Technology

New Report Finds Education Abroad Strengthens Leadership Skills

Published

2 months ago

July 1, 2026

A new AIFS Foundation and IIE report examines how international education experiences shape career pathways, leadership identity, and workforce readiness across more than 20 industries.

STAMFORD, Conn., July 1, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — International education experiences help develop leadership skills that shape long-term career growth across industries, according to Passport to Leadership: The Influence of Education Abroad on Career Pathways and Leadership Development Across Industries, a report by the AIFS Foundation and the Institute of International Education (IIE).

Presented at the NAFSA 2026 Annual Conference & Expo in Orlando, Florida, the report is the latest in the Global Education Research Reports series between the two organizations and draws on survey responses from 44 industry leaders and five follow-up interviews. The study explores how international education experiences shape leadership capacity across sectors, including science and technology, medicine, the arts, sports, business, law, military service, education, public service, and nonprofit.

Participants described education abroad as an early turning point that influenced how they approached leadership, decision-making, and cross-cultural collaboration throughout their careers.

“As technology reshapes the modern workplace, the skills that are hardest to automate—leadership, communication, cultural intelligence, and adaptability—are becoming increasingly important. This report demonstrates how global education experiences help cultivate those skills and prepare participants to lead across industries and sectors,” said Melanie Fench, Executive Director of the AIFS Foundation.

Previous research has examined the relationship between education abroad and career outcomes. Passport to Leadership extends that conversation by exploring how leaders across sectors describe the long-term influence of international experiences on their leadership development, professional identity and career pathways.

Among the key findings:

Education abroad supports career growth. All 44 surveyed leaders reported personal or professional benefits from their international educational experiences, with 98% citing impacts on their professional growth, career trajectories, and skill development.International experiences shape leadership identity. Respondents said their experiences abroad contributed to greater self-awareness, confidence, adaptability, and the ability to lead across cultural and organizational contexts.Global exposure strengthens cross-cultural leadership. 96% of leaders said going overseas widened their mindset and supported the development of cross-cultural communication skills.International experiences strengthen strategic thinking. 78% of leaders reported that their international academic experience helped them develop a global, systems-level perspective that broadened their strategic thinking.

Brittany Hardy, monetized policy lead at Google, described how international experience has shaped her approach to leadership: “International experience is a fundamental necessity for success in the tech industry. […] In this industry, a leader who has navigated foreign environments is better equipped to anticipate how a global policy might land differently in various markets, ensuring that products remain safe and relevant for everyone. This mindset allows a professional to move from simply executing tasks to providing the strategic, inclusive leadership required to manage a worldwide user base.”

For higher education institutions, employers, and students, the findings underscore the importance of designing, supporting, and clearly articulating education abroad experiences as pathways to career readiness and leadership development.

The full Passport to Leadership report is available to read on IIE’s website and features additional findings and participant perspectives from professionals across more than 20 industries.

About the AIFS Foundation

The AIFS Foundation is an independent, not-for-profit, 501(c)(3) tax-exempt public charity established in 1967 with the assistance of the late Senator Robert Kennedy. The Foundation works to help young people from many nations and diverse cultures better understand one another. In partnership with corporations and foundations, the AIFS Foundation provides grants and scholarships to students participating in study abroad programs and offers grants to high schools and higher education institutions to encourage international education and travel.

About the Institute of International Education (IIE)

The Institute of International Education (IIE) is an independent, 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization founded in 1919. IIE helps people and organizations leverage the power of international education to thrive in today’s interconnected world. Its work focuses on advancing scholarship, building economies, and promoting access to international exchange.

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SOURCE AIFS Foundation

Technology

Accessibility Services, Inc. Launches BT RemoteSwitch Nurse Call Adapter

Published

11 minutes ago

August 24, 2026

Bluetooth device lets patients with severe mobility limitations call for help using the assistive technology they already use

HOMOSASSA, Fla., Aug. 24, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Accessibility Services, Inc. (ASI) today announced the launch of the BT RemoteSwitch, a Bluetooth nurse call adapter that gives patients with limited mobility a direct way to call for help without relying on someone else to notice or interpret their needs.

Traditional nurse call systems require patients to press physical buttons. That is a barrier for many people with high cervical spinal cord injuries, ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis), severe cerebral palsy or traumatic brain injury.

The BT RemoteSwitch pairs with a patient’s iPhone, iPad, Android phone or Android tablet and connects to standard nurse call infrastructure through a quarter-inch jack or standard hospital wall adapters. Patients call for help using tools they already know: TD Snap augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) software, Siri or Google Voice Access; a button or switch; or eye-tracking or head-tracking. Setup typically takes 10 to 15 minutes and requires no changes to facility infrastructure. The device supplements existing nurse call methods and safety protocols rather than replacing them.

“We started by asking patients what they needed,” said Brice Green, VP of Business Development at ASI. “Too many people with conditions like ALS or spinal cord injuries were locked out of basic independence.”

The BT RemoteSwitch serves hospitals, rehabilitation facilities, home care and senior living communities, and is typically set up by caregivers, Assistive Technology Specialists or Speech-Language Pathologists. The device is available now for purchase through ASI. The companion BT RemoteSwitch app is available on the Apple App Store and Google Play. Visit (https://go.asi-florida.com/C40xW6) or contact ASI to learn more or purchase.

ASI will debut the BT RemoteSwitch at the ALS Nexus Conference, hosted by The ALS Association, Aug. 23-26, 2026, at the Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress Resort in Orlando, Fla. Attendees can visit ASI in the Nexus Pavilion for a live demonstration and discuss hospital and home care configurations.

About Accessibility Services, Inc.

Accessibility Services, Inc. (ASI) designs assistive technology, including augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) and environmental control systems, to restore independence for individuals with severe disabilities, progressive diseases, and spinal cord injuries. Founded in 1991 by the late Fred Thompson with a primary vision to help veterans, ASI remains guided by his philosophy to start with the customer and work backwards. For more information, visit accessibilityservices.com.

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SOURCE Accessibility Services Inc.

Technology

Following Its $2 Million Kickstarter Success, xLean Brings AI Agent-Powered Floor-Washing Robot to IFA 2026

Published

11 minutes ago

August 24, 2026

DOVER, Del., Aug. 24, 2026 /CNW/ — xLean Robotics will showcase xLean TR1, the world’s first dual-form transformable floor-washing robot, at IFA 2026 from Sept. 4–8, following a preview at ShowStoppers @ IFA, on Sept. 3 at Messe Berlin.

xLean TR1 returns to Berlin with four honors: Best of IFA Next and Best in Design Honoree at IFA 2025, followed by the Red Dot Award: Product Design 2026 and an International Design Excellence Award (IDEA).

More than 2,000 early backers pledged over $2 million to xLean TR1 on Kickstarter, validating xLean’s belief that home robots should address the messes people actually face.

Households face a familiar compromise: autonomous robots manage daily cleaning, but sudden spills, dried stains, and muddy paw prints still require another appliance. TR1 closes that gap by operating as an autonomous whole-home floor washer, then transforming in one second into a handheld cleaner for targeted messes, combining robotic convenience with immediate human control.

That raised a broader question: can a robot understand what someone needs rather than wait for a predefined command?

Central to xLean’s presentation will be live demonstrations of EvoMate™ OS, an AI Agent experience designed to make robot cleaning as natural as asking someone for help. Visitors will see TR1 interpret one-sentence requests, identify what needs cleaning, execute the appropriate task, and report completion. Demonstrations will also show simple visual assistance, including locating everyday items and checking whether pet essentials need attention.

Unlike voice systems limited to preset commands, EvoMate™ OS interprets intent and manages cleaning from request through completion, without complex maps, menus, mode selections, or manual settings. To support this intelligent experience, xLean TR1 is powered by the D-Robotics Sunrise™ X5 AI chips with 10 TOPS of computing power.

The same user-driven philosophy extends to product design. Following strong community support, xLean introduced two supporter rewards: a newly unlocked Space Silver TR1 and personalized top-cover laser engraving for names, messages, or graphics. Both will be shown at IFA as examples of community-driven personalization and the beginning of deeper European localization.

xLean invites European distributors, retailers, and service partners to discuss market launches, localized experiences, channel partnerships, and long-term service support and experience TR1 in action at IFA.

Visit xLean at ShowStoppers @ IFA on Sept. 3 and Booth 11.1-129 during IFA 2026, Sept. 4–8.

More information: https://xlean.ai

Media Contact
Davy Kwok
davy@xlean.ai
+86 13246736683

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SOURCE xLean Robotics

Technology

Queue Associates Achieves Microsoft Milestone with All Three Solutions Partner Designations and Six Solution Paths

Published

11 minutes ago

August 24, 2026

Microsoft recognition affirms Queue’s extensive capabilities across AI, business applications, cloud, data, modern work, and security.

NEW YORK, Aug. 24, 2026 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — Queue Associates has reached a major milestone in its more than 30-year relationship with Microsoft, attaining all three Microsoft Solutions Partner designations under the Microsoft AI Cloud Partner Program: Solutions Partner for AI Business Solutions, Cloud & AI Platforms, and Security.

“We achieved all three Microsoft Solutions Partner designations and six solution paths four months ahead of schedule, bringing our customers exceptional Microsoft expertise with the personal commitment that defines Queue.” – Jeffrey Goldstein, Global Managing Director

Queue has achieved all six solutions partner paths that contribute to the designations: Business Applications, Modern Work, Security, Data & AI (Azure), Infrastructure (Azure), and Digital & App Innovation (Azure). Collectively, the recognitions validate Queue’s reach across the Microsoft technology ecosystem. Additionally, Queue holds Microsoft’s Small and Midsize Business Management Specialization, validating demonstrated customer success, certified expertise, and an established consulting practice serving the SMB market.

These distinctions reflect a depth of knowledge more commonly associated with much larger Microsoft partners. Queue combines extensive global delivery resources and wide-ranging technical proficiency with the close customer relationships and personal accountability that have defined the company for more than three decades. Sustained investment in specialized talent, technical skilling, and customer success enables Queue’s teams to deliver locally while drawing on experience from its worldwide operations.

Serving midmarket and large clients worldwide, Queue’s capabilities span Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central and other Dynamics 365 ERP and CRM applications; Microsoft 365, Power Platform, and Copilot; Azure infrastructure; Microsoft Fabric, data, and AI; application development and DevOps; and cybersecurity with identity, data, applications, and cloud environments. Customers can draw on this breadth through Queue as a single Microsoft partner, bringing together the technology and operational capabilities they need as their priorities become increasingly connected.

“We realized our goal of achieving all of Microsoft Solutions Partner paths four months ahead of schedule, demonstrating our commitment to Microsoft and the Microsoft AI Cloud Partner Program,” said Jeffrey Goldstein, Global Managing Director of Queue Associates. “I’m deeply proud and honored that we can bring our customers this level of Microsoft knowledge while preserving what has always defined us: understanding their businesses, sharing their goals, and being personally accountable for their success.”

Microsoft’s three Solutions Partner designations bring the six paths together throughout its commercial solution areas. Business Applications and Modern Work contribute to the Solutions Partner for AI Business Solutions designation. Data & AI (Azure), Digital & App Innovation (Azure), and Infrastructure (Azure) contribute to Solutions Partner for Cloud & AI Platforms. Security represents the path for Solutions Partner for Security. Microsoft evaluates partners based on requirements that encompass performance, skilling, and customer success.

Queue’s Security portfolio includes Microsoft Defender, Microsoft Sentinel, Entra, Purview, and Security Copilot, as well as identity and access management, threat detection and response, security operations, data governance, compliance, Zero Trust, cloud security, and assessment and remediation.

This combination helps Queue support customers pursuing Microsoft Frontier initiatives and establish the technology foundations for AI and agents. ERP modernization can incorporate analytics, automation, AI, and security. Copilot and agentic AI initiatives can address governance, identity, data, and cloud readiness from the outset, giving customers a practical path from strategy to results.

About Queue Associates

Queue Associates is a leading global Microsoft Solutions Partner serving midsized and large organizations in the Americas, APAC, and EMEA. Since its founding in 1992, Queue has helped customers transform operations, advance AI, and Frontier goals, strengthen security, and realize greater value from Microsoft technologies with deep acumen, personalized service, and long-term partnership.

Visit QueueAssoc.com for more information.

Media Contact

Karl Joseph Ufert, Queue Associates, 1 2122691313, kufert@queueassoc.com, https://queueassoc.com

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SOURCE Queue Associates