2025 Global Educator Summit

CIEE’s 2025 Global Educator Summit took place from October 4-5 in Chicago, IL, and focused on the theme “Graduating Global Citizens.” Educators from across the United States came together for this annual, free professional development weekend to discuss best practices in global education and study abroad,  while gaining actionable insights to cultivate a more global culture in schools and communities. 

From the keynote focused on "Leveraging Study Abroad for College Admissions and Career Success,” to meetings with CIEE center staff from around the globe, to hearing from high school Global Navigator alumni, Global Educator Summit attendees broadened their horizons and professional network, returning home with fresh resources for their schools and classrooms.  

Among other topics, teachers discussed what the culture of study abroad looks like at different high schools and communities around the country and why study abroad is important to students, their families, and educators. Throughout, the passion of educators for positively shaping students' futures through study abroad was evident.

The event was also an opportunity for CIEE to highlight expansion of our high school and post high school graduation programs. In addition to our 106 Global Navigator High School Summer Abroad programs, we have added additional tracks to our High School Semester Abroad opportunities and expanded our Gap Year Abroad and College First Year Abroad programs.

CIEE High School Semester Abroad - 2 Tracks

CIEE's new High School Semester Abroad programs make it easy for students to find the path that's right for them while staying on top of graduation requirements and academic needs. Students can now choose between two program models:

IMMERSION IN

This option is available in France, Spain, Italy, Australia, Japan, Mexico, and the UK. It features:

• Local high school placement
• Local host family
• Cultural activities

SEMESTER IN 

This option is available in Paris, Barcelona, Kyoto, Merida, Dublin, and Costa Rica.

In this track, students join a cohort of other CIEE students and build a perfect schedule blending cultural activities with in-person classes at a CIEE center and online classes delivered by ASU Prep Global on a wide variety of topics aligning with U.S. high school standards. Students can experience the culture of international destinations like Barcelona, Paris, Edinburgh, Costa Rica, Mérida, and Kyoto, all while staying on track to graduate! 
 

CIEE Gap Year Abroad - 3 Tracks

The new suite of CIEE Gap Year Abroad programs allow students to fit in a study abroad semester (or two!) in their gap year with a focus that's right for them. Students will explore the world and return ready to thrive in college and beyond. CIEE offers three unique ways to make their gap year count:

• LANGUAGE & CULTURE
  Students combine language classes with cultural experiences to provide full immersion in international destinations of Florence, Kyoto, Paris, Seville, Shanghai, or Seoul!
• INTERNSHIP & CULTURE
  Students gain real-world work experience in a field they're passionate about in one of four amazing destinations: Abu Dhabi, Buenos Aires, Cape Town, or Sydney.
• EUROPEAN TOUR
  Students explore three iconic cities, creating lifelong memories with a small cohort of CIEE students and gaining a broader world view and a more diverse perspective.

CIEE College First Year Abroad - 11 International Locations!

Students can fast track their college application with a CIEE College First Year Abroad program in one of 11 exciting global locations like Copenhagen, Kyoto, Paris, Prague, Seoul, and more.

Students will enroll in college courses taught in English, just like first-year students on U.S. campuses, and choose from in-person classes taught at a CIEE center, plus 3,000+ courses via ASU Online. They will have access to the best-in-class support, high-quality housing, academic tutoring, and guided intercultural excursions, among other benefits!

Upon their return, students can transfer their hard-earned college credits to a partner university or use their intercultural experiences abroad to impress the admissions team at their dream school. 

$10,000 Grants Awarded to 10 High Schools

During the Summit, 10 high schools were awarded $10,000 grants in recognition of their dedication to nurturing global understanding and intercultural knowledge in their students. The grants are to be distributed as two $5,000 grants to two deserving students pursuing a semester-long study abroad experience during the 2026-2027 academic year or can be applied to a Gap Year Abroad, or College First Year Abroad Program. The awardees were:

• Brooklyn Technical High School
• Walter Payton College Prep
• Stuyvesant High School
• Liberal Arts & Science Academy
• Annandale HS
• Canyon Crest Academy
• Lincoln Park HS
• Macarthur Senior High School
• Baccalaureate School for Global Education
• Claudia Taylor Johnson High School

$2,500 Global Citizen Grants 

Schools with five or more students who traveled with CIEE on a 2025 High School Summer Abroad program were awarded the opportunity to nominate unlimited students from their school for a $2,500 Global Citizen Grant toward any 2026 CIEE High School Semester Abroad, Gap Year Abroad, or College First Year Abroad program.