right Now

Become a Campaign Supporter

We are actively seeking funding contributors to bring financial power to our efforts. Contact us to learn more.

Share Your Story

Tell us how your education abroad experience transformed your career, and encourage alumni in your network to share their stories.

Explore the Latest Research

Gain data-driven insights into how education abroad contributes to earnings, career readiness, and economic mobility.

Download Campaign Resources

View and share research summary flyers and visually engaging posters showcasing key findings.

Special Thanks to Our Founding Supporters

About The Forum on Education Abroad
Organizers of Education Abroad: The Career Catalyst

The Forum is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, membership association recognized by the U.S. Department of Justice and the Federal Trade Commission as the Standards Development Organization (SDO) for the field of education abroad. The Forum provides training and resources to education abroad professionals and its Standards of Good Practice are recognized as the definitive means by which the quality of education abroad programs may be judged. The Forum’s mission is to cultivate educators who champion high quality education abroad experiences that ignite curiosity, impact lives, and contribute to a better world.

The Forum’s institutional members include U.S. colleges and universities, overseas institutions, consortia, agencies, organizations, and foundations who are committed to improving education abroad. Under the strategic leadership of the Board of Directors, the Forum staff develops and manages member programs, resources, services, and benefits. The Forum Council represents the interests of the Forum membership, communicates the needs of the field, and works collaboratively with Forum staff to assess and move initiatives forward. The Forum relies heavily on the expertise of colleagues in and outside of the education abroad field, and much of The Forum’s work is accomplished through the support of committees, working groups, facilitators, assessors, reviewers, and volunteers.

Media Contact: Mary Keister, [email protected]