2025 State of the Field Report Provides the Field with the Opportunity to Implement Strategies Informed by Data

3/12/2025

On Wednesday, March 11, The Forum on Education Abroad released its tenth State of the Field survey, reflecting a pivotal moment for the field. After a comprehensive review and revision process, the 2024 survey was streamlined to be more relevant to today’s evolving landscape and more inclusive of institutions and organizations worldwide. These enhancements resulted in double the participation of the 2022 survey and increased engagement from institutions outside North America.

Key Takeaways from the 2025 Report:

Program Trends: Short-term faculty-led programs and reciprocal exchanges remain strong, while experiential learning opportunities like internships and research continue to grow.
Staffing & Retention: There was modest recovery in education abroad staffing since 2022, and the data provide new insights on workload disparities between well-staffed and understaffed institutions.
Top Concerns: Political climates in the United States and globally now rank among the top concerns for this first time since this survey was deployed, alongside persistent challenges related to funding, access, and student support.

With perspectives from across the globe, the 2025 report highlights both shared priorities and critical differences in institutional operations. In a rapidly shifting landscape, international educators are navigating tensions, innovating for the future, and reimagining best practices. The Forum remains committed to providing a variety of free and paid resources, the Standards of Good Practice, and a collaborative network to support the field’s continued evolution.

Webinar Highlights: What the Data Means for the Field

Also on March 11, The Forum hosted a members-only webinar discussing important insights from the report. Dr. Maureen Manning of The PIE moderated a discussion with Dr. Amelia Dietrich (The Forum's Senior Director for Research and Publications), Takeo Suzuki (Executive Director for the Center for Global Education at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga), and Mary Alice Soriero (Academic Director at CEA CAPA Education Abroad’s Seville Study Center). Suzuki and Soriero were part of the Research Advisory Group that helped shape the 2024 survey and its culminating report.

During the webinar, Suzuki underscored the importance of using data to enhance student experiences, stating, “My approach is very clear. This data is very important, but I honestly believe we need to help students one at a time.” His perspective reinforces that while broader trends are valuable, the heart of education abroad lies in fostering meaningful, individual connections.

Soriero echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the need for adaptability: “One thing that always comes to mind for me is that we sometimes have to pause, listen to our students and partners, and look for ways to collaborate. We can’t simply repeat what worked before—we need to stay open to new ways of engaging and building bridges.”

Global Perspectives on Student Well-Being

Student well-being and the needs of diverse and underrepresented students ranked as top concerns in survey results, particularly among non-North American institutions. Dr. Dietrich noted, “This data allows us to reflect on how institutional perspectives differ globally. Even as the landscape shifts in the U.S., our partners abroad may not be facing the same challenges in the same way. There’s an opportunity to learn from each other and adapt.”

Dr. Manning reinforced the broader significance of the findings, stating, “The 2025 State of the Field Report makes it clear that we’re operating in a time of profound change—politically, financially, and institutionally. But it also reaffirms the resilience and ingenuity of international educators, who remain committed to expanding access, fostering inclusion, and strengthening global partnerships.”

Continuing the Conversation

The 2025 State of the Field Report is now available for download, and Forum Members can access the webinar recording in their member portal. The discussion will continue at The Forum’s Annual Conference from March 19-21 in Toronto, where many sessions will explore these critical themes in greater depth.

Acknowledgments

The Forum extends its gratitude to the Research Advisory Group for their contributions to this year’s survey and report. Their dedication has been instrumental in refining the study and ensuring its relevance to the field.

Research Advisory Group (2023-2025):

Louis Berends, CEA CAPA Study Abroad
Christian Canizales, Georgia State University
Emily Gorlewski, Wesleyan University
Marisa A. Gray, Morgan State University
Martina Hamanaka Serizawa, London Metropolitan University
Stacey Hansen, University at Albany
Theresa Heath, St. Olaf College
Tanisha Jones, Texas Education Agency
Sarah Knight, Peace Corps
Dennis McCunney, East Carolina University
Kayla McGuire, CEA CAPA Education Abroad
Katherine M. Meyer, University of Kentucky
Jennifer Nativo, Institute for American Universities (IAU) & The American College of the Mediterranean (ACM)
Zachary Nowak, IES Abroad
Guanglong Pang, Michigan State University – Broad College of Business
Paul Paparella, University of Virginia
Mayara Luiza Pereira, NYU Florence
Michele Riley, Purdue University
Coryn Shiflet, Georgia Tech
Mary Alice Soriero, CEA CAPA Education Abroad
Takeo Suzuki, The University of Tennessee Chattanooga
Maia Wellington Gahtan, Kent State University, Florence Campus

To dive deeper into the insights gleaned from the most recent State of the Field survey, and start strategizing how you will implement what we have learned from the data into your own work, download the full report here.

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