Date: May 19-20, 2026
Event Location: GLS Language School – Berlin, Germany
Symposium Schedule
All sessions will be conducted in English. More details will be released at a later date.
Monday, May 18, 2026
Arrival: Enjoy free time to explore Berlin and connect with colleagues as they arrive. There is no formal dinner event; Dinner is an informal chance to connect with colleagues on your own.
Tuesday, May 19, 2026
8:30am-9:15am Registration/Check-in
9:15am-9:45am Shaping the New Normal: Welcome and Intro
CSIET welcomes you to the 3rd Annual CSIET Symposium: Shaping the New Normal. It has been two years since CSIET held its first annual International Symposium in Madrid to discuss CSIET Model Practices for Promoting Mental Wellness. Last year we were in São Paulo, Brazil, “Mind[ing] the Gap” in communications that exists between U.S. exchange organizations and their international partners. This year’s symposium builds on the progress we’ve made in the past year. All of us understand the importance of effective advocacy in promoting valuable youth exchange experiences for all stakeholders, including: international agencies, sending parents, exchange students, U.S. based exchange programs, host families, school administrators and American students. Our sessions over the next two days will offer participants the opportunity to engage, not only with each other, but also with students, parents and advocates in the field who are setting the foundation for a “new normal” across borders, generations and cultures. We’re glad you are here!
Presenter: Chris Page, CSIET
9:45am-10:45am Assessing Trends in the Current High School Exchange Market
TBA
10:45am -11:15am Break
11:15am-12:00pm TBA
12:00pm-1:30pm Lunch
1:30pm-2:15pm U.S. Department of State, Program Updates and Analysis
TBA
Speaker: Amy Rofman, Supervisory Program Analyst, U.S. Dept. of State
2:15pm-2:45pm Break
2:45-4:15pm Advocacy Panel: Making the Case for European-US Youth Exchange
As European-U.S. secondary school exchange programs face mounting challenges—from declining student recruitment and visa uncertainty to host family shortages and increased competition from alternative study options—the need for coordinated, strategic advocacy has never been greater. This timely panel at the CSIET International Symposium brings together leaders from across the exchange community to examine the root causes behind these trends and to identify actionable solutions. Panelists will explore shifting perceptions among European families and students, including concerns about safety, cost, academic recognition, and the evolving appeal of English-language destinations beyond the United States. The discussion will also address structural barriers, such as visa policy constraints, school district resistance, and the growing complexity of placement logistics in an increasingly regulated environment. Importantly, the session seeks to move beyond problem identification to focus on advocacy strategies that work. Panelists will share successful approaches to engaging constituents in support of youth exchange. Topics will include coalition-building across CSIET member organizations, messaging that resonates with both European and American audiences, and the role of data and storytelling in demonstrating the long-term value of exchange programs.”
Facilitator and Panelists: Chris Page (Facilitator); Oscar Porras (Educatius), Maria Kovacs (InterStudy), TBA
4:30pm-7:30pm Reception
Take this opportunity to network and engage with fellow symposium attendees during a afternoon reception at ESPM featuring hors d’oeuvres and refreshments.
Wednesday, May 20, 2026
8:30am-9:30am Implementing Model Practices for Mental Wellness
Building on the 2025 CSIET International Symposium: CSIET Board Member and President of High School in the USA Ellen Hoggard will moderate a session on the release of new Model Practices for Promoting Mental Wellness in the international youth exchange community. This interactive presentation and discussion will center on the new “traffic light” system for categorizing mental health concerns during the recruitment, orientation and “in country” phases of the student exchange life cycle. Ellen will give an overview of the work of the CSIET Model Practices Committee, who worked with Dr. Fraser Smith and Dr. Laura Thompson to identify and refine these new CSIET Model Practices. CSIET Executive Director Chris Page will introduce CSIET’s new non-clinical survey, Student Mental Health & Readiness for Exchange Placement Questionnaire, for adoption by the youth exchange community. Brenda Padilla Ericksen will demonstrate CSIET’s new asynchronous training on this subject. .
Presenter: Ellen Hoggard, Chris Page, Brenda Padilla Ericksen
9:30am -9:45am Break
9:45am-11:00am Leveraging Scholarship Programs
TBA
Presenter: TBA
11:00am -11:15am Break
11:15am-12:00pm Student Panel
CSIET will moderate a panel discussion between recent exchange students and alumni professionals who credit youth exchange as a chief contributor to their mindset and post exchange achievments. The group will share lived experiences and discuss the value of youth exchange from their current perspectives.
Moderator: CSIET