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-R): AIEA Treasurer, Leigh Poole and 2025 Innovative Excellence Award Recipient University of California, Davis (UC Davis) Representatives, Jolynn Shoemaker and Joanna Regulska.​

Criteria and 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.

Submit Nomination

Deadline: October 1, 2025

Past Recipients

2015 - 2020

2015
St. Louis University 
St. Louis University Association for International Debate; 
Center for Global Citizenship
Press Release (.pdf) ​

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2018
University of Sherbrooke
“An Interdisciplinary and Integrated Approach to Enriching Health 
Professional Programs in Global Health.”
Press Release (.pdf)

2016
Westminster College 
"Take a Friend Home" Initiative 
Press Release (.pdf) ​

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2019
Pima Community College 
“Connecting Bi- National Communities beyond the Borders of Opportunity for All”
Press Release (.pdf)

2017 
Kennesaw State University
“Around the World in 80 Days” (AW80) Initiative
Press Release (.pdf)
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2020
University of Calgary International 
“International Partnerships Assessment Rating Index (IPARI)”
Press Release (.pdf)

2021 - 2025

​2021
Durban University of Technology
Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL)” initiative​
Press Release (.pdf)

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2024
Universitat Rovira i Virgili 
Systemic University Change Towards Internationalization (SUCTI) project
​​Press Release (.pdf)

​2022
University of Richmond
Restyled approach to IEW on community engagement with internationalization
Press Release (.pdf)

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2025
​University of California, Davis
UC Davis Sustainable Development Leadership Initiative (SDLI)​
​Press Release (.pdf)

2023
Indiana University- Purdue University Indianapolis
Global Engagement Pathways
Press Release (.pdf)