With a passionate team spread across the globe, our vision is all about fostering a more connected and compassionate world through transformative international experiences… AND to achieve this vision sustainably.
Honeybee Leadership
According to research by Harvard Business School, companies with strong sustainability practices outperform their peers in terms of financial performance, risk mitigation, and customer loyalty.
A study of 2,250 global companies found that those focusing on sustainability had a 46% higher return on equity compared to their competitors.
So, it turns out, doing good is also good business! In 2023, we had a Sustainable Leadership assessment performed by the Institute for Sustainable Leadership. This Institute evaluates companies to see if their operational and strategic practices are “honeybee” (sustainable) or “locust” (not sustainable). According to the report, CIS Abroad runs as a honeybee company. So, it turns out, doing good is also good business.
Integrating the UN SDGs into Operations
One area we wanted to improve on was to integrate the UN Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs) into our strategy. In 2023 we signed the CANIE (Climate Action Network for International Education) Accord and committed to a five-year plan. A CIS Abroad employee suggested that we create a part-time position to keep us accountable to this plan and keeping us accountable and we implemented this great idea.
This staff position has allowed us to map our operations to the UN SDGs by adapting the Forum on Education Abroad’s rubric. The analysis showed that our operations are aligned strongly with five of the goals:
#3: Good Health & Well-being
#4: Quality Education
#5: Gender Equality
#8: Decent Work & Economic Growth
#10: Reduced Inequalities
Now we are developing a quarterly monitoring system and focusing on areas for improvement to achieve the greatest impact.
Innovative Programs and Scholarships
Our sustainability initiatives are driven by the belief that international experiences can empower students to create a positive global impact. We’re not just sending students abroad; we’re creating change-makers.
Our “Green Campus” evaluation tool assesses our international partner institutions based on their commitment to sustainability. We feature top performers on our website, helping students and advisors choose locations that prioritize sustainable practices. In addition, our “Go Green Scholarship” incentivizes students to volunteer and join campus clubs while abroad, and participate in meaningful actions towards fostering environmental and cultural stewardship.
Empowering Students with Sustainable Living Guides
“Sustainability” is now a searchable academic area on our website, so students and advisors can find relevant coursework abroad. There are on-site guides for each of our locations, featuring a sustainability section that lists local water consumption trends, recycling methods, transportation options, and places to shop for local food and vintage clothing. Students have the tools to live more sustainably while in their host communities.
Promoting Sustainability Through Outreach and Education
We strive to share our work so others can benefit from the rubrics and systems we create. We speak at international conferences, collaborate on sessions, and host blogs on our website. We keep sustainability topics at the forefront of internal discussions through presentations, retreats, and brainstorming sessions.
In Early August, our staff gathered for our annual retreat in our home office in a refurbished factory building in Massachusetts, where we use LED bulbs and bamboo toilet paper, source locally for all meals, minimize single-use plastics, and learn from one another how to live towards our vision.
Through these initiatives, we hope to introduce scaleable change for our field, have fun along the way, and help others to follow suit. Join us!
About the author: Kris is President & CEO of CIS Abroad, an innovative education abroad company dedicated to creating a more connected and compassionate world. Kris entered the field 17 years ago from the non-profit development world, holds a MPH from the University of Michigan, and served as a community health agent in the Peace Corps in Mali, West Africa. She is the author of a best-selling personal ethnography based on her Peace Corps experience, and co-author of a memoir of a Holocaust survivor. She is a founding board member of the Global Leadership League. Her two adult children had no choice but to go abroad and have studied and volunteered in nine countries. She deeply believes in the transformational power of international experiences.
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