UF Recognized with the 2026 IIE Andrew Heiskell Award for the COIL/Virtual Exchange for Staff Program
The University of Florida has been recognized as the winner of the 2026 IIE Andrew Heiskell Award in the category of Innovation in International Education for the COIL/Virtual Exchange for Staff Program. The Institute of International Education (IIE) bestows this honor to recognize and support the innovative and successful models for developing and expanding international education in practice today.
The IIE Heiskell Awards were created in 2001 to promote and honor outstanding initiatives conducted in international higher education by IIENetwork members. IIE is proud of continuing the legacy of the award’s namesake, Andrew Heiskell, a former Executive Committee member of IIE’s Board of Trustees, a renowned international and cultural philanthropist, and supporter of international education. Now in the program’s 25th year, IIE has given nearly 100 IIE Heiskell Awards to institutions and organizations around the world. Being selected signals that peer reviewers and international education experts consider the program among the strongest examples in the field.
Unlike traditional virtual exchange programs that primarily connect students or faculty, COIL/VE for Staff connects university staff members with international colleagues who hold similar professional roles. Participants engage in intercultural learning, professional conversations, networking, and collaborative projects focused on shared challenges and opportunities. “COIL/VE for Staff demonstrates that internationalization can happen across the entire university, producing exchange best practices and meaningful institutional change,” said Dr. Marta L. Wayne, Dean UF International Center and Associate Provost for Global Engagement.
The program launched in 2024 with Universidad CEU Cardenal Herrera in Valencia, Spain, and expanded in 2025 to São Paulo State University in Brazil, bringing together 29 participants. In 2026, UF expanded the program to Mexico through a partnership with the National Autonomous University of Mexico. “This award reflects UF’s commitment to making global engagement accessible throughout our university community,” said Dr. Paloma Rodriguez, Director of UF's Office of Global Learning.
Congratulations to Paloma Rodriguez and the Office of Global Learning team for their outstanding efforts, leadership, and commitment to advancing international education at the University of Florida.
Thank you for representing UFIC and the University of Florida so exceptionally and for continuing to elevate our global reach and impact. Congratulations on this wonderful achievement!