Global Engagement

KIIS believes everyone should have the opportunity to participate in a study abroad program.

We are dedicated to increasing awareness and accessibility while promoting cross-cultural understanding and engagement at home and abroad.

• • KIIS recognizes the importance of high-quality education abroad programs made available to students from a broad range of backgrounds. A central KIIS goal is to enhance intercultural understanding, which includes conversations about identity, race, ethnicity, gender and more. We encourage critical and creative thinking to help students better understand schisms and connections between past and present, while developing personal and professional skills for lifelong enrichment. 

• • For over 50 years, KIIS has been a local, faculty-led, non-profit organization committed to providing all students exceptional and affordable education abroad programs. KIIS actively promotes and supports wide-ranging student and faculty representation and expression, recognizing differences of opinion can enhance crosscultural discussion and understanding. KIIS always strive to foster a respectful and communal learning environment.

• • KIIS awards annually over $90,000 in student scholarships, including multiple KIIS Global Engagement Scholarships to further assist URM populations. We encourage you to review KIIS scholarship opportunities here.

• • KIIS strives to make every reasonable effort to provide encouragement, support, and accommodations to program participants with special needs or disabilities. We encourage applicants to review further information here. 

• • KIIS Program Directors and Faculty, from the 25+ KIIS consortium member institutions, lead and teach on KIIS study abroad programs. KIIS Program Directors have added expertise with the host-country culture and, typically, speak the local language fluently or near fluently. They can assist students and/or faculty with individual questions or concerns at any time before applying, once accepted, or during and after the KIIS program. KIIS actively encourages faculty from a broad range of cultural and academic backgrounds to apply to teach on KIIS programs. For more information on teaching with KIIS, please click here.

• • All students and faculty participate in both pre-departure and on-site orientations to help better appreciate and prepare for their KIIS education abroad experience. Orientation topics include (but are not limited to) discussion of host-country norms and values, race, class, religion, and gender, housing, academics, money matters, communication, and health and safety. KIIS firmly believes that all students and faculty should be able to participate on a KIIS program without fear of harassment or discrimination of any kind.

• • If you are considering studying abroad, or have already made the decision to apply, know that there are many great resources available to you through KIIS and your home institution. They include reaching out to the KIIS office, contacting your Campus Study Abroad office, speaking with a faculty teaching on the program, and/or speaking with a student-mentor who has recently studied abroad. KIIS is happy to put you in contact with a past student participant so you can get a better sense of details of your desired program.

• • The health and wellness of our students and faculty always will remain our highest priority. KIIS encourages all participants to reach out to a mental health counselor before program departure to develop a before, during, and after study abroad plan. By raising awareness and encouraging counseling and support before departure, participants can better manage mental health needs, overcome potential challenges, and be better equipped to engage in an international environment. Program participants are encouraged to review further information here.

• • KIIS is committed to supporting and encouraging safe and equitable educational environments for our students, faculty, and program directors. Students, faculty, and program directors are required to be civil and treat each other with dignity and respect. As such, harassment and/or discrimination of any kind will not be permitted or tolerated. KIIS does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion (creed), gender, gender expression, age, national origin (ancestry), disability, marital status, sexual orientation, or military status, in any of its activities or operations. For more information on Title IX, including reporting and incidents, please see our Title IX & Clery page.