MSU International Institute receives grant to help students obtain passports and enhance study abroad opportunities

Under the American Passport Project, MSU’s International Institute will assist up to 25 students who have faced impediments in pursuing study abroad opportunities with guidance and assistance for international education. This effort is endorsed by the Institute of International Education situated in New York City.

“We are excited that the Institute of International Education is facilitating the process for 25 MSU students to obtain their first passport,” remarked Dan Reynolds, the associate vice president for international programs and executive director of the MSU International Institute. “Obtaining a passport marks one of the initial challenges in meeting the requirements for engaging in a study abroad program, which has the potential to reshape students’ perspectives on the world they inhabit and operate in.”

This program targets students in the early stages of their university education to provide them with sufficient time to navigate through the passport application process and study abroad planning, while also eliminating any financial hurdles. It aligns harmoniously with MSU’s strategic plan’s directive to “cater to the holistic student” by expanding immersive learning experiences.

The non-profit IIE collaborates with governments, policymakers, educators, and employers to prepare students and professionals for global employment and empower them to address the intricate challenges confronting the world. The IIE’s Passport Project has assisted 176 higher education establishments across 41 states since its inception in 2021 and aspires to issue 10,000 passports to U.S. students by the end of the current decade.

For further details regarding MSU’s International Institute and study abroad opportunities, please visit www.international.msstate.edu.