FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

AUSTIN, TX – Thursday, November 13, 2025 API (Academic Programs International) is proud to announce that its Chief Executive Officer, Patrick Vogt, has been recognized by The PIE News as one of “The PIE’s 50 Voices for the Americas, 2025.” This prestigious annual list highlights innovative leaders, influential advocates, and key voices helping shape the future of international education across North, Central, and South America.

Compiled by The PIE News’s editorial team, the “50 Voices for the Americas” list spotlights individuals whose expertise, leadership, and advocacy have been instrumental in navigating a year marked by significant policy shifts and sector-wide challenges. This year’s list expands beyond North America to include influential figures from Central and South America, reflecting the growing interconnectedness of the global education landscape.

Beth Kennedy, Editor of The PIE News, emphasized the importance of recognizing those who have provided steady leadership and critical insight during a turbulent year for the U.S. and Canadian international education sectors.

“It has been a rollercoaster year for colleagues across the Atlantic and there have been many voices who have provided essential commentary,” Kennedy said. “This list acknowledges the champions in our sector, along with the innovators and those who keep colleagues informed and supported.”

API CEO Patrick Vogt’s inclusion reflects his continued leadership in advocating for the rights and experiences of international students, and his strategic guidance as API continues to expand access to global education opportunities.

“We are thrilled to see Patrick recognized among such a distinguished group of leaders,” said Mary Kay Hyde, CMO at API. “Patrick has been a steady, strategic voice advocating for equitable opportunities for global learners, championing student access to career-enhancing experiences, and guiding API through a year of meaningful growth and innovation.”

Under Vogt’s leadership, API has expanded its reputation, not only as a mission-driven organization, but also as a leader in cutting-edge technology solutions that empower students and universities. His commitment to programming excellence, combined with a forward-thinking approach to AI-powered tools and services, continues to position API at the forefront of an increasingly interconnected global ecosystem.

About API

Academic Programs International (API) encourages students of all ages to embark on a lifelong experiential educational journey that enriches lives, communities and organizations and helps every student, college and company to achieve their goals.  Through the creation of APIConnect, an experiential education technology platform, the company helps colleges, universities and students create and discover learning experiences customized to meet their needs. APIConnect offers a vast library of destinations, accredited courses, internships, and original programming geared toward maximizing students’ college experiences so they are better prepared for the workforce upon graduation. Based in Austin, TX, API sends thousands of students on hundreds of programs both virtually and in nearly 70 cities among more than 25 countries in Asia-Pacific, Europe, Latin America, North America, and the Middle East.  

API Launches ConnectAIQ: A Smarter, AI-Powered Platform to Transform Experiential Learning Across Campus

Austin, TX — Tuesday, May 27, 2025 – Academic Programs International (API) proudly announce ConnectAIQ, a next-generation experiential AI learning platform designed to revolutionize the way institutions develop and deliver hands-on learning opportunities, as well as the way they advise and coach students. Formerly known as APIConnect, the platform combines smart, AI technology, scalable innovation, and powerful data tools—all at no cost to API member institutions.

More than just a name change, ConnectAIQ represents a bold leap forward: an open, agnostic platform where any school or provider can build, curate, and manage any experiential learning opportunity, all while protecting student data. From study abroad to internships, from faculty-led programs to research and service experiences, ConnectAIQ unifies everything in one intelligent, user-friendly space.

“With ConnectAIQ, we’re building the infrastructure for our entire sector and for the future of experiential education,” said Patrick Vogt, CEO at API. “It’s a truly inclusive and adaptive AI platform that meets students and universities where they are—while providing the real-time data and smart tools needed to scale access to life-changing learning opportunities. And, with Membership, it’s free to access and use.”

Key benefits of ConnectAIQ for students and institutions include:

• AI-Powered Advising and Coaching: Delivered throughout the student lifecycle,
• AI-Powered Course Matching: Help students stay on track with degree progress. Known as the Global Course Navigator, this app provides intelligent course mapping and personalized program recommendations.
• Mobile-First Experience Delivery: Meet students wherever they are—on campus, abroad, or in the field—with timely, critical details delivered through a student-facing mobile app.
• Custom-Branded Hubs: Easily build and promote a curated catalog of experiential programs aligned with institutional priorities, brand, and cost-of-attendance.
• Centralized Program Management: Design, share, and approve all types of experiential programs—from study abroad and internships to exchanges and campus-based initiatives—in one place.
• Actionable Data & Insights: Track student interest, identify advising trends, and use real-time analytics and reporting tools to inform program development and strategy.
• Smart, Scalable Innovation: Combine modular program components to develop new models that meet evolving student needs and institutional goals.

ConnectAIQ empowers institutions to serve more students, more effectively, by embedding experiential learning into the heart of the student journey—from discovery and advising to program completion and beyond.

As demand grows for scalable, tech-enabled solutions that expand access to real-world learning, ConnectAIQ is the connective tissue between student potential and transformative experience.

To learn more or schedule a demo, visit https://apiabroad.com/newsroom/

New APIConnect mobile app meets students where they are and delivers a seamless experience for onboarding, orientation, and on-site delivery.

AUSTIN, TEXAS – May 31, 2023 — Academic Programs International (API), an  experiential learning and education technology provider, is pleased to launch the APIConnect mobile app for students. With this new app, students have useful features that make their onboarding, orientation, and on-site experiences safer and more enjoyable. Students can download the app from the Apple App and Google Play stores for the spring 2024 application season. 

APIConnect Simplifies the Process

Once students have applied to their program, APIConnect allows them to quickly dive into their onboarding process and easily and securely upload documents, such as their passport, headshot, and transcript, right from their phone. Furthermore, students receive notifications and nudges to ensure they stay on track and don’t miss important deadlines. Prior to this launch, onboarding was one of the most stressful and cumbersome parts of the experiential learning process industry-wide. The APIConnect app makes it fun and easy for students.

Consistency You Can Rely On

The app also improves the orientation portion of the student journey, creating a level of consistency and access that is unparalleled in the industry. Students can watch videos and review important materials relevant to their personalized program and can access the content for reference again and again, at any time, from any place. 

Making Important Information More Accessible

Once students arrive in their host country, the APIConnect app transforms into an on-site concierge, providing important information about health and safety, their API resident director, housing details, city guides, travel management, calendar of events, activity planning and more.

“API is on a mission to serve all students who want to study or intern abroad and to use technology to meet them where they are. In addition to providing unprecedented levels of student choice, we are making the onboarding, orientation, and on-site delivery of programs easier, safer, more intuitive, more affordable, and less stressful through our app,“ said Patrick Vogt, CEO. “The APIConnect mobile app will substantially improve students’ feelings of preparedness and readiness by increasing transparency, providing choice, personalization, and delivering the right content at the right time from wherever students are. Using the APIConnect app, every student will be supported at every stage of their experiential learning journey. This is the start of a new level of service and support for students in our industry.”

About Academic Programs International (API)

Academic Programs International (API) encourages students of all ages to embark on a lifelong experiential educational journey that enriches lives, communities and organizations and helps every student, college and company to achieve their goals.  Through the creation of APIConnect, an experiential education technology platform, the company helps colleges, universities, and students create and discover learning experiences customized to meet their needs. APIConnect offers a vast library of destinations, accredited courses, internships, and original programming geared toward maximizing students’ college experiences so they are better prepared for the workforce upon graduation. Based in Austin, TX, API sends thousands of students on hundreds of programs every year, both virtually and in nearly 70 cities in 26 countries in Asia-Pacific, Europe, Latin America, North America, and the Middle East. Read more at https://apiabroad.com/

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APIConnect technology provides an unprecedented level of transparency that allows students to select and personalize their learning experience like never before.

AUSTIN, TEXAS – May 30, 2023—Academic Programs International (API), an  experiential learning and technology provider, today announces significant advances in education technology and career-accelerating experiential programs  through the introduction of an unprecedented level of choice, personalization, and transparency to students of all ages interested in experiential learning abroad.

Living up to its mission to increase access to all learners to embark upon experiential learning programs, API is leveraging the power of the APIConnect platform to innovate and break down barriers for students who want to intern or study abroad. As such, API has added functionality to its platform to give students a level of visibility, choice, and personalization at scale – a first for the study abroad industry. Students can create their own custom experience based on their needs, with governance by their college or university.  

To deliver this new level of control to students, APIConnect starts by leveraging machine learning and AI that enhances the student’s program selection experience.  Students begin their experiential journey by honing in on the best program options for them based on important considerations, such as major, area of interest, required classes, location and more, all through the use of intelligent technology. Once a program session is selected, students can then view, select and personalize their housing—down to the room level—where housing options are guaranteed to have been Visited and Verified™ by API. Depending on location, students will have a range of options to choose from, and each option will be clearly displayed, described, and priced. Students can choose Comfort, Classic, and Basic room types giving students the flexibility to select the accommodations that best suit them. 

In addition, students can also customize their programmatic excursions based on their academic needs, interests, and preferences. Excursion options are curated across several subject areas and the city and country students are visiting, as well as outside of their host country, should they want to expand their options further.  

Students get a new level of information about their international university, class registration details, more information about student life onsite, and videos about the university.  When it comes to class selection, students will have enhanced abilities to view and select their classes through access to a library of thousands of in-person and virtual classes, all accredited by the U.S. Higher Educational System. These class options ensure students can get the credits they need to stay on track to graduate on time.

All of these selections are all visible for students before they complete their application and commit to a program. That means that they can see and choose precisely what they will be getting as part of their program in advance of making any payments or committing to any policies. With this launch, API is putting students in the driver’s seat. 

“API’s proprietary research indicates that the number one complaint students have with studying abroad is the lack of control, visibility, and choice offered to them. Today, API is pleased to be able to change all of that,” said Patrick Vogt, API’s CEO. “We are bringing choice and personalization to students at a level that, while standard on platforms such as Netflix, Tesla, and AirBnb, has never been a consideration in the experiential learning industry. Through APIConnect, student choice and personalization will become the new normal in experiential learning because it is one of the key elements to enabling students of all backgrounds, budgets, lifestyles, and education levels to experience career-boosting, life-changing experiential learning programs.” 

Read more about API at https://apiabroad.com.  

About Academic Programs International (API)

Academic Programs International (API) encourages students of all ages to embark on a lifelong experiential educational journey that enriches lives, communities and organizations and helps every student, college and company to achieve their goals.  Through the creation of APIConnect, an experiential education technology platform, the company helps colleges, universities, and students create and discover learning experiences customized to meet their needs. APIConnect offers a vast library of destinations, accredited courses, internships, and original programming geared toward maximizing students’ college experiences so they are better prepared for the workforce upon graduation. Based in Austin, TX, API sends thousands of students on hundreds of programs every year, both virtually and in nearly 70 cities in 26 countries in Asia-Pacific, Europe, Latin America, North America, and the Middle East.

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New APIConnect app delivers airfare savings and free services that cater to student and faculty educational travel needs

AUSTIN, TEXAS – June 1, 2023 — Academic Programs International (API), the experiential learning organization leading advances in education technology and career-accelerating experiential programs globally, has announced a new app called Fare Finder™. It offers students and faculty significant savings on airfare for all educational travel.

Reduce Financial Barriers with Fare Finder

Available through the APIConnect platform, the Fare Finder app is just one of the many new technology solutions API is launching. The company works to reduce the financial barriers that prevent students from participating in experiential programs, such as study abroad and global internships.  Students using Fare Finder can choose from a wide variety of discounted rates for their education-related travel with major airlines. In addition to lower prices, Fare Finder provides:

• Access to more favorable terms and conditions, such as increased schedule change flexibility and free baggage, in most cases
• 24/7 assistance so students will always be supported if an emergency arises 
• Ability to hold flights and share itineraries ahead of purchasing to allow time for trip planning 
• Comprehensive search and sort filters, such as price, quickest route, most sustainable/greenest route, and more
• A simple booking process that allows students to compare options and book a flight in just a couple of minutes
• Upon arrival, airport pick-up service through API concierge 

Building Apps to Support Students

“All students and faculty can use the Fare Finder app to access discounted airfare for their educational travel needs,” said Patrick Vogt, CEO. “The APIConnect platform and our Fare Finder app are key pieces of the puzzle allowing us to achieve our purpose of encouraging students of all ages to learn through experience. This is why we are actively building apps that support all students — beyond just those participating in API programs. Making educational travel more affordable will increase access for all. Whether it is travel from home to college, travel for a study or intern abroad program with any provider, travel for a college exchange program, or travel by faculty members for research or to educational conferences, Fare Finder can serve them all. With the help of Fare Finder, we hope that millions of students will be able to gain an experience they otherwise thought they could not afford.”

Read more about Fare Finder at https://apiabroad.com/fare-finder/  

About Academic Programs International (API)

Academic Programs International (API) encourages students of all ages to embark on a lifelong experiential educational journey. These experiences enrich lives, communities, and organizations. As well as helps every student, college, and company to achieve their goals. Through the creation of APIConnect, an experiential education technology platform, the company helps colleges, universities, and students create and discover learning experiences customized to meet their needs. APIConnect offers a vast library of destinations, accredited courses, internships, and original programming. All of which is geared toward maximizing students’ college experiences so they are better prepared for the workforce upon graduation. Based in Austin, TX, API sends thousands of students on hundreds of programs every year. This includes both virtually and in nearly 70 cities in 26 countries across Asia-Pacific, Europe, Latin America, North America, and the Middle East.

* * * FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE * * *

Exclusive Partnership Agreement Between Lakeland University and Academic Programs International (API) Provides Students with Experiential Learning Opportunities Tokyo, Japan

AUSTIN, TEXAS – April 5, 2023 – Lakeland University and Academic Programs International are pleased to announce an exclusive new partnership that opens the door for more students to study abroad in Tokyo, Japan.

Lakeland University is known for offering innovative ways for students to earn their academic degrees and make their career goals a reality. With seven campuses across the US and in Tokyo, Japan, Lakeland is an Experiential Education institution that believes the best way to learn is by pairing knowledge with practice. This approach marries perfectly with API, which encourages students of all ages to embark on a lifelong experiential educational journey that enriches lives, communities and organizations. The creation of API’s experiential education technology platform, APIConnect, has furthered its goals of helping students create and discover learning experiences customized to meet their needs so they are better prepared for the workforce upon graduation. 

Lakeland University Japan began as a vision of developing its primary campus in Wisconsin as a destination for international students. In 1991, Lakeland established a two-year academic program in Tokyo, and by 1993 the North Central Association of Schools and Colleges approved LUJ as an accredited branch campus offering an Associate of Arts degree.

Throughout the past 25 years, Lakeland University Japan has continuously evolved and expanded. Its “2 + 2” system has served as a springboard to educate and transfer countless Japanese students to the primary campus in Wisconsin, as well as over 100+ other institutions throughout the U.S. and around the world.

In 2021, LUJ expanded to a four-year campus and started offering its students the B.A. in Business Administration, focusing on communication, hospitality management and international business. LUJ can offer student visas to international students seeking the Bachelor of Arts degree, in addition to those seeking the Associate of Arts degree.

Today, Lakeland and API are now offering students the ability to become immersed in the exciting, globally-diverse Lakeland University Japan (LUJ) campus with students and faculty from across Japan and around the world. 

API’s semester program includes up to 18 semester credits, and students can enroll in coursework in a multitude of subject areas, including biology, business, arts, hospitality, and more—all taught in English. The API program also includes student dormitory housing with private bedrooms, incredible excursions and activities, a student metro pass, and an outstanding on-site staff.  

API is also pleased to offer students a unique opportunity to apply for a scholarship for the inaugural semesters at LUJ. The first 15 Fall 2023 and first 10 Spring 2024 students can apply to receive a $1,000 scholarship towards their program. 

API CEO Patrick Vogt said, “Students have been asking for study abroad options in Japan, and API listened. We couldn’t be more pleased to partner with Lakeland to deliver this incredible opportunity, and to be able to help students get there with a scholarship.”  

Lakeland President Beth Borgen said, “We are excited to partner with API to provide this study abroad opportunity for more students. Lakeland’s Japan campus, situated in the heart of Tokyo, offers a memorable location for students to learn and grow.”

To learn more about this program and the scholarship associated with it, please visit the API program page, Multidisciplinary Studies and Japanese Culture at Lakeland University Japan. 

About API

Academic Programs International (API) encourages students of all ages to embark on a lifelong experiential educational journey that enriches lives, communities and organizations and helps every student, college and company to achieve their goals.  Through the creation of APIConnect, an experiential education technology platform, the company helps colleges, universities and students create and discover learning experiences customized to meet their needs. APIConnect offers a vast library of destinations, accredited courses, internships, and original programming geared toward maximizing students’ college experiences so they are better prepared for the workforce upon graduation. Based in Austin, TX, API sends thousands of students on hundreds of programs both virtually and in more than 60 cities in nearly 25 countries in Asia-Pacific, Europe, Latin America, North America, and the Middle East.  Learn more at https://apiabroad.com 

About Lakeland University

Founded in 1862, Lakeland University is an innovative, affordable four-year, private university that integrates the liberal arts with experiential learning through its award-winning Cooperative Education program. Lakeland’s main campus is in Sheboygan County Wis., and the institution has strong ties to the United Church of Christ. Lakeland serves approximately 3,000 students, including traditional undergraduates at its main campus, undergraduate and graduate students taking evening and online courses through one of Lakeland’s seven centers located throughout Wisconsin and students enrolled at its campus in Tokyo, Japan. Lakeland is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. Learn more at https://luj.lakeland.edu/ or https://lakeland.edu/

Tuesday, April 4, 2023

From: Patrick Vogt, CEO of API

Dear Valued Partners,

Academic Programs International’s (API) purpose is to provide high-quality experiences for students that foster intercultural understanding, personal development, and academic achievement. We are dedicated to supporting all students in achieving their academic and personal goals by providing them with immersive and culturally enriching experiences out of the classroom, and we have built our organization, advisory services, and technology to power increased access to experiential learning, with a focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion.

We’ve also launched the API Foundation, a 501(c)(3), non-profit corporation that supports students, colleges, and universities through research, dedicated funding for student scholarships, and legislative advocacy.

API’s legislative agenda is simple: support federal policies that will increase student participation in — and funding for — life-changing experiential learning and other high impact practices that drive better learning and career outcomes.

We have provided comments on behalf of students, colleges, and universities regarding The Senator Paul Simon Study Abroad Program Act, multiple pieces of proposed legislation that impact Pell Grants, and other areas of Title IV Federal Financial Aid, with the following consistent themes:

1.  Increase Participation in & Access to Experiential Learning: We need to expand both the demographic profile and number of students participating in experiential learning (study abroad, internships, and other hands-on learning opportunities).
2. Foster Intercultural Understanding: Exposure to different cultures is essential to building a more interconnected and peaceful world. By immersing students in different cultures, global learning experiences promote cross-cultural understanding and empathy.
3. Enhance Personal and Professional Development: Studying abroad and experiential learning provides an opportunity for personal growth and professional development. Immersing students in new global contexts challenges them to grow and develop skills like independence, adaptability, and resilience, all of which are characteristics that also make them better interviewees and employees.
4. Promote Academic Achievement: International learning opportunities enhance students’ academic achievement through high-quality academic courses that expand intellectual horizons. 

We have also provided our comments and opinion regarding the recent “Dear Colleague Letter” (DCL), which purports to provide guidance on prior legislation affecting our industry. We collaborated with our industry peers, associations, colleges, and universities in formulating an appropriate response.  Because the DCL has been an area of inquiry, we are also briefly addressing our thoughts on what this means for API’s continued fulfillment of its mission.

On February 15, the Department of Education issued the DCL with the intention of providing “guidance” on existing law affecting the requirements and responsibilities for third-party service providers and educational institutions providing experiential learning opportunities abroad.  While the DCL is not a new law or regulation, it purports to issue new guidelines based upon a broad interpretation of the reach of existing legislation. These more wide-ranging interpretations could impose novel obligations and restrictions upon institutions if not modified subsequent to the comment period, which recently ended on March 30th. The current effective date for compliance with the DCL guidance is September 1, 2023.  

As noted, API has been actively following the public response to the DCL and has submitted its own comments on behalf of our industry. Regardless of the implementation of the guidance in whatever form, API is well-positioned, and we will work closely with you all to ensure compliance, while continuing to expand our experiential learning services and technology. API has also joined the overwhelming majority of institutions who are critical of this legislative overreach, and the likely unintended consequences of the proposed guidance. Accordingly, we are awaiting the DOE’s response to the input and feedback and the expected modification of the DCL, prior to making any changes to our existing contractual relationships.  

While we do not take issue with the stated purpose of the DCL, which is to protect the interests of institutions, taxpayers, and students, the current guidance is antithetical to that purpose and should be revised to be more explicitly focused toward achieving its purpose. Everyone at API is anticipating the guidance to come, and continues to work to serve our college and university partners and students in compliance with the final guidance.  

API looks forward to continuing to deliver on its purpose: to provide students with transformative educational experiences that prepare them to be outstanding global citizens and leaders.

Please feel free to contact me or our API team if you have any questions or comments.

Best Regards,

Patrick