CIEE Celebrates Grand Opening of Global Institute in London

On April 25, CIEE welcomed students, local partner organizations and host institutions, and special guests to a grand opening ceremony for its Global Institute - London.

The event was held just two weeks ahead of CIEE’s 70th anniversary of bringing the world together through international exchange. CIEE was formed in 1947 with a single mission: to provide opportunities for all people to gain the understanding, knowledge, and skills for living in this diverse and ever-changing world. Seven decades later, we remain committed to this mission in the hope of building trust and understanding between people and nations.

“Humanizing international relations has never been more important than it is today. We will succeed in this endeavor only if we provide opportunities for all those who wish to learn and grow from the exchange of ideas and experiences in a culture different from their own,” said James Pellow, president and CEO of CIEE, during the ceremony. “For those of us committed to this work, it requires us to respond to today’s challenges, today’s changing landscape, today’s demand for flexible, affordable international education and intercultural development.”

For CIEE, that means offering students the most flexible, affordable, and customizable study abroad program available – in the most popular study abroad destination in the world, London.

Every facet of CIEE’s Global Institutes is designed to overcome the barriers of high costs, challenging curriculum requirements, and cultural impediments that prevent far too many students from studying abroad. Located in the lively Bloomsbury neighborhood, the Global Institute - London offers students a modern learning environment – with 15 classrooms, a resource-rich library, stylish café, garden terrace, and a technology center – nestled in the heart of historic Russell Square.

(Learn about the additional services offered at the Global Institute - London.) 

But beyond the building’s amenities and modern conveniences, the Global Institute - London offers students something much more important – an innovative academic model with choices for students of every major and socio-economic background.

“Global Institutes provide affordable program options, comprehensive academic disciplines and course listings, undergraduate research, internships, and service-learning options. Students may attend a full semester in one location or choose to pursue a comparative international study experience and traverse CIEE’s Global Quad in the same way they traverse their home campuses,” said Pellow.

That means more students have the opportunity to develop critical skills for success in today’s world – and even more chances to build positive relationships between people of different nations.

Said featured speaker Kathryn Crockart, interim acting deputy chief of mission, U.S. Embassy London, “In our interconnected world, the ability to communicate across national and cultural boundaries is every bit as important as what you learn in a classroom. There is a crucial element to global communications that requires experience – real, personal experience – outside of the comfort zone of home. You [who have taken part in international exchange] felt what it is to be a stranger in a strange land. And with these perspectives, you developed irreplaceable cross-cultural perspectives and global competence that cannot be bought anywhere, at any price.”

In addition to London, CIEE has Global Institutes in Berlin, Paris, and Rome, and will open new locations in Cape Town and Madrid in 2018.