Alumni Impact

Global skills and connections that last beyond the exchange.

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Where the experience leads

The value of international exchange continues in the relationships people maintain, the challenges they take on and the work they do. Cultural Vistas alumni describe using global leadership skills and international networks to advance their careers, collaborate across cultures and contribute to their communities.

Our 2026 Alumni Survey gathered responses from 1,035 alumni. Their experiences offer a view of how learning and connections carry into life after a program, and where we can strengthen opportunities for alumni to stay involved.

2026 alumni impact findings

Skills and connections in action

In their own words

The YSEALI Seeds for the Future program through Cultural Vistas was the stepping stone that brought my organization’s online financial citizenship program to full implementation in the Philippines. Since 2021, we have run the program annually, delivering free financial citizenship sessions to nearly a thousand public high school students.

Stef Vicente, Philippines Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative, 2021

Through the DEVEX career account provided as a program benefit, I found and secured my full-time role at ORCID. Staying actively connected to the VLI network also directly led to a part-time professional opportunity later on.

Lombe Tembo, Zambia Atlas Corps Virtual Leadership Institute, 2021
In our 2026 Alumni Survey, 74.3% of respondents rated their likelihood of recommending a Cultural Vistas program 9 or 10 out of 10.

Cultural Vistas conducted the 2026 Alumni Survey from August through September 2026. The analysis includes complete and partial responses from 1,035 alumni. Respondents reported 125 countries of origin and program completion years ranging from 1981 to 2026. Nearly half completed their program within the previous two years.

Response totals vary by question. Participation was voluntary, and programs were unevenly represented. At least 3.6% of alumni on the email invitation list responded.

The findings describe respondents’ self-reported experiences and should not be taken to represent all Cultural Vistas alumni. The survey did not include a pre-program baseline or comparison group, so it does not establish that programs alone caused later outcomes.

Explore the alumni impact study findings

Download a two-page summary of the findings on alumni skills, careers, connections and community contributions.

Download the report summary

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