<p>The Middlebury Institute of International Studies (MIIS) at Monterey is an academic community committed to preparing students for professional roles in cross-cultural, multilingual environments.</p><p><br></p><p>Students are emerging leaders capable of bridging cultural, organizational, and language divides to produce sustainable, equitable solutions to a variety of global challenges. As part of the close-knit and supportive international community of students and faculty, students will learn to make a meaningful impact in their chosen field through exciting and relevant degree programs with intentional focus on key skills.</p><p><br></p><p>The Institute was founded in 1955 as the Monterey Institute of Foreign Studies by Gaspard Weiss, in collaboration with his wife, Louise Weiss, and cofounders Frank Elton and Sybil Fearnley. Weiss and his foreign language colleagues envisioned a graduate school that would promote international understanding through the study of language and culture. While the Institute’s name and programs have evolved, its core identity as an innovator and leader in international professional education has remained constant.</p><p><br></p><p>The Middlebury Institute of International Studies educates professionals to advance understanding, promote peace, and drive change in pursuit of a more just world.</p><p><br></p><p>Why&nbsp;Middlebury Institute of International Studies</p><ul><li><u>Intercultural Competency</u>:&nbsp;MIIS emphasizes intercultural competence—fostering students’ ability to effectively listen to, communicate with, and take action in communities with a range of linguistic and cultural backgrounds.&nbsp;Intercultural competence has three primary attributes—knowledge, skills, and attitudes. Through the ICC curriculum, students have the unparalleled opportunity to develop in these areas while they prepare for their future career.</li><li><u>Immersive Experience</u>:&nbsp;Unlike classroom-based graduate programs, the immersive experiences allow students to apply practical skills in their field of study before they graduate. Not only do they gain professional experience, but they are exposed to relevant networking opportunities that often lead to jobs after graduation.</li><li><u>Sustainable Campus</u>:&nbsp;As an academic institution with an international and solution-oriented focus—and the location in beautiful Monterey, California—MIIS is committed to a sustainable way of life.&nbsp;MIIS understands the scope and the urgency of the current environmental crisis and recognize that every business, individual, and academic institution must reduce its environmental impact. The professional faculty, ambitious students, and active alumni bring decades of experience in creating and effecting the policies that drive today’s environmental movement.</li><li><u>Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion</u>:&nbsp;MIIS promotes Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion as the Institute’s core values. As MIIS strives to be a welcoming community where differences are celebrated and the complexities of life, both on and off-campus, are navigated with respect, MIIS continuously reminds itself of agency and responsibilities.&nbsp;MIIS is deliberate in the efforts to be an institution of higher learning that is known for academic excellence through its diverse student and faculty body and its equitable and inclusive classroom, pedagogy, and curriculum.&nbsp;</li></ul><p><br></p>