KINGSTON, R.I.–July 1, 2026–The University of Rhode Island has announced a new partnership with WorldStrides, a global leader in educational student travel and experiential learning. Through the partnership, URI will serve as WorldStrides’ official School of Record for select international and community engagement programs beginning in August 2026. Founded in 1967, WorldStrides is the nation’s largest international educational affiliate, offering immersive education abroad experiences to over 550,000 students annually.

In identifying a new School of Record partner, WorldStrides sought a university with a strong academic reputation, a demonstrated commitment to access and student success, and a collaborative approach to expanding global education. The University of Rhode Island, Rhode Island’s flagship public Carnegie R1-designated research university, stood out as an ideal partner, with a long-standing dedication to increasing participation in study abroad and a proven track record of supporting diverse student populations.

While many programs take place at accredited host universities abroad, certain programs are designed to expand access to destinations, disciplines, and experiential learning opportunities that may not otherwise be available. As such, WorldStrides partners with a School of Record for those select programs operated directly by its academic team to ensure students participating in those programs can earn transferable academic credit. As the School of Record, URI will play a critical role in this process, providing academic oversight by reviewing syllabi, approving course offerings, evaluating instructor qualifications, and ensuring overall academic quality.

“We’re proud to partner with a university so clearly invested in access to global education,” said Jennifer Acosta, executive vice president for WorldStrides Higher Education. “From our collaboration on the Rhody Abroad collection to their role as our school of record, we see this partnership as a powerful step toward removing barriers and creating more opportunities for students to study abroad.”

That commitment is reflected in URI’s Rhody Abroad programs, which offer affordable, accessible pathways for students to study in destinations such as Spain, South Korea, Costa Rica, and Ireland. Delivered in partnership with WorldStrides, the programs are intentionally designed to reduce financial and academic barriers while maintaining high-quality, credit-bearing experiences abroad.

“Serving as the School of Record for WorldStrides allows URI to expand access to high-quality global learning opportunities while ensuring that academic rigor, learning outcomes, and curriculum alignment remain at the center of the student experience,” said Kristin Johnson, URI vice provost for global initiatives.

Through this expanded partnership, WorldStrides and URI are working together to create more seamless academic pathways and broaden access to global education—particularly for students who may not have previously seen study abroad as within reach.

“Global education should be accessible, meaningful, and connected to students’ academic and professional goals,” said Johnson. “This partnership creates new pathways for students who might otherwise face barriers to study abroad and strengthens our commitment to internationalization across all academic programs.”