CIEE Selected as Finalist - 2019 GoAbroad Innovation Awards in Technology

CIEE has been selected as a finalist in the 2019 GoAbroad Innovation Awards Innovation in Technology category for our “Design Your Own” interactive webtool.

CIEE developed the tool to help students easily design their own semester in Open Campus Block program. In this innovative program, students can study abroad in up to three different locations in one term by combining 6-week blocks for 6, 12, or 18 weeks of study abroad that is flexible for all school calendars. With 14 global locations to select from (Berlin, Buenos Aires, Cape Town, Copenhagen, London, Madrid, Monteverde, Paris, Rio de Janeiro, Rome, Santiago, Shanghai, Sydney, and Yucatán), the number of possible combinations totals a staggering 4,000.

​The interactive webtool simplifies the process so students can select their desired term and destinations, and then see their travel route displayed on a screen-sized map. Students unsure of where to go can choose themed combinations like - The Latin World or Emerging Economies - or they can “spin the globe” and see popular combinations. Either way, the tool displays their custom itinerary including dates at each location, term courses, syllabi, and pricing for their custom-designed adventure. 

The “design your own” tool launched in March 2018 and has received 67,674 page views, 21,416 globe spins, more than 5,000 syllabi downloads and more than 6,000 clicks to apply.

The GoAbroad Innovation in Technology award recognizes the creation and/or use of an innovative technology or tool specific to international education. Nominees are evaluated based on the success of implementing the technology, how it stands out from other resources in the field, and its overall impact to the staff or student experience. Winners will be announced at the GoAbroad Reception during the NAFSA Annual Conference in Washington D.C later in May.