Summer Institute for International Business Students (SIIBS)

SIIBS is an intensive four-week program for students who are planning to pursue graduate business study in an English-speaking environment. SIIBS runs once per year during the month of July.

Curriculum

The curriculum provides the skills and knowledge that students will need to succeed at business school by focusing on:

• impromptu speaking
• oral presentations
• academic reading and writing
• academic and library database skills
• analysis and discussion of business case studies
• time management and academic study skills
• guest lectures by Penn faculty

Language and Academic Skills

This component provides participants with the skills they need for success in their academic programs of study and for accomplishment of their personal and professional goals. Based on initial evaluation of their English language skills, participants are placed into a core course that integrates instruction in all skills (reading, writing, listening, speaking). Core courses meet three hours per day, five days per week.

In addition, participants take a one-hour per day reading skills course that provides practice critical to efficient reading of business texts. This course also trains students to analyze the text through discussion and in writing.

US Cultural and Business Perspectives

Participants have opportunities to meet with leaders of corporations and learn first-hand about the concerns of executives in the rapidly changing global marketplace through 1 or 2 visits to local corporations.  In recent years, corporate visits have included Vanguard Group, Verizon, Rohm & Haas, and QVC.

Cultural activities include major league baseball game, a day trip to Washington DC and a BBQ sponsored by the International Visitors Council.

Sample Weekly Schedule