Dear Friends and Partners,

It is my pleasure to introduce the Global Competency Research Consortium (GCRC) initiative.

This is a pioneering international research program focused on the professional, personal, and intercultural competencies students develop through Study Abroad. Its most ambitious feature is a longitudinal research program lasting up to 10 years, designed to measure both the immediate and longer-term impact of international experiences.

The project is being developed as a consortium of universities and Study Abroad programs, with each partner making a very modest contribution based on its number of students. It can be implemented at the individual center or location level, regionally, or globally.

As part of the initiative, each participating student receives the STUDY ABROAD GLOBAL EXPERIENCE CERTIFICATION, recognizing their participation and competency development. In addition, each participating Study Abroad program or university receives its own Certification Badge, recognizing its participation in the GCRC initiative.

At SAA Analytics, we believe the initiative offers significant potential benefits for Study Abroad programs and universities, including research, evidence-based differentiation, international benchmarking, and demonstrating the impact and value of Study Abroad.

We are currently presenting the initiative to major global players in Study Abroad and leading U.S. universities that send students abroad. In this context, we believe that your institution could play an important role in this international research initiative.

Importantly, institutions can join the GCRC and begin working with the initiative at no cost for the Spring 2027 term, providing an opportunity to experience the project before deciding on future participation.

Please do not hesitate to contact me if you would like any additional information or clarification.

Warm regards,

Dr. George Monray
Head of Research
SAA Analytics