Education Abroad: The Career Catalyst

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

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.

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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

Explore the Latest Research

Read the Report

Latest Media

Forum President Melissa Torres Talks About the Future of Work on International Business Today Podcast

Melissa Torres, President & CEO of The Forum on Education Abroad, sat down with podcast host Paula Caligiuri (Northeastern University) to explore:

How education abroad cultivates skills that employers seek
How standards development ensures quality and safety in international education
Managing risk and liability across diverse global programs and providers
Creating transformational learning experiences that bridge cultural divides
Addressing modern challenges from political tensions to technological change

Watch on YouTube | Listen on Spotify | Listen on Apple Podcasts

How Education Abroad Drives Impact

Problem-solving skills, ability to work in a team, and communication skills are among the top sought-after attributes by employers. (NACE)

90% of students who studied abroad reported that their experience was important for their personal and professional development. (Terra Dotta)

Resumes including study abroad experience, especially in Asia, were approximately 20% more likely to receive a callback for an interview. (NAFSA)

Business and management were the top field of study for education abroad students in the 2022-23 academic year, underscoring the significance of education abroad for workforce development. (Open Doors)

Join Us in the Campaign

Why Partner with Us? Why Now?

Amplify your organization/institution’s voice through unified, compelling messaging about the career impact of education abroad.
Contribute to a coordinated effort to gather meaningful data on career outcomes. Together, we build a stronger case for education abroad by speaking with shared evidence and aligned metrics.
Showcase your brand to an engaged audience of students, alumni, educators, and employers.
Expand visibility, share stories, and deliver high-impact messaging that no single organization could achieve alone—shared investment allows our impact to create a greater reach.
Support storytelling that highlights meaningful career outcomes.

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 Alumni Stories

Know of alumni whose education abroad experiences have transformed their careers? Tell us.

Show Your Support Online

Use our Messaging Guide to start spreading the word on social media.

Write an Op-Ed

Your perspectives power the campaign. Students and recent alumni can amplify their stories with help from our free online
op-ed workshops.

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]