State Department’s IDEAS Program Awards ACD Grant

The Alamo Colleges District has been awarded a grant from the U.S. Department of State’s Increase and Diversify Education Abroad for U.S. Students (IDEAS) Program.  The Alamo Colleges District is one of 37 U.S. colleges and universities that will use an IDEAS grant to establish, expand, and/or broaden American student mobility overseas in support of U.S. foreign policy goals.    

“The U.S. Department of State is proud to support these U.S. colleges and universities as they build capacity for more American students to study abroad in diverse locations around the world.  Increasing the number of U.S. students with international experiences is part of our investment in ensuring that our country’s future leaders have the skills they need in fields ranging from global health to technology and innovation,” said Heidi Manley, Chief of USA Study Abroad. 

This year’s projects include activities such as developing new international partnerships, training faculty and staff, internationalizing curriculum, engaging students in study abroad, and creating virtual and hybrid exchanges.  IDEAS grants will support programming to 36 destinations, across all world regions, for example in Botswana, Croatia, Indonesia, Nepal, Tunisia, and Uruguay.  For a full list of 2024 IDEAS grantees, as well as information on upcoming IDEAS webinars and workshops, please visit  www.studyabroadcapacitybuilding.org. 

“This grant not only enables us to expand our study abroad programs but also aligns with our moonshot and commitment to fostering global awareness and intercultural competence among our students,” said Dr. Mike Flores, Alamo Colleges District Chancellor. “By providing our students with international experiences, we are equipping them with the necessary skills and perspectives. We are grateful for this opportunity to enhance our educational offerings."  

The Alamo Colleges has notably enhanced its international education framework through a strategic selection of partners and the adoption of cutting-edge approaches to global learning. Initiatives such as the introduction of digital badges, the incorporation of virtual exchanges, and the progression of curriculum internationalization have widened opportunities for students to gain global perspectives during their educational journey. These initiatives have profoundly impacted the democratization of global learning access, allowing a larger contingent of students to reap the benefits of international education.  

Earlier this year, the Alamo Colleges District was selected as one of four U.S. universities and colleges to receive a 2024 Senator Paul Simon Award for Comprehensive Internationalization. 

Since 2016, the IDEAS Program has awarded 216 grants to 205 institutions in 49 U.S. states and territories to establish, expand, and broaden their U.S. study abroad programs in over 95 countries across all world regions.  In addition to the IDEAS grant competition, the program also offers opportunities for international educators at U.S. colleges and universities to participate in free virtual and in-person study abroad capacity-building activities. 

For further information about other study abroad resources and other exchange programs offered by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, please contact ECA-Press@state.gov and visit https://eca.state.gov/.  The IDEAS Program is a program of the U.S. Department of State with funding provided by the United States Government and supported in its implementation by World Learning.