Vanderbilt recently showcased its innovative study abroad programs at The Institute for the International Education of Students (IES Abroad) 2024 Annual Conference, attracting attention from other institutions that are eager to implement Vanderbilt’s successful strategies for expanding opportunities for engineering students.
IES Abroad educates students to become global citizens through premier study abroad and internship programs that provide experiential learning opportunities and uphold the highest standards of academic quality. The IES Annual Conference, which was Oct. 15–17 in Chicago this year, is designed to enhance attendees’ learning, networking and professional development.
Tyler Walker, assistant director of Global Safety and Health, and Julie Vernon, associate dean for academic success in the School of Engineering, led a session titled “Advancing and Maintaining Study Abroad Opportunities for Engineering Students,” using Vanderbilt as a case study. Their presentation addressed the historical challenges faced by engineering students in pursuing study abroad experiences while staying on track with degree requirements.
“Through data from Open Doors, we illustrated how opportunities for engineering students to study abroad have fluctuated over the years,” Walker said. “At Vanderbilt, we’ve intentionally collaborated across departments to enhance program development, academic continuity and application processes, resulting in 30 percent of VUSE students studying abroad.”
Their session attracted significant interest, drawing four IES executives, six center directors and a senior associate vice president of academics, among others, all eager to learn about Vanderbilt’s effective strategies for enhancing access to study abroad for students in engineering.
Additionally, Jackie Walker, senior credentials analyst in the University Registrar office, and Tyler Walker presented a poster at the IES poster fair highlighting the YES Study Abroad Course Search Tool. This innovative tool, a collaborative effort between Vanderbilt Study Abroad and the University Registrar, streamlines the study abroad course review process, ensuring that students receive clear information about credit transfer before their programs begin.
“This initiative exemplifies how multiple departments can work together to create an efficient and equitable process for our students,” Jackie Walker said. “Other institutions expressed interest in adopting our model to improve their own study abroad systems.”
