Top International Education Influencers on Twitter

 

photo credit:
Slava Baranskyi

Hey, international educators!
Do you think Twitter is just for complaining about your significant other, posting photos of various forms of breakfast food and #hashtagsthatcatchonfornoreason? Certainly not! There is actually a wealth of discussion and information circulating around the international education field every day on Twitter. So you better activate that account because Abroad101 has compiled a quick list of Twitter users pertinent to international education that you should be following!

Below, find our picks for the most influential individuals tweeting from their own accounts as well as some of the heavy-hitting international education organizations that are wired into the Twitter frenzy.

Now, these aren’t just any users. We took meticulous care in searching for some of the best of the best Twitter accounts in the global ed arena. These people and orgs have a high level of interaction with others, tweet daily and provide quality content.

So, without further ado, here is our list of Twitter heroes…

Individuals

@MandysMashups

Mandy Reinig has created quite the buzz for herself on social media. She’s found her niche in social media as it relates to international education, and operates her own consulting services. Her tweets reflect this passion, with regular links to blog updates and reports on social media in international education. She also retweets relevant posts in the field and provides tons of personal insight!

@DavidComp

David Comp has a heavy hand in international education, from working in International Programs at the University of Chicago-Booth and editorial advising for the Journal of Studies in International Education, to conducting his own research on international education influences. Comp provides a healthy balance of his own insights into the field with a sampling of retweets and links to international education efforts as they relate to diplomatic relations.

@Karinfischer

Karin Fischer is a Senior Reporter for the Chronicle of Higher Education, tackling issues related to internationalization, study abroad and all things international education. You’ll find comprehensive coverage of what’s happening in the field by not only her own authorship, but her guidance to other credible and interesting sources.

@EdUSAtips

Although the name of the account shies away from being of sole ownership, Marty Bennett has given his account a personal touch, responding vigorously to those who interact with him. He provides guidance and useful information regarding his work at EducationUSA, the means by which many international students find their way to study in the United States.

@SuzeKP

Suzanne Philion is not your average face in international education or studyabroad, but she surely beats the drum of the subject! She is a senior innovation adviser at the Bureau of Educational & Cultural Affairs, a branch of the State Department. Suzanne consistently tweets and responds to the most ingenious and creative ways in which education is being reinvented both at home and abroad – and especially when the two mix! With a solid knowledge of the field, endless ideas about where its going and textual wit that doesn’t stop, she is a great resource to discover!
Organizations

@ConnectStateGov

ExchangesConnect is the official Twitter account for the Bureau of Educational & Cultural Affairs. Providing great complementary information to Suzanne, this account tweets out expert insights, official reports, content from international education events and even a few fun things like “What’s the Weather Like Wherever You Are Right Now”. Don’t think they’re too high and mighty to answer, either! They’re great at answering questions and drumming up support on Twitter.

@IIEglobal

The Institute for International Education is a real powerhouse of research in the field, with reports on what has, is and will happen. These guys understand the power of the retweet, and should be considered a good aggregator of tweets coming from other international education influences the world over!

@NAFSA

Any international education enthusiast with a Twitter handle should follow NAFSA, the Association of International Educators. NAFSA recently tweeted a storm of updates, answers to questions, links and photos from their annual conference, but content flows year-round. In addition to retweeting content from their compatriates, they provide some interesting links to their own content, particularly in public policy of international education.

@GlobalHigherEd

Although tweets mainly come from co-editor Kris Olds, the GlobalHigherEd account and corresponding blog represents a compendium of international education contributions providing the latest analysis of how knowledge flows throughout the world as well as jumping headfirst into conversations regarding the field.

@Matador Network

Although perhaps our most non-traditional pick, the independent travel magazine Matador Network dabbles quite a bit in international education by association and their audience! Their content, consistently promoted on Twitter, serves as a guide for anyone in the field who is interested in learning about travel and foreign cultures. The account has a personal side, as their self-proclaimed Twitter and Facebook Ninja (Andy) responds to users often.