“These events allow us to build relationships and engage with Forum members in different regions by meeting them where they are,” said Marissa Lombardi, Vice President and Chief Learning Officer at The Forum on Education Abroad. “We’re excited to create accessible opportunities for professional development and networking, helping participants immediately apply strategies to address challenges they face in their everyday work.” 

Designed collaboratively with local education abroad leaders, the Regional Seminars this month featured sessions on mental health, access, and supporting diverse student populations. The events also provided opportunities for newcomers to the field to connect with experienced professionals, building a foundation for growth and knowledge-sharing. 

Atlanta, Georgia – December 6, 2024 
Theme: Supporting Access, Mental Health, and Well-Being in Education Abroad 
Host: Georgia Institute of Technology 

The Regional Seminar in Atlanta featured sessions on leveraging education abroad for student success, managing intersecting identities, and addressing mental health challenges. Developed in collaboration with Jennifer Evanuik (Georgia State University) and Lorie Johns Páulez (Georgia Institute of Technology), the Regional Seminar brought together expert panelists, including senior leaders in education abroad, first-generation student initiatives, mental health, and student services. 

Participants praised the Regional Seminar’s inspiring panelists and impactful discussions, while panelists noted the energy and engagement of attendees throughout the day, with one individual noting that, “the sessions were all interesting and interactive”. The event’s programming was well received, too, with one attendee sharing that, “the small intimate format of the Regional Seminar made it very effective for me to gain more out of the event than I would typically get at a national or international conference."

Next Up: Barcelona, Spain – January 31, 2025 
Theme: Cultivating Connection: Encouraging Deeper Student Engagement in Popular Education Abroad Destinations 
Host: CEA CAPA Barcelona Center 

Organized with partners at CEA CAPA, IES Abroad, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, and Universitat Pompeu Fabra Barcelona, the Barcelona Regional Seminar will give attendees tools to navigate challenges of education abroad in popular tourist destinations. Sessions will explore topics like the tourism phenomenon’s impact on communities, cultural and linguistic disconnects, and strategies to foster meaningful engagement through coursework and experiential learning. 

Participants will gain practical insights from U.S. and Spanish perspectives to explore and enhance student learning in these high-volume destinations and can network with colleagues during an opening reception. Space is filling up fast – ! 

Looking Ahead to 2025 

The success of these Regional Seminars highlights The Forum’s commitment to bringing high-quality, regionally relevant programming to education abroad professionals. “We’re looking forward to continuing these efforts in the United States and around the world in 2025,” said Lombardi. 

Learn more about previous Regional Seminars, including events in Florence and London earlier this year, and stay tuned for announcements in January about more Regional Seminars in other exciting locations around the world! ​

ITALY
We are deeply concerned about new requirements the Italian government recently implemented that affects every student applying for a D Visa. The D Visa is required for any student who will remain in Italy for longer than 90 days. Beginning January 10, 2025, every student must visit their local Consulate to be fingerprinted.

The new requirement means thousands of students will need to personally visit Italian Consulates and secure individual appointments. The new regulation eliminates batch processing, so this change will dramatically increase capacity demands on each consulate. It is unlikely that enough appointments will be available for Consulate staff to satisfy demand, especially in the short term.

The Forum is working closely with AACUPI and NAFSA to advocate for a variety of actions that could help ease the expected delays. We are communicating with the Ambassador of Italy to the United States, asking that students be allowed to have fingerprinting performed by Honorary Consulates and/or local police departments. We are also requesting the restoration of batch processing and a delayed implementation date. At present, the Italian government is still working with their Consulates to establish the new procedures, which likely won’t be made public until sometime in early January. We strongly recommend that students apply for D Visas prior to January 10, 2025, or as early as they possibly can.

AACUPI requests that each Forum member send a concise letter emphasizing the impact on their students to the local Italian consulate and the Italian embassy in Washington, DC. Please see the attached template provided by AACUPI. 

USA
Due to uncertainty about the possible reinstatement of another travel ban by the incoming Trump Administration, we advise members to consider advising international students to return to campus prior to January 20, 2025. It is also highly inadvisable for DACA students to participate in study abroad during the Winter/Spring 2025. Members are also advised to prepare for longer processing times to apply for or renew U.S. passports.

UK
The UK has implemented a new Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) UKVI, which will be required beginning January 8, 2025, for all U.S. citizens (and travelers from several other countries). The application can be made found on the UK ETA app or on the page. NAFSA’s EAKC Update from November 4, 2024, has additional information: ""

EU
At some point in 2025, the European Union’s new ETIAS visa system is expected to be implemented. Although a firm date has not yet been determined, we encourage you to become familiar with this requirement and to prepare to advise students accordingly. ETIAS will be required to enter and stay in , including the 29 Schengen countries. Students will be able to study for up to 90 days in any 180-day period. For longer stays, a student visa will be required.

The most up to date information can be found on the EU’s website at .

We will continue to share information on these and other visa issues as it becomes available.

Melissa Torres
President & CEO
The Forum on Education Abroad