In September 2026 the Institute of International Education (IIE) released the “The IIE International Partnership Landscape Survey - Stage 1 report” featuring data from the United States, Canada, and Europe. The studies feature regional data on higher education institutions that capture why institutions partner and where, what activities they pursue, what works, and what is challenging. 

The data was collected with the help of education associations and national funding agencies, many of which are ACA member organisations, to reach national higher education institutions. In total, the study was composed based on responses from 261 HEIs, including 93 institutions (36%) from the United States, 9 (3%) from Canada, and 159 (61%) from Europe. The survey took place in 2025 and most respondents (53%) were in leadership positions of departments or units. 
 
While there are several takeaways from the report, one significant finding is that institutions prioritise quality partnerships over quantity. Partnerships are also commonly comprehensive and attribute value to the many collaborative, formal and informal, activities that are not solely based on student mobility. Additionally, Europe was found to be the most preferred region to partner with for institutions from the United States, Canada, and Europe. 

The series has five stages in total, and will continue to showcase partnership data by region: Stage 2 - East Asia and the Pacific, Stage 3 - Sub-Saharan Africa, Stage 4 - Central & South America, and Stage 5 - Central/South Asia & MENA region. The survey to contribute to Stage 2 of the series, focusing on East Asia and the Pacific, is open until 15 November 2026. If you would like to participate in the survey, learn more here.