ASSE provides academic year and semester exchange programs in the United States or abroad for high school students from around the world. ASSE International (formerly American Scandinavian Student Exchange) is a non profit, public benefit organization. ASSE is officially designated as an Exchange Visitor Program by the U.S. Department of State. It was founded by the Swedish Ministry of Education and cooperates with the Canadian Provincial Ministries of Education, and the New Zealand Department of Education.