Intrax Cultural Exchange

Connecting People & Cultures

Historical Timeline

1980 Company founded in San Francisco, CA as Pacific American International Student Services (PAISS) providing homestay programs.
1982 AYUSA, high school year abroad, begins offering programs as a US designated Exchange Visitor Program Sponsor.
1984 AYUSA becomes a founding member of the Council on Standards for International Educational Travel and Exchange (CSIET).
1985 Japan Regional Center opens in Tokyo, Japan.
1989 AuPairCare, live-in childcare program is started, and Intrax Education Abroad (formerly Passages) is acquired to offer program development for short-term study abroad.
1990 Western Europe Center opens in Berlin, Germany.
1992 Intrax International Institute, ESL language school, opens in San Francisco.
1998 Intrax International Institute opens school in San Diego.
1999 Work Travel program added to provide work opportunities for university students on their summer break.
2000 Company marks its 20 year Anniversary with over 120,000 student alumni, from over 65 countries. Intrax International Institute opens Chicago location.
2001 Southern Africa Regional center opens in Johannesburg, South Africa.
2003 Career Training program, focused on providing training opportunities to young international professionals is launched. Intrax International Institute opens Vancouver, Canada location.
2004 Company is branded as Intrax Cultural Exchange to reflect its new unified approach toward its program offerings.
2007 Intrax launches Lango, foreign languages for kids. Geoff Watson becomes President of Intrax Cultural Exchange.
2008 Intrax Internships Abroad launches with internships in London, Paris, Madrid, Barcelona and Tokyo.
2009 AYUSA awarded Emerging Youth Leaders Grant from US Department of State.
2010 2010 Intrax acquires ProWorld Service Corps, expanding into volunteer abroad opportunities. Intrax opens offices in France, Korea and Peru. Intrax Internships Abroad adds programs in Berlin and Beijing.