2025 Global Impact Conference

Title: Sustainability in Action: Integrating SDGs into International Education

Presenters:

• Sean Reilly, AFS
• Saskia Kaya, AFS

Description:

Integrating Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into international education programs enhances their global impact. This session explores how SDG-focused curricula prepare students and educators for responsible and informed global citizenship..

• Discuss how SDGs can be seamlessly integrated into curriculum and program design.
• Highlight the value of aligning international education goals with global sustainability objectives.
• Share examples of collaborative projects or community engagement initiatives tied to SDGs.
• Explore the benefits of preparing students with sustainability-focused learning outcomes.

Title: Identity & Inclusion at the Crossroads: Involving Students in the Development of Practical Support Strategies in the European Context

Presenters:

• Christine Kelly-Vereda, Director, Consortium for Advanced Studies Abroad (CASA) – Granada
• Leadra Reeves, CASA Granada Spring ’24 Alum & Travel Grant Awardee
• Dani Kaufman-Sedano, CASA Granada Spring ’23 Alum & Travel Grant Awardee

Description:

Join a seasoned study abroad director and two program alums as they share their stories, effective strategies, easy-to-implement practices, and the measurable outcomes that result from incorporating student voices in the development of inclusive support services onsite. In this deep-dive session, we invite you to engage in the exercise of validating the lived experiences of recent graduates whose identities span a range of both visible and invisible identities that we often encounter among our student cohorts, and of translating those experiences into concrete strategies. More specifically, based on both research findings and direct personal experiences, we will:

• Come to a comprehensive understanding of inclusion, drawing from the different approaches utilized in Europe and the U.S., and the lived experiences of our students at this crossroads, and use it as the foundation for building inclusive programs and practices.
• Explore the importance and the impact of inclusive approaches in academic and cultural adjustment support on students’ overall wellbeing and personal growth.
• Identify specific challenges that students of varying identities face while studying abroad in Europe, with a particular focus on students of low-income backgrounds, Black students, LGBTQ+ students, and students of different religious backgrounds.
• Discuss intentional support services/resources that study abroad programs can provide for diverse student populations in close collaboration with their host partners – institutions, host families, faculty, community organizations – and how to approach potential obstacles that may surface.
• Engage with the process of developing, implementing and evaluating the success of inclusive initiatives, and measuring the direct impact on your students and the future of your program!

Title: From Abroad to Beyond: Turning European Experiences into Career Success

Presenters:

• Nicola Sullivan, AIFS
• Maya Edwards, AIFS

Description:

Global education experiences in Europe equip students with unique skills for careers in public and private sectors. This session highlights how these experiences translate into employability and career preparedness.

• Explore how global education in Europe impacts students’ employability and career preparedness.
• Identify transferable skills developed through international education and their alignment with workforce demands.
• Discuss reverse culture shock and strategies to leverage the abroad experience professionally.
• Showcase alumni success stories to inspire future students.

Concurrent Session Block 3

The Role of the Global University in Navigating Conflict, Dialogue, Transformation — How campuses cultivate dialogue, resilience, and civic readiness amid geopolitical tension while keeping learning and community at the center.

Partnerships that Drive Real Collaboration & Innovation — Models that move beyond finance-only deals to co-created programs, research, and talent pathways linking MENA and global institutions.

Concurrent Session Block 2

Making the Student Success Case for International Education to Campus Leadership — How to build deeper support for global learning among campus leadership by framing international education as a key driver to improving student success.

Inclusion in MENA: Narratives, Demographics & Opportunity — Public narratives about MENA are often formed at a distance. This session examines inclusion through societal trends and the policy frameworks that enable openness and stability.

The Value of International & Experiential Study Through the Lens of Global Employers — What employers say global and experiential learning uniquely delivers, from teamwork across cultures to problem-solving on real projects.