AIEA Resources
Strategic Plan
A strategic framework and shared vision that guides our work and impact in the years ahead
Strengthening Global Leadership for Internationalization
AIEA Strategic Plan, 2025 – 2028
Approved by AIEA Board of Directors October 9, 2024
The AIEA 2025-2028 Strategic Plan empowers AIEA and its members to lead their institutions and higher education more generally toward the innovative and transformational internationalization needed for the 21st century. This plan, guided by the Vision, Mission, and Values of the association posits three strategic initiatives that will:
- Position AIEA as the preeminent global organization focused on the ongoing professional development and career advancement of Senior International Officers (SIOs)1
- Strengthen AIEA’s position as a global thought leader and agenda setter in international education in collaboration with key partners, and
- Establish AIEA as the leading advocate for international education leadership in the US by driving strategic advocacy, shaping policy, and mobilizing key stakeholders.
1 The term SIO (Senior International Officer) is used advisedly here as a shorthand for those leading the work of internationalization in the context of higher education. AIEA recognizes the limits of this term and that it may not fully encompass the wide range of leadership roles and titles in this space. ,
AIEA recognizes that the realization of its Mission, Vision, and Strategic Initiatives is contingent upon a foundation of sound budgeting and financial sustainability.
AIEA will build on the commitment of its leadership, its committees, and its members in order to develop specific plans of action and achieve its strategic objectives in collaboration with partner institutions, experts, and other professional associations.
The AIEA Board is cognizant that the Strategic Plan is a living document and that its implementation is an iterative process comprising continuous assessment and reflection. The implementation of these strategic objectives necessitates appropriate resources and an optimized operational structure that is constituted of the Board, the association’s staff members, and the diverse committees. AIEA will support and strengthen these constituents with a commitment to operational excellence to achieve the goals of this Strategic Plan.
Strengthening Global Leadership for Internationalization
AIEA Strategic Plan, 2025 – 2028
Approved by AIEA Board of Directors October 9, 2024
Strategic Initiative 1:
Position AIEA as the preeminent global organization focused on the ongoing professional development and career advancement of Senior International Officers
Goal
Establish AIEA as a preeminent SIO-serving professional organization, in order to
- Focus AIEA as the definitive global association exclusively centering comprehensive strategy, leadership, and visioning in the internationalization of higher education;
- Provide opportunities for substantial networking, engagement, and peer learning that focuses on the full career journeys of senior leaders, offering support and advancement;
- Identify and grow resources to support strategic goals beyond current revenue streams;
- Grow a global and diverse membership.
Strategic Objectives
- AIEA will establish itself as a distinctive, valued, relevant, and sought-after source of expertise on comprehensive internationalization strategy, leadership, and visioning for all institutional types around the world, responding to and shaping larger trends in higher education;
- AIEA will align existing programs with the new strategic plan and identify and develop a carefully selected set of new programs that foster new thinking and provide essential, up-to-date, globally-derived, and globally-relevant knowledge for SIOs;
- AIEA will position the AIEA Annual Conference as an essential global gathering for dialogue, networking, generating new ideas, and building expertise in comprehensive internationalization strategy and leadership and assess and identify opportunities for year-round engagement; and
- AIEA will develop and promote a clear, globally-inclusive definition of the roles, titles, and standards for those who lead internationalization at higher education institutions.
Strategic Initiative 2:
Strengthen AIEA’s position as a global thought leader and agenda setter in international education in collaboration with key partners
Goal
Enhance AIEA’s levels of global engagement in order to
- Advance a globally inclusive, sustainable, and collaborative approach to the internationalization of higher education;
- Enhance the leadership capabilities of all its members;
- Become an internationally recognized source for dialogue and insight that benefits internationalization leaders around the world.
Strategic Objectives
- AIEA will develop knowledge and practices that reflect the perspectives, experiences, contexts, and insights of internationalization leaders around the world;
- AIEA’s membership and leadership will be diverse and globally representative.
- AIEA will encourage dialogue, collaborations, and research among internationalization leaders in the U.S. and around the world;
- AIEA will maximize the inclusion of presenters and participants from around the world in all its programs and activities;
- AIEA will convene thought leaders and others from within and beyond international education to help address issues relevant to internationalization leaders;
- AIEA will strengthen principles and procedures for partnership development and maintenance in order to ensure strategic value to AIEA and maximize mutual benefit for AIEA and its partners;
- AIEA will evaluate existing partnerships and initiate new ones in the U.S. and beyond guided by these principles and procedures;
AIEA will engage members in sustaining and enhancing partner relationships, in particular engaging senior university leadership to enhance internationalization; - AIEA will deepen engagement with partner organizations to establish incentives and metrics for the success of joint initiatives;
- AIEA will utilize pioneering research on global issues to craft useful, data-informed resources within a justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion (JEDI) framework; and
- AIEA will convene international education leaders from 50 countries to reimagine international education and develop a North-South Summit.
Strategic Initiative 3:
Establish AIEA as the leading advocate for international education leadership in the US by driving strategic advocacy, shaping policy, and mobilizing key stakeholders
Goal
Goal
Advance the international education agenda in order to
- Engage international education leaders on critical issues affecting the internationalization of higher education around the world;
- Deliver high-quality and high-impact tools for advocacy; and
- Leverage resources to advance comprehensive internationalization at member institutions.
Strategic Objectives
- AIEA will engage senior university leadership, raising awareness of and support for international education and the ways it aligns with institutional goals;
- AIEA will connect international education to other higher education issues, including enrollment, budget allocation, and JEDI initiatives;
- AIEA will partner with other international educational organizations to demonstrate the value of advocacy efforts;
- AIEA will effectively support JEDI initiatives to address systemic oppression worldwide and foster equity & inclusion; and
- AIEA will advocate for positive climate action.
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