AIEA Awards
The Innovative Excellence In Internationalization Award
Internationalization leaders work tirelessly, often with limited financial and overall institutional support, but always with passion, vision and commitment to meeting their institution’s mission and goals. Some of this work is more than just effective; it includes initiatives that are outstanding, inspirational, and replicable.
The Innovative Excellence in Internationalization Award recognizes a specific replicable initiative advancing internationalization. It is an updated iteration of AIEA’s Innovation Award in Internationalization launched in 2015, and is informed by the current complexities and opportunities in internationalization.
The goals of this updated award are intentionally aligned with inspirational and creative leadership in advancing comprehensive internationalization and with the principles of Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (JEDI), and the Sustainable Development Goals.
Pictured (L to R): Elizabeth Langridge-Noti, Director of Global Research & Academic Programs, UC San Diego; AIEA Treasurer David Fleshler; Alysson Satterlund, Vice Chancellor, UC San Diego; Tamara Cunningham, Assistant Vice Chancellor of Global Initiatives, UC San Diego.
2026 Recipient: University of California, San Diego
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Pictured: AIEA Board Member Patricia Céspedes Sánchez; David Di Maria, Vice Provost for Global Engagement; and colleagues from UMBC.
2026 Recipient: University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC)
2027 Innovative Excellence in International Education Award
Nominations Close: October 1, 2026
Award nominations are open to all, including AIEA members, non-members, and partners.
Criteria & Nomination Process
Submissions for this award must meet the following criteria:
- The project must advance internationalization in a higher education institution by meeting one or more of the following criteria:
- Demonstrate how the project is anchored in the principles of comprehensive internationalization (AIEA understands comprehensive internationalization in higher education as an inclusive process that impacts the three principal aims of the academy: teaching, research and service)
- Demonstrate alignment with two or more of UNESCO’s seventeen Sustainable Development Goals
- Demonstrate how it connects with the underlying principles of Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI) in higher education
- Projects should inspire or serve as a replicable model for other institutions
- The narrative should not exceed 2,000 words and must:
- Include a brief description of project
- Specify which institutional units were involved in the implementation and why
explain how the project advances comprehensive internationalization at the institution in alignment with the SDGs and/or underlying principles of JEDI - Indicate the total cost of the budget and the sources of funding (internal and/or external) used to implement and sustain it
- Define its targeted audience
- List its intended goals and outcomes.
- The application must include a letter of support from a senior administrator at the institution (president, vice president, provost, vice/associate provost)
Award recipients will be offered the opportunity to present a brief overview of their award-winning project at the AIEA annual conference.
Recognition & Visibility
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