August 27, 2026 – U-M Ross School of Business has been recognized as an honorable mention for the 2026 IIE Andrew Heiskell Award for Innovation in International Education in the category of Student Mobility and Exchange for their Global Initiatives Short-term Global Program Model. The Institute of International Education (IIE) bestows this honor to recognize and support the innovative and successful models for developing and expanding international education in practice today.
The IIE Heiskell Awards were created in 2001 to promote and honor outstanding initiatives conducted in international higher education by IIENetwork members. IIE is proud of continuing the legacy of the award’s namesake, Andrew Heiskell, a former Executive Committee member of IIE’s Board of Trustees, a renowned international and cultural philanthropist, and long-time supporter of international education. Now in the program’s 25th year, IIE has given nearly 100 IIE Heiskell Awards to institutions and organizations around the world.
Michigan Ross Global Initiatives has developed a study abroad model that combines customized short-term international programs with traditional exchange partnerships. Designed in collaboration with partner business schools, these programs provide Ross students with affordable, high-impact experiences focused on local business contexts, engagement with international faculty and companies, and peer collaboration abroad. In return, partner institutions send students to Michigan Ross for full-semester exchanges, creating an exchange model that benefits both sides. By reducing program costs to roughly one-third of previous models and supplementing participation with donor-funded scholarships, particularly for first-generation and high-need students, Michigan Ross has removed significant financial and scheduling barriers to global education.
In two years, student participation grew from 69 students to 249 students — a 261% increase — demonstrating strong demand for these global experiences. The approach also brings approximately 75 additional exchange students to Ann Arbor each year, enriching classroom discussions and campus culture with international perspectives.
Following a successful pilot, Michigan Ross doubled the number of programs offered and continues to refine the model to ensure quality and scalability. By leveraging existing partnerships rather than building new infrastructure, the initiative offers a practical, replicable framework for institutions seeking to expand global learning opportunities, manage rising study abroad costs, and create sustainable, mutually beneficial international collaborations.
U-M Ross School of Business joins awardees and honorable mentions in the categories of student mobility and exchange.
The Institute of International Education (IIE) is the leader in designing and implementing international education strategies and program services. We work with governments, policymakers, educators, and employers across the globe to prepare students and professionals for the global workforce and equip them to solve the increasingly complex challenges facing our interconnected world. With support from donors, we also create initiatives that assist students, scholars, and artists whose lives and work are threatened; expand teaching and learning across cultures; and provide life-changing opportunities. A not-for-profit organization founded in 1919, IIE has a network of offices and affiliates worldwide and over 1,600 higher education partners. Learn more at www.iie.org. Learn more at www.iie.org.
The IIENetwork, IIE’s global membership association, supports the strategic advancement of international education. Through the IIENetwork, IIE shares decades of experience and expertise, generates resources, and leverages knowledge and practices with members who are working to strategize and actualize international education efforts, including building international and academic partnerships, recruiting international students, and advocating for study abroad and student mobility Learn more at www.iie.org/IIENetwork.
