Program Highlights

The International Business Institute is a cooperative overseas program in international economics and business designed to give students a distinctive opportunity for study that incorporates the international dimension. Today’s world is one of increasing economic interdependence, and an adequate preparation for students in economics and business will have to include a major international component. As a special panel of the Brooking Institution reported, "The pace of change in the world economy is compelling businesses and governments to cope with events and prospects that too few students are being prepared to understand. The challenge is as great and pervasive as any that American business schools have faced."

An essential purpose of the program is to encourage and facilitate the integration of academic study with an international field experience. The academic work is conducted in a variety of settings from the usual classroom to corporate headquarters, manufacturing plants, governmental and international agencies.

There are several features which make this program distinctive. First, there is a significant degree of involvement by a distinguished group of faculty and lecturers drawn from leadership posts in private business and finance, government and academic life. Students are given the opportunity for personal and in depth contact with these persons beyond the usual classroom lecture. An economics Nobel Laureate, cabinet level personnel, and parliamentary leaders have been included among the regular guest faculty.

Secondly, the program concentrates on visits and contacts with major institutions in the field of economics, business and finance, as well as national and international government agencies. These visits are not guided tours alone, but involve presentations by management or other significant personnel. Visits  have included Mars Candy, IKEA, Credit Suisse, John Deere, Deutsche Bank, WTO, European Union, Nestle, Black and Decker and Shell Oil. 

Thirdly, the academic or classroom work includes the standard level of coverage in an on-campus course, but is coordinated with the enriching and complementary field seminar experiences. This combination provides the student with the intellectual and analytical background and then complements that background with field experiences and personal contacts.

For further information contact:

Dr. Vince LaFrance, Managing Director
International Business Institute
P.O. Box 3042
One College Avenue 
Grantham, PA  17027
Office : (717) 796-5364
Fax: (717) 691-6057