Highlights of the 14th Annual CIEE Global Internship Conference

The 14th Annual CIEE Global Internship Conference (GIC) took place last week in Tallinn, Estonia, convening thought leaders from industry, higher education, and government to share best practices for expanding internships that prepare students for careers increasingly shaped by emerging technologies. 

During the conference week, Estonia hosted the Nordic-Baltic Eight Summit and special guest Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was staying at our conference hotel! The NB8 leaders underscored the importance of collaboration and innovation to achieve their objectives, themes that strongly resonated throughout our conference. 

Highlights from the conference are on our website:

• Day 1 – Internship site visit to Tal Tech, pre-conference workshop on best practices for global internships, Opening Plenary – “Wired for Impact: Immersive Learning in a Digital World”
• Day 2 – Concurrent sessions, GIC Talks, CIEE Community Impact Initiative, CIEE Leading Change in Global Internship Partner Awards, off-site reception at Michelin Star restaurant Fotografiska Tallinn
• Day 3 – Closing Plenary – “The Baltic Blueprint,” Expanding Access to Global Internships, CIEE Tallinn Open House, University of Tallinn campus visit

New CIEE Programs to Strengthen U.S.-Baltic Relationships

• CIEE announced two new initiatives to strengthen connections between the United States and the Baltic region. 
• The CIEE U.S. Baltic Bridge Fellowship will fund paid internships annually for American students to intern in the Baltics and Baltic students to intern in the United States.
• The CIEE Global Innovators Academy will support bilateral summer exchange programs that bring American high school students to experience the Baltics, and Baltic high schoolers to experience the United States.

79th Annual CIEE Study Abroad Conference – Cape Town, South Africa

The 79th Annual CIEE Study Abroad Conference will be another opportunity to foster collaboration and innovation. Please join us November 11-13, 2026, in Cape Town, South Africa. The conference theme will be “Leaders of Change and Innovation Across Africa.”

First Combined CIEE Global Internship and Annual Study Abroad Conference – Lisbon, Portugal

We are pleased to announce that beginning in 2027, the Global Internship Conference will become part of our CIEE Annual Study Abroad Conference each November and our CIEE International Exchange Conference (IEC), supporting BridgeUSA programs, each October. GIC content, speakers, and expertise will be included in both expanded conference formats, broadening the scope of each conference while allowing attendees to take advantage of the growing network of partners and stakeholders across all CIEE College Study Abroad and International Exchange programs.

In November 2027, we will celebrate CIEE’s 80th anniversary in Lisbon, Portugal, at the newly combined CIEE Global Internship and Study Abroad Conference. As one of our fastest growing study abroad and internship locations, Lisbon will be a fitting host as we celebrate 80 years of CIEE. Hope you will join us!