The Forum’s Virtual Annual Conference 2026 Focused on Resilience, Equity, and Innovation in a Changing Field

The Forum on Education Abroad’s virtual Annual Conference 2026, held February 11-13, underscored a central idea: education abroad has the greatest impact when it is intentional and resilient. Across sessions, presenters highlighted designing programs with clear purpose, increasing access, and responding thoughtfully to change. 
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In total, more than 540 participants engaged in interactive virtual sessions led by 72 expert practitioners and thought leaders at this year’s Annual Conference. 
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Forum President and CEO Melissa Torres opened the event by reflecting on the state of the field and reaffirming the continued importance of education abroad. She spoke about the profound impact global learning can have on students and the ways international experiences shape their understanding of the world. 

​“International education is a potent antidote to the dehumanization of others,” Torres said. “I believe every student who goes abroad has a unique opportunity to see the humanity of people whose circumstances and life experiences are completely different from their own.” 
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Torres concluded by reminding attendees that “one of our most important roles is to advocate for education abroad across numerous stakeholder groups.” 

New Research Highlights How Study Abroad Is a Career Catalyst 
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Building on this call to action, Amelia Dietrich, Ph.D., Senior Director for Research and Publications at The Forum, presented new data showing how education abroad translates into measurable career outcomes. She shared findings from four studies that are part of Education Abroad: The Career Catalyst, a Forum‑led campaign demonstrating how education abroad drives economic and career success.  

“We are building a growing body of evidence that education abroad helps students develop in-demand, work-ready skills that are relevant to our current and future job market and our global economy,” Dietrich said. 

Overall, the research shows that study abroad is a strategic investment in student success; it can accelerate leadership, growth, and career success, too. ​

Later, Annual Conference Chair Dr. Sara Easler, Assistant Dean for International Programs and Partnerships at the University of Tennessee, and Tracey Bradley, Assistant Vice Chancellor at the Tennessee Board of Regents (TBR) and Forum Board Chair, joined the discussion. They noted that the research helps educators make a stronger case for education abroad by clarifying its workforce benefits and highlighting the distinct personal and professional growth students gain beyond classroom learning. 

“We all know the impact that study abroad has on our students,” said Bradley. “It is critical that we help our students articulate that experience to employers on a resume or a CV.”  

Easler added that research consistently shows students develop essential human skills through studying abroad. “The communication, the resiliency, the relationship‑building, those are going to be the skills that are going to be in demand even more,” she explained. “Those human skills that supplement and coexist alongside AI skills and technical skills are developed through education abroad experiences across the board. It’s more important than ever to develop these human skills.” ​

Plenary Offers First-Hand Perspectives of Higher Education During War in Ukraine 

​Thursday’s plenary session, Resilience and Renewal: Ukraine’s Higher Education in the Midst of War, offered a vivid example of resilience in action. In a conversation moderated by Allan Goodman, President Emeritus of the Institute of International Education (IIE), diplomats and education leaders shared candid reflections on what it has taken to keep universities and communities functioning during the war. Panelists spoke about the day‑to‑day realities of supporting students and faculty, adapting academic life under immense pressure, and preserving connections with partners abroad. Throughout the discussion, they discussed the strength that comes from sustained global engagement and the vital role of international partnership in periods of disruption. 

“The war showed the real importance of international partnership and collaboration,” said Kateryna Priazhnikova, Deputy Director, Dnipro University of Technology. “We became much more active in mobilities and international projects. International cooperation is no longer an optional element in education in Ukraine and for all educational institutions. It’s a core condition for the sustainability and quality of education that we are delivering, and for the future.” Read more about the plenary session. 

Virtual Sessions Tell the Current Story of Education Abroad 

Across both days of the virtual conference, sessions extended this theme by examining what it takes to develop effective, resilient education abroad initiatives. Presenters explored how to design experiences with clear learning outcomes, support student well‑being, advance inclusive access, and navigate policy and risk.  
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As the field continues to evolve, innovation was central to many conversations. Attendees explored ethical and practical uses of artificial intelligence (AI). One session introduced a new AI resource developed by The Forum’s AI Working Group to support practical and responsible implementation.  
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Among the most well‑attended concurrent sessions were: 

• “What the Tech?! Working Smarter, Not Harder in Education Abroad,” presented by Meg Ramey, Ph.D. (WorldKind), PJ Shoulders (Study Abroad Association), Chris Fuglestad (The University of Chicago), and Kodi Henderson (Hanover CRM)  
• “AI in Action: Ethical and Pedagogical Uses for Education Abroad,” presented by Sasha Perugini, Ph.D. (Syracuse University Abroad) and Miko McFarland (Expanish)  
• “Maximizing the Return: Developing Intentional Post‑abroad Programming,” presented by Bill(y) Robertson‑Geibel, Ph.D. (University of California, San Diego), Angela Luedke (Davidson College), and Jeanne Monahan (University of California, San Diego)  

The virtual conference concluded with the annual Awards Presentation, celebrating outstanding contributions to the field. The recipients of the following awards were announced: 

• Award for Advancing the UN SDGs through Education Abroad 

• Award for Excellence in Education Abroad Curriculum Design 

• Award for Academic Achievement Abroad 

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Read the award recap to learn more about the winners and their achievements. ​

Spotlight on Nashville 
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In-person programming for this year’s Annual Conference will take place from March 11-13. The future of education abroad will be shaped by intentional planning, inclusive practice, ethical innovation, and strong global partnerships—conversations on these topics will build in Nashville, as attendees explore telling the story of education abroad. We look forward to gaining momentum in Nashville and continuing to advance education abroad with purpose and resilience.