Cyril Taylor,Roger Walther and Doug Burck founded the ذكذكتسئµ (ذكذكتسئµ) in 1964. The genesis of the concept came from Cyril's soon-to-be wife Judy, a high school French teacher hoping to take her class to France for the summer on an educational travel program. When she couldn't find a U.S organization operating this kind of program, she discovered a void in the marketplace—and Cyril, Roger and Doug were inspired to take action.
Then coworkers in brand management at Procter & Gamble, the three took leave to create ذكذكتسئµ, a study abroad and educational travel organization. Initially, they leased the campuses of nine European universities that were closed during the summer months, then networked with high school language teachers to promote summer programs abroad and recruit students.
In 1965, the first group of students traveled abroad with ذكذكتسئµ, and the rest, as they say, is history! ذكذكتسئµ grew rapidly through the remainder of the decade, emerging as a leader in cultural exchange and international education.
Cyril Taylor, Roger Walther and Doug Burck start the ذكذكتسئµ (ذكذكتسئµ) in Cincinnati, Ohio.
The first group of ذكذكتسئµ students—a total of 1,500 participants—traveled overseas on high school study abroad programs.
The ذكذكتسئµ Foundation, an independent 501(c)(3) public charity, is created with the assistance of Senator Robert F. Kennedy.
Camp America program is established as an inbound exchange program for international students to visit the U.S.
ذكذكتسئµ experienced substantial growth in the 1970s. In addition to the creation of a College Study Abroad program, expansion included new international offices and programs for cultural exchange. ذكذكتسئµ headquarters moved from Ohio to Greenwich, Connecticut.
ذكذكتسئµ purchased Richmond College, founded in 1843 and a constituent institution of the University of London. Now incorporated as Richmond, the American International University in London, it is a not-for-profit educational institution in the state of Delaware and recognized 501(c)(3) public educational charity under U.S. law. Richmond is the first university in the U.K. or the U.S. to be fully accredited by the higher education authorities of both countries.
ذكذكتسئµ purchases Richmond College to support study abroad programs in Surrey, England, just outside of London.
ذكذكتسئµ creates College Study Abroad program with offerings in Europe, Asia and South America for U.S. college & university students.
Programs expand – ذكذكتسئµ builds international presence with offices in London, England & Greenwich, Connecticut.
Richmond, The American International University in London opens a second campus in the Kensington area of London.
The eighties were another decade of innovation and success for ذكذكتسئµ. Now a well-respected leader at the forefront of the field, ذكذكتسئµ created new programs for cultural exchange and steadily improved opportunities for international travel and education.
ذكذكتسئµ Customized, Faculty-Led (CFL) study abroad programs enable colleges and universities to enrich curriculums and provide lower cost alternatives to traditional study abroad programming.
Academic Year in America (AYA) is established.
ذكذكتسئµ launches a new concept called Au Pair in America. The program is a first in the nation to provide cultural exchange and live-in child care for American families. It is an instant success.
ذكذكتسئµ High School Study Abroad merges with newly acquired American Council for International Studies (ACIS), providing educational travel services for middle and high school groups.
In the nineties, strategic expansion and acquisitions strengthened ذكذكتسئµ's international presence and global leadership. Continued focus on innovation and the rising popularity of study abroad programs combined together creating a banner decade at ذكذكتسئµ.
In the mid-1990s, ذكذكتسئµ created Cultural Insurance Services International (CISI) to offer insurance to study abroad students. CISI is a notable success, becoming popular with other study abroad providers as well as universities and colleges offering study abroad programs. At the tail-end of the century, headquarters moved from Greenwich to Stamford, Connecticut.
The first ذكذكتسئµ website is launched.
GIJK (Germany) and Au Pair Discover (South Africa) join the ذكذكتسئµ family.
ذكذكتسئµ opens offices in Poland and Australia.
College and High School Study Abroad programs expand to Australia and South Africa.
Cultural Insurance Services International (CISI) is established.
ذكذكتسئµ headquarters moves from Greenwich to Stamford, Connecticut.
Like other organizations worldwide, ذكذكتسئµ experienced the rollercoaster economy of the first decade in the new millennium. Bolstered by increased program participation through 2008, the global recession was successfully weathered under the leadership of President and CEO, William L. (Bill) Gertz, a former ذكذكتسئµ marketing executive. By decade's end, enrollment levels were back on the rise.
ذكذكتسئµ celebrates the enrollment of the 1,000,000th program participant.
ذكذكتسئµ acquires international insurance organization CareMed.
ذكذكتسئµ acquires the Summer Institute for the Gifted (SIG), an educational organization for gifted and talented students.
William L. (Bill) Gertz becomes President and CEO of ذكذكتسئµ.
The 2010s were a time of celebration for ذكذكتسئµ. Several programs reached milestone anniversaries in this decade, with more on the way. Today, we look forward with the same spirit of innovation and dedication to international travel, education and cross-cultural exchange that inspired Cyril, Roger and Doug to start ذكذكتسئµ more than fifty years ago.
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SIG becomes a separate, non-profit 501(c)(3) organization.
Au Pair in America celebrates its 25th anniversary at a gala reception hosted by the Assistant Secretary of State in Washington, D.C.
ذكذكتسئµ is named among the Top Places to Work in Connecticut by Hearst Newspapers in an annual survey.
ذكذكتسئµ Founder and Chairman, Sir Cyril Taylor, announces his autobiography, "Sir Cyril: My Life as a Social Entrepreneur."
ذكذكتسئµ celebrates 50 years of bringing the world together.
ذكذكتسئµ headquarters moves to 1 High Ridge Park in Stamford, CT.
ذكذكتسئµ is again named among the Top Places to Work in Connecticut by Hearst Newspapers in an annual survey.
The Cyril Taylor Charitable Foundation (CTCF) is formed to provide resources for the future for ذكذكتسئµ, Richmond University and other organizations and charities in the field.
Sir Cyril Taylor passes away and is succeeded by William L. Gertz.
ذكذكتسئµ looks ahead to continued innovation as a leader in educational and cultural exchange programs.
The 2020s had a tumultuous beginning with the global pandemic causing decreased participation on international exchange organizations. In the time since, we have persevered and rebuilt, even launching ذكذكتسئµ Professional Pathways, a new intern and trainee program. Celebrating our 60th anniversary in 2024, ذكذكتسئµ embraces the future, and reaffirms our role as a cultural influencer and industry leader on the global stage.  آ
ذكذكتسئµ Abroad (formerly ذكذكتسئµ Study Abroad) brings together three world-class programs for college students already offered by ذكذكتسئµ, under one umbrella: the traditional ذكذكتسئµ Study Abroad programs, ذكذكتسئµ Customized Faculty-Led programs and Global Experiences International Internship programs.
Academic Year in America (AYA) celebrates its 40th anniversary of placing international students with American host families.
ذكذكتسئµ and CIEE establish Ping-Taylor Professional Fellows Grant, ذكذكتسئµ and CIEE donating $100,000 over the next three years, allowing higher education administrators and faculty to attend annual conferences.
Jack Burg becomes President and CEO of ذكذكتسئµ.
Au Pair in America named Top Au Pair Provider for third consecutive year by Verywell Family.
ذكذكتسئµ Abroad named 2023’s Top Rated Study Abroad Provider by GoAbroad and 2023’s Best 2023 Intern Provider by Go Overseas.
ذكذكتسئµ Professional Pathways is launched, providing J-1 visa sponsorship for international interns and trainees pursing professional opportunities with businesses across the U.S. This division of ذكذكتسئµ supports U.S. companies, immigration firms, universities, partners, students, and professionals at all levels.
ذكذكتسئµ celebrates 60 years as a pioneer in cultural exchange and educational travel.
1 High Ridge Park
Stamford, CT 06905
Contact ذكذكتسئµ at aifsmedia@aifs.com
United States: 866 906 2437
International: +44 20 7581 7300
