Goucher College and ISEP Study Abroad announce strategic partnership

Goucher College and ISEP Study Abroad have announced a new strategic partnership that brings together these two leaders in study abroad to expand access to transformative educational opportunities for all students. By innovating study abroad programming and increasing access for students across the globe, Goucher and ISEP will cultivate international learning opportunities and outcomes that will impact students worldwide. The partnership further strengthens Goucher’s focus on global education and its work of inspiring global changemakers.   

Goucher already works closely with ISEP, a non-profit education abroad consortium with over 300 institutional partners across the world, to support Goucher students in their pursuit of an international education experience. Building on the strong foundation of the existing partnership, and based on shared values, this new partnership will include collaboratively developing new co-branded short-term education abroad programs, expanding access to study abroad programs to students who have traditionally been left behind, and offering new in-person orientation and alternative winter and spring break programming, hosted on Goucher’s campus. Goucher will also become a central hub for ISEP-hosted retreats and board meetings, as the two organizations explore opportunities to deepen collaboration on campus over the coming years. 

“Since our founding in 1885, Goucher College has been committed to global education. Welcoming ISEP to our college community further supports that mission and will allow our organizations to capitalize on opportunities and expand our leadership in international and experiential education,” said Kent Devereaux, Goucher College President. “As one of the only colleges in the nation to make it possible for 100% of its students to study abroad, Goucher continues to be at the forefront of study abroad experiences with this innovative new partnership with ISEP.”  

“Since our inception at Georgetown University in 1979, we have put students at the center of our work,” said John Lucas, Ph.D., President and CEO of ISEP Study Abroad. “This new facet of our partnership with Goucher College means that we will be able to facilitate international education experiences for an often-underserved population of students. Providing academically rigorous, high quality, and accessible international education experiences to students are fundamental to our core values, and we are thrilled to continue to expand our reach with the support of Goucher.” 

The organizations’ work together will focus on several distinctive initiatives, such as reimagining short-term study abroad experiences for underserved students. These programs will be designed for students who traditionally have had more difficulty studying abroad, including student athletes, transfer students, first-generation, and Pell Grant-eligible students. New programming will also explore opportunities to emphasize career exploration and development.    

Goucher has a long history of international education. John Franklin Goucher helped establish the college in Baltimore and was also involved with opening and supporting schools in Japan, South Korea, and India. Goucher has welcomed international students for more than 125 years and is currently home to students from more than 50 countries. In the first half of the 20th century, Goucher students could participate in international experiences in Switzerland and France before the programming options expanded in the 1970s. In 2006, Goucher became the first college in the United States to implement study abroad as a general education requirement for all students. Today, Goucher’s study abroad program includes more than 100 international program options in short-term, semester-long, and year-long programs.    

Named one of the best national liberal arts colleges, most innovative colleges, and best colleges for study abroad by U.S. News & World Report, Goucher College inspires global changemakers and provides the academic and career experience that helps students become who they are meant to be. Located in Baltimore, Maryland, Goucher believes in the power of global education and makes it possible for 100% of its students to study abroad as part of their undergraduate education. With a range of in-demand programs and small class sizes, the core curriculum equips students to collaboratively address complex problems, successfully navigate a global economy, and tackle humanity’s most pressing issues.  For more information, please visit www.goucher.edu and follow Goucher College on X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat, and TikTok.     

For over 45 years, ISEP Study Abroad has empowered higher education institutions to expand students’ perspectives and potential through transformative global experiences. Committed to making education abroad accessible, ISEP opens opportunities for students of all backgrounds. ISEP Direct programs connect students with academically rigorous offerings in top destinations while our collaborative ISEP Exchange programs bring international perspectives to campuses in the U.S. and throughout the world. More than 300 institutions partner with ISEP’s experienced team, cultivating a dynamic global community that thrives on the diversity of its programs, participants, and opportunities. For more information, visit www.isepstudyabroad.org.