University Partner Guide

Welcome to SAF

Study abroad changes lives. And changed lives change the world.

For two decades, SAF has changed lives by introducing promising young minds to the best international programming available. As a U.S. not-for-profit, we have established an exceptional network of the world’s most preeminent educational institutions, with over 30 academic centers in all corners of the globe, from Rome to Cape Town, Nagoya to the Galapagos Islands. Our mission is to transform today’s top students into the next generation of global leadership, through opportunity and immersive overseas

experiences that equip them for the challenges of tomorrow.

As a former study abroad student myself, I firmly believe in the power of international education, and its ability to help individuals reach their full potential to become the global leaders of tomorrow. We provide that opportunity, bridging scholars from around the world with a prestigious network of university members spanning the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, Europe, New Zealand and Asia. Discover what possibilities our long-standing partnerships could present you with, by exploring our global opportunities.

Dr. Gregory D. Hess President & CEO

Our Values

Weoffer the most personalized, professional, and prestigious study abroad opportunities in the world.

Wedo this with a globally professional approach driven by a fervor for personalization.

We

Company History

The Study Abroad Foundation, also known as SAF, originated in 2000 when a group of international educators came together to open the world of study abroad to students from Asia.

Established as a U.S. non-profit organization with an independent board of directors, the Study Abroad Foundation has held at its core a vision to provide high-quality study abroad opportunities and personal support for university students. These efforts have taken us across the globe, with students from Brunei, China, Japan, Kazakhstan, Korea, Singapore, and Taiwan benefiting from the experiences we develop.

The Study Abroad Foundation earned a reputation for excellence amongst universities in the United States, leading to partnership development, throughout the 2000s, in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, New Zealand, Spain, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. Our ambitions to provide world-class international opportunities prompted in 2017 the Study Abroad Foundation’s merger with the leading study abroad provider in the United States, IES Abroad, ushering in a new era of pioneering and innovation. Today, we lead the field of study abroad.

SAF - a Part of IES Abroad

SAF is a part of IES Abroad, a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization based in Chicago in the United States. SAF operates offices in China, Japan, and Korea.

IES Abroad is overseen by an independent board of directors—a group of elite business and academic leaders in their field—and is held to the highest U.S. government transparency and ethical business standards.

The Study Abroad Foundation specializes in educational services, including the administration of study abroad programs, academic advising and assistance in choosing programs, assisting with arrangements for participation, and facilitating transcripts of overseas academic program credits.

■ In merging with SAF in 2017, IES Abroad identified a number of synergies between the organizations:

■ Two similarly mission-driven organizations focused on high quality academic and internship programming, and thoughtful preparation of our students for intercultural experiences. Everything we do is about the student. We’re a passionate team of study abroad professionals who believe in creating once-in-a-lifetime educational adventures that transcend expectations. We believe every student should have the opportunity to go abroad in an enriching, safe, and superior academic and cultural environment.

What Makes SAF Different

■ Non-profit status: We are mission-driven. We do not pay money to shareholders but reinvest funds into the student experience

■ U.S.-based headquarters to develop high-quality programming with hosting institutions and provide ongoing student support throughout a student’s time abroad

■ In-depth, professional academic advising to help students find the right program for their needs

■ SAF programs include housing vetted for quality standards, even in the most competitive housing markets (e.g. Berkeley, California).

■ Broad range of programming available from one organization, ensuring programs are available for students with a variety of academic needs

■ SAF works with top-ranked sending and hosting institutions, ensuring the highest quality of study opportunities and students

500+ 100 study abroad opportunities universities

Increase international student mobility by offering a wide range of opportunities for overseas coursework, research, and internship studies for students.

Customized group programming options

Leverage SAF’s access to a broad global university consortium and IES Abroad’s 30+ global teachers centers for customized, academic study-tour programming.

Professional development and networking

Stay up to date with industry changes through SAF’s annual professional development, training, and networking opportunities geared to transferring good practice and institutional capacity building.

Premium access to top

Gain access to limited-seat programs and exclusive scholarship opportunities offered at SAF’s Top 100 prestigious university partners.

Access decades of study abroad experience

in the pursuit of your branding and enrollment growth.

#1 student care commitment

Minimize the risks associated with student mobility with SAF and IES Abroad’s refined safety policies and crisis management procedures.

Study Destinations

GLASGOW

DUBLIN

EDINBURGH

MANCHESTER

CAMBRIDGE

BERLIN

BRISTOL

AMSTERDAM

LONDON

ANGERS

LEIPZIG

PARIS

FREIBURG

VIENNA

ARLES

LIMERICK OXFORD NICE

SALAMANCA

LEON BARCELONA

MADRID

GRANADA

MILAN SIENA

ROME

BRISBANE

SYDNEY

SAF Host Universities

IES Abroad Centers

In association with:

AUCKLAND

CHRISTCHURCH DUNEDIN

Leadership

Our organization is lead by a team of global leaders. Motivated by our mission to educate students to become global leaders too, our staff leads by example. Meet some of our key leadership team.

Host Universities

Why work with SAF as a university partner?

Your effective and efficient recruitment partner

A pioneer in the field, SAF was among the first to realize the synergies of working collegiately to fully prepare and support short-term, visiting, non-degree students. Today, SAF offers sophisticated enrollment management services to dramatically reduce hosting institutions’ time, costs, and efforts to recruit and enroll international students.

SAF Scholars meet qualifications, exceed expectations

SAF Scholars hail from top universities in Asia; our expert staff evaluate applicants to ensure they meet your specific requirements before being submitted to your university admissions.

Promoting your programs

With our global network of offices, consortia of university partners and dedicated program specialists, we work with you to identify existing programs to grow or opportunities for customized programs to improve our ability to recruit students for you.

Home Universities

Why work with SAF as a home university partner?

The broadest range of programs

Our comprehensive program portfolio includes more than 500 programs across thousands of disciplines in both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres academic calendars.

Accelerate your internationalization goals

Gain instant access to our prestigious network and annual professional development programs geared toward transferring good practice and institutional capacity building.

Customized group programming options

Leverage SAF’s access to a broad global university consortium and IES Abroad’s 30+ global teachers centers for customized, academic study-tour programming.

A reliable, non-profit, U.S.-based organization

SAF is part of IES Abroad, the largest 501(c)3 non-profit study abroad organization in the United States. IES Abroad has served more than 100,000 students since 1950.

Program Development

We build academic programs for students and institutions across the globe, fostering collaboration with internal and external partners to drive international mobility and enhance the mission of IES Abroad. For a home university partner, your first contact will be with SAF’s team in your country. You’re most likely in touch with our team already.

After your initial inquiry assessment, you’ll be partnered with a Program Development Manager based in our office in the United States.

To make an inquiry, please visit our website: iesabroad.org/saf/customized-program-development-form

You can also reach us at SAFprograms@iesabroad.org

Discuss

program idea and evaluate potential for development

Feedback Clarify

from your in-country SAF team and formalize customized program development request form online

program goals, components, and priorities. Create initial program outline and budget

Sales and Marketing Support for your Programs

SAF’s management, marketing, design, web, IT, program coordination, and program development teams coordinate to promote unique life-changing study opportunities. These corporate teams work closely with and support our global network of offices around the world. SAF country teams recruit students locally and work with our program development teams, program management teams and you, our partner universities.

Some of the support you can expect from SAF

Student consulting

On-campus events

International office advocacy

Student and faculty webinars

Conferences and seminars

Virtual marketing using social media and search

Brochures, catalogs, and other traditional channels

Per program support

Tailored campaigns

Industry events and webinars

SAF Offices

HQ in Chicago (U.S.)

Offices around the world include:

Beijing (China)

Shanghai (China)

Guangzhou (China)

Tokyo (Japan)

Kyoto (Japan)

Seoul (Korea)

Get in Touch - Headquarters

■ The Senior Associate Vice President for SAF is the main point of contact for M.O.U. and other partnership inquiries

■ Terms and conditions are standard across all partnerships

■ Contact us with new developments, key changes, updates, and any information that impacts on your programs}

■ Contact us for program development inquiries

■ We will reach out to you once a year to request specific school and program updates

Carol A. Carmody Senior Associate Vice President for SAF

ccarmody@SAFAbroad.org

Lucia You Director of Program Management

lyou@iesabroad.org

Zachariah Simon Program Development Manager

zsimon@iesabroad.org

Get in Touch - China

Reach out to:

■ Plan in-county visits or webinars

■ Regarding English language testing support

■ Coordinate student recruiting initiatives, branding support, university social media campaigns or website updates

Tracey Tao Assistant Vice President, SAF China

tracey.tao@SAFchina.org

Get in Touch - Japan

Reach out to:

■ Plan in-county visits or webinars

■ Regarding English language testing support

■ Coordinate student recruiting initiatives, branding support, university social media campaigns or website updates

Brett Rumminger Director, SAF Japan

Brett.Rumminger@studyabroadfoundation.org

Get in Touch - Korea

Reach out to:

■ Plan in-county visits or webinars

■ Regarding English language testing support

■ Coordinate student recruiting initiatives, branding support, university social media campaigns or website updates

Suyeon Lee Director, SAF Korea

suyeon.lee@safkorea.org

Get in Touch - Corporate Marketing

Reach out to:

■ Coordinate specific marketing campaigns in target countries

■ Provide feedback and testimonials from our students at your institution

■ Assist us with university-specific marketing requirements, including approvals

■ Connect us with your school’s marketing office and share marketing assets such as logos, photos, and video

Ben Mack AVP of International Marketing

bmack@IESabroad.org

William Haglund AssociateDirectorofGlobalMarketing

whaglund@IESabroad.org

Get in Touch - Accounting

Connect with Account to send:

■ Payment communications

■ Invoices and invoice updates (extra service added, changes to invoices)

■ New or updated bank account details

Lesli Bair

Bookkeeper (accounts payable)

lbair@IESabroad.org

Denise Buehring

Billing Assistant (accounts receivable)

dbuehring@iesabroad.org