International Business Center

The International Business Center’s (IBC) International Internship Program (IIP) is designed to provide students with an opportunity to gain valuable professional work experience, develop professional skills, and earn academic credit in an international setting.  Additionally, the program facilitates the development of knowledge of the host country and language training with faculty on campus at the University of Pittsburgh prior to departing for the host country.  A program assistant accompanies students to the program site where they will engage in one week of cultural classes and city orientation before beginning their unpaid business internships.  The internship sites are located in a variety of cities including: Beijing, China; Berlin, Germany; Madrid, Spain; Paris, France; Prague, Czech Republic; Sao Paulo, Brazil.  The host corporations expose students to work in a variety of business related fields

This study evaluated the experience of students in the International Internship Program through the International Business Center (IBC) at the Joseph M. Katz Graduate School of Business & College of Business Administration at the University of PittsburghIn March 2011, sixteen students were invited to participate in a focus group discussion centered on their experience in the International Internship Program offered through the College of Business Administration. In April 2011, two focus group sessions were conducted by the Collaborative for Evaluation and Assessment Capacity (CEAC) to gather student feedback regarding their experiences in San Paolo, Brazil, Beijing, China, and Prague, Czech Republic during the summer 2010.  CEAC conducted student focus groups and asked students not only about their experience, but were also about program outcomes and their recommendations for changes for the program.

In Fall 2012, IBC contracted with the Collaborative for Evaluation and Assessment Capacity (CEAC) to evaluate students that had engaged in the IIP between 2010-2012.  

Focus Group Summary

IBC Evaluation Plan

IBC Evaluation Report 2013