International Business Seminar in Switzerland

Undergraduate and graduate business students are increasingly finding it important to document international experiences as part of a portfolio of expertise they bring to a new job. As companies in the USA seek to find ways to connect with global markets, it is important for them to hire employees who are citizens of the world, who have sensitivity to the unique perspectives of other lands and peoples, and who have traveled abroad and gained valuable experience in international settings.

Illume, in partnership with our European affiliates, has developed a unique short-term seminar for business students in Switzerland. Switzerland is fast becoming the most important European location for corporate headquarters of companies doing business in the EU. Its central location, favorable business climate, and multi-lingual population makes it attractive to companies who seek to position themselves as global leaders.

This seminar includes on-site visits at corporate headquarters, presentations by Swiss-American business leaders, and offers opportunities for cultural activities and excursions to nearby European business and political centers in Italy, France, Germany and Austria.

Program Highlights

Deepen knowledge of European business culture
This program offers opportunities to compare and contrast European and North American business cultures through on-site visits, interviews and other activities. Events can be organized around ethics, marketing, human resources, manufacturing or other curriculum interests.

Develop greater ease in international settings
For many students, a seminar like this is their first time abroad. International seminars are great opportunities for learning how to navigate a foreign country, use language skills, develop sensitivity to other customs, and feel comfortable in a foreign setting. We are all citizens of the world, and it is important to help students gain an appreciation for this, make it their own and nurture it in others.

Cultivate international business and marketing skills
Travel to new lands and settings invites students to think creatively about business opportunities, management, and marketing so that they become more effective employees. These are skills they will carry with them for life. In some instances, on-site visits will become opportunities to think about personal professional development and even include contacts for future work.

 

Suggested visits

Illume customizes programs around group objectives and hoped for outcomes. Two cities are particularly suitable for this program: Zurich and Geneva. Both are headquarters for many international corporations and offer opportunities for on-site visits, seminars and presentations by business leaders. Both cities offer opportunities for visiting local museums, historical sites and experiencing local customs. Zurich is German speaking; Geneva is French speaking. Illume will engage presenters and on-site hosts who are fluent in English.

Some groups combine business seminar activities with other local activities such as skiing in the winter and hiking in the summer. Others combine visits to Switzerland with visits to France, Germany or Italy.

Email or contact us to learn more about how we can customize this program for your specific interests.

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