SIFE Business Internship Initiative
 
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Global Business Internship Initiative Overview

 

Grant Sponsor:

Office of Citizen Exchanges, Bureau of Educational & Cultural Affairs (US State Department)

 

Participants:

52 university students from geographically diverse SIFE Teams in Malaysia, India and the United States.

 

Program highlights:
Cultural exchange:

  • Students participated in the SIFE USA National Exposition in Kansas City, MO in May 2005, and the SIFE World Cup competition in October 2005 where they had an opportunity to learn best practices and share experiences from champion SIFE Teams, and be mentored by top business executives.
  • Students participated in an Entrepreneurship Leadership Symposium in Washington D.C. led by federal government, civil society and business leaders during August 2005.
  • Students were immersed in the local culture and activities. They experienced home-stays, participated in cultural programs, engaged in extensive tours and experienced local food and music.

 

Community Internship:

  • Each student participated in community outreach projects in his/her community and fulfilled an internship in a community in his/her partner country that provided a deeper understanding of the cultural and economic dynamics of the country.
  • Each student participated in seminars that explained the principles of market economics and entrepreneurship, strategies for individual financial success and business ethics and the economics of American, Malaysian or Indian societies.

 

Business leadership training:

  • Students participated in business roundtables providing direct interaction with business leaders on problem solving and other business leadership issues.
  • Each student had the opportunity to be mentored by a business executive in his/her country and in his/her partner country.

 

Future Impact:

A BII web site has been developed to showcase the experiences of the participants. This is available for use by all interested global organizations and students. Participating students have re-integrated into their home campus SIFE teams where they share their experiences with their team mates. They have formed online discussion groups among themselves and continue to exchange, share and learn from one another. This network and their experiences will be useful in future SIFE World Headquarters expansion activities in Asia.