IREX

05/29/2026

A great moment for IREX and our partners: At IREX’s Washington, DC office, Aleksander Dardeli, President and CEO of IREX, and Rabieh Razzouk, Director of the Learning Systems Institute at Florida State University, signed the agreement formalizing LSI’s collaboration on the Early Grade Education Activity (ASAS) in Jordan.

They were joined by Rebecca Bell, IREX’s Chief Global Impact Officer, and Stephanie Zuilkowski, LSI’s Associate Director for Research, marking the start of an exciting partnership to strengthen early grade education and teacher preparation in Jordan.

Sponsored by the U.S. Department of State, ASAS supports Jordanian-led efforts to advance literacy, numeracy, and the systems that help students, educators, and communities thrive.

Read more: https://bit.ly/4u6QfBh

05/28/2026

Congratulations to the Fellows on completing the Young Leaders of the Americas Initiative. In 2026, we celebrate two important milestones: the 250th anniversary of the United States and 10 years of YLAI. Over the past decade, YLAI has connected emerging entrepreneurs from Latin America, the Caribbean, and Canada with partners in the United States—helping expand opportunity, strengthen markets, and build lasting ties across the Western Hemisphere.

This milestone reflects the power of investing in young leaders whose ideas, entrepreneurship, and collaboration are shaping a more connected, innovative, and prosperous region. Today, YLAI’s network of more than 60,000 young leaders and 1,900+ Fellows speaks to the scale of that impact—and to the enduring value of partnership grounded in shared opportunity.

We are proud to celebrate the 2026 Fellows and all they have accomplished, and we look forward to the ideas, leadership, and partnerships they will continue to spark in the years ahead.

The Young Leaders of the Americas Initiative is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State and funded by the U.S. Government.

05/22/2026

As the school year comes to an end, we’re celebrating Eduardo and Yesenia and all they’ve brought to IREX through the Corporate Work Study program. Over the course of the year, they’ve supported teams across the organization, built new skills, and contributed to work that expands professional development opportunities for educators and professionals in the United States and around the world.

We’re grateful for our partnership with Don Bosco Cristo Rey High School and proud to help create meaningful, hands-on experiences where students can learn, contribute, and grow. As one school year wraps up, we’re excited for everything these young people will do next.



Learn more about us at irex.org and at dbcr.org.

05/21/2026

What helps veterans succeed in the civilian workforce? Training programs that are aligned with market demand.

When programs develop transferable skills and provide practical support, they can help close the gap between learning and employment. For veterans like Yurii Dalyk in Ukraine, that can include translating military experience into civilian contexts and creating pathways to real jobs.

As veterans move into new chapters of civilian life, strengthening their skills through programs like IREX's Veteran Reintegration Program can benefit individuals, communities, and businesses around the world.

👉 Read Yurii’s story: https://bit.ly/4dwr6cN

05/19/2026

We’re excited to share IREX’s 2025 Annual Impact Report.

This report highlights how, across the United States and around the world, IREX is working with partners to expand opportunity, strengthen workforce readiness, advance responsible AI and technology use, support recovery and resilience in Ukraine, and help prepare the next generation of leaders and learners.

At IREX, we believe that investing in people leads to stronger communities, institutions, and economies.

Read the 2025 Annual Impact Report: https://www.irex.org/news/irex-releases-its-2025-annual-impact-report

05/15/2026

MEET IREX AT NAFSA 2026

Are you ready to transform higher education and workforce development through global engagement? Join IREX at NAFSA 2026 in Orlando, May 26–29, and discover how intentional partnerships and practical program design can drive real impact for your institution.

As NAFSA convenes around the theme Global by Design, IREX invites you to connect and explore how we help universities, governments, and industry partners:

• Strengthen graduate employability and connect students to jobs
• Build international partnerships that deliver long-term value
• Design and implement exchanges and mobility programs that achieve institutional and workforce outcomes
• Simplify processes with trusted J‑1 visa sponsorship and program support

Let’s collaborate to expand meaningful global experiences and build future-ready institutions.

Ready to take the next step? Schedule a 30-minute conversation with Jonathan Ferguson at IREX and unlock new opportunities for your organization: www.irex.org/nafsa2026

05/14/2026

Effective leadership matters even more in an AI‑driven world.

As AI tools reshape how information is created, shared, and acted on, IREX President and CEO Aleksander Dardeli's outlook is clear: technology alone won’t deliver progress. The real differentiator is leadership that invests in people, judgment, and trust.

In our newest IREX insight, Aleks reflects on why effective leaders focus not only on adopting AI, but also on how decisions are made and what values guide innovation. Especially in complex environments, leadership means pairing new tools with critical thinking, accountability, and a commitment to learning.

AI can accelerate change. Leadership determines whether that change strengthens institutions and expands opportunity or deepens gaps.

👉 Read the full insight: https://bit.ly/4ummddB

IREX President and CEO Aleksander Dardeli recently shared his outlook on the need to invest in leadership during a special program, offering lessons for leaders across business, government, and communities. Drawing on experience across emerging markets, post-conflict settings, and advanced economies...

05/12/2026

IREX exhibited at the AI+ Expo in Washington, DC, showcasing our approach to turning artificial intelligence into practical, real‑world solutions.

As a global nonprofit working in over 100 countries, IREX helps institutions move beyond AI experimentation toward structured, safe, and effective adoption. At our booth, we shared how we support universities, education systems, governments, media organizations, and NGOs to integrate AI into everyday workflows AND grounded in human oversight, critical thinking, and organizational realities.

Our message at the Expo was simple: access to AI isn’t the challenge but making it reliable, responsible, and useful in real work environments is. That’s where IREX comes in.

Thank you to everyone who stopped by our booth to connect with the team. If you did join us at AI+ Expo, we welcome you to reach out and continue the conversation.

Learn more at www.irex.org

05/07/2026

Universities around the world are exploring AI—but many don’t yet have the strategy, policies, training, or governance needed to use it responsibly.

IREX and Development Gateway just released a new report exploring ways to help higher education leaders benchmark readiness and prioritize safe, ethical, scalable AI integration.

Read the full report: https://bit.ly/4weK8Np

05/05/2026

Meet Tori, an English language educator in Maine who recently participated in a Teacher Exchange in Morocco.

Through her exchange, Tori strengthened her practice and perspective while collaborating with local educators through shared classroom instruction and peer learning – an experience she describes as “life changing.”

An experienced teacher and board member of the Northern New England Association, Tori returned to Maine with insights that will inform her approach to teaching, collaboration, and professional learning in her home community. At IREX, we are proud to support educators like Tori through fellowships that invest in people as leaders, strengthen educational institutions, and advance U.S. engagement through education. Her experience reflects the potential of educator exchanges and the role English language education plays in connecting people and institutions worldwide.