Impact and Resources
Information on the benefits of exchange programs.
Alliance Resources
Learn more about the ways in which exchange programs support U.S. national security, strengthen the U.S. economy, and increase mutual understanding.
Alliance Key Facts
Alliance Impact one-pager demonstrates how exchange programs are a cost-effective investment in the U.S. economy and national security.
Alliance Policy Priorities Paper and One-Pager
The Alliance’s international educational and cultural exchange policy priorities (and accompanying one-pager) for the incoming Trump Administration.
BridgeUSA Economic Impact Fact Sheets
These BridgeUSA Fact Sheets provide data on the challenges that seasonal businesses and summer camps faced in 2021. The Covid-19 pandemic and ongoing visa processing challenges have continued to harm state economies, business performance, and U.S. public diplomacy goals in all fifty states. Check out the State Fact Sheets, as well as the 2021 SWT National Impact Fact Sheet and 2021 Camp Counselor National Impact Fact Sheet.
International Exchange: A Proven Investment campaign
This messaging platform tells the story of the transformative power of international exchange in advancing America’s economic and national security interests.
State Fact Sheets
These State Fact Sheets provide participant and economic data for privately and federally funded programs as well as higher education exchange within all fifty states and the District of Columbia.
Exchange Program Fact Sheets
These Program Fact Sheets provide valuable programmatic information and guide our Congressional advocacy on on behalf of international exchange programs. Fact Sheets provide a brief summary of the different exchange program categories under the U.S. Department of State.
Eureka Facts Reports
This series of BridgeUSA programmatic report highlights the impact of these programs on participants, host communities, and American public diplomacy.
Eureka Facts Au Pair Report
The Alliance for International Exchange commissioned research firm EurekaFacts to conduct a multi-perspective assessment of the Au Pair program multi-perspective assessment of the Au Pair program. View the EurekaFacts Executive Summary of Findings, as well as a downloadable PDF. Please also see the Alliance Fact Sheet, highlighting the program’s positive impact on American public diplomacy values as well as the U.S. economy. We thank several organizations for their financial support of this report.
Eureka Facts Camp Counselor Report
The Alliance for International Exchange commissioned research firm EurekaFacts to conduct a multi-perspective assessment of the Camp Counselor program. Check out the report Fact Sheet, as well as the Alliance Blog Post highlighting the program’s positive impact on American public diplomacy values as well as the U.S. economy. We thank several organizations for their financial support of this report.
Eureka Facts Summer Work Travel Report
The Alliance for International Exchange commissioned research firm EurekaFacts to conduct a multi-perspective assessment of the Summer Work Travel (SWT) program. Check out the report’s Executive Summary as well as the Fact Sheet highlighting key findings and strong impact of the program in local U.S communities. Click here for employer testimonials on the SWT program. We thank several organizations for their financial support of this report.
Eureka Facts Intern and Trainee Report
The Alliance for International Exchange commissioned research firm EurekaFacts to conduct a multi-perspective assessment of the Intern and Trainee programs. Check out the report Fact Sheet, PowerPoint, as well as the Alliance Blog Post highlighting the programs’ positive impact on American public diplomacy values as well as the U.S. economy. We thank several organizations for their financial support of this report.
Eureka Facts COVID-19 financial impact on jobs
The Alliance for International Exchange commissioned research firm EurekaFacts to conduct a multi-perspective assessment of the financial impact of COVID-19 on the exchange community.
Key Reports from Around the Exchange Community
Open Doors Reports
Open Doors®, supported by a grant from the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs at the U.S. Department of State, is a comprehensive information resource by the Institute of International Education on international students and scholars studying or teaching at higher education institutions in the United States, and U.S. students studying abroad for academic credit at their home colleges or universities
NAFSA Economic Impact
NAFSA conducts an annual state-by-state and congressional district analysis of the economic contributions of international students and their families to the U.S. economy. The economic contributions of international students are in addition to the immeasurable academic and cultural value these students bring to our campuses and local communities.
Department of State by State
The State Department benefits the American people by advancing U.S. national security, promoting our economic interests, providing services and reaffirming our country’s exceptional role in the world. A state by state breakdown of #ExchangesImpact can be found here.
Global Ties, U.S. – Community Impact Study
The Global Ties U.S. Community Impact Study examines the socio-cultural impacts of international exchange programs on U.S. communities and on the individuals who engage with them here at home. It is the first study of its kind to focus on the domestic impacts of exchange programs and provides a comprehensive assessment of the benefits local people and organizations derive through participating in exchanges like the International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP).
AFS International – Global Families, Global Impact
The “Global Families, Global Impact” report by AFS Intercultural Programs explores the experiences of host families involved in international youth exchanges. With 75+ years of expertise in homestay exchange programs, AFS has documented numerous stories from host families who integrate exchange students into their lives, fostering mutual learning and growth. Annually, AFS has about 8,000 students and families participating in exchange programs, having reached nearly 500,000 families in more than 60 countries worldwide to date. Through a large-scale global survey targeted at some of these former AFS host families, this study aims to understand the impact of hosting on families, contributing to the limited existing research focused on host families.
ACPD Special Report on Exploring U.S. Public Diplomacy’s Domestic Dimensions: Purviews, Publics, and Policies (2022)
The U.S. Advisory Commission on Public Diplomacy released a special report exploring the role that public diplomacy plays in advancing Americans’ understanding of the domestic impact of U.S. global engagement. Read the full report here.
Truman Center City & State Diplomacy Task Force
: Broadening Diplomatic Engagement Across America
In March 2022, the Truman Center for National Policy created the Task Force on City and State Diplomacy, comprising more than 30 experts and practitioners and guided by five co-chairs. The subsequent report outlines their findings and recommendations with regards to subnational diplomacy.
American Council on Education: Mapping Internationalization on U.S. Campuses
Conducted every five years, Mapping Internationalization on U.S. Campuses assesses the current state of internationalization at American colleges and universities, analyzes progress and trends over time, and identifies future priorities.
Department of State Studies on Impact of Exchange
The Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) has compiled a number of resources, including a state-by-state breakdown, on the short and long-term impact of international exchange programs. Check out the statistics on the ECA website.
Interim National Security Strategic Guidance of the United States of America
The Administration released its 2021 Interim National Security Strategic Guidance. View the full document here.
Global Ties, U.S. – State and Local Impact
The National Impact Report, compiled from data by the Global Ties network, provides information on the total number of international leaders, and the countries they are visiting from, when they visit the U.S. as IVLP participants. The report also shows the total federal funding and economic impact international exchange network. In addition, Global Ties, U.S. also produces state and local impact reports.
Global Education and Training Services
The Global Education and Training Services is with the U.S. Commercial Service, an agency within the International Trade Administration, the export arm of the U.S. Department of Commerce. Their mission is to support U.S. educational institutions and companies in their export promotion efforts to generate economic growth and jobs here in the United States.
NAFSA | Developing a Globally Competitive Workforce Through Study Abroad
The report Developing a Globally Competitive Workforce Through Study Abroad, released by NAFSA in September 2020, examines the skills acquired during study abroad experiences and their value to U.S. employers and job seekers.
2022 Comprehensive Annual Report on Public Diplomacy & International Broadcasting
The 2022 Comprehensive Annual Report on Public Diplomacy & International Broadcasting, released by the U.S. Advisory Commission on Public Diplomacy (ACPD) annually, assesses the major Public Diplomacy and global media activities conducted by the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Agency for Global Media.
Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs Functional Bureau Strategy
The Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) released its Functional Bureau Strategy detailing how its programs advance the National Security Strategy.
USGLC Report on Reports: A Roadmap for U.S. Global Leadership
In March 2021, the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition (USGLC) released its latest Report on Reports: A Roadmap for U.S. Global Leadership – a review of over 120 reports from think tank and policy organizations across the political spectrum with recommendations for the Administration and Congress on foreign policy and national security, which is compiled every four years.
U.S. Department of Commerce: National Travel and Tourism Strategy
In June 2022, Commerce Secretary Gina M. Raimondo announced a new National Travel and Tourism Strategy that focuses federal government efforts to support the U.S. travel and tourism industry and sets an ambitious five-year goal of attracting 90 million international visitors to the United States each year.