Program Reviews

What was so great about this seminar is that it is only two weeks and allowed me to not interrupt my studies. There were also many different activities and business visits that were packed into such a short period of time. I really enjoyed seeing how business operate on an international level as well as how they perform business within their host countries. In our free time we were able to volunteer taking care of elephants, visit a train food market or floating market, or attend a kickboxing event to name a few activities.

My experience with IBS allowed me to gain a better understanding that business throughout the world follows the same path towards growth and expansion. Although there may be different regulations and larger/smaller governmental control in other areas, the end goal is still to reach out to consumers. With an understanding of how business is conducted in one nation, another nation may find it extremely useful to gain your knowledge. We all have some sort of knowledge that another nation can benefit from and if we were to go out and find who needs this knowledge, anything is possible. This trip was extremely beneficial towards that understanding and I hope to continue with these travels to learn much more.

Something to take note of about this experience is that you learn not only about the businesses themselves but the lifestyle of people as well. With a developing economy and industrializing country, there are many differences between what is new in the area and what has maintained its authenticity. You begin to understand that although there are drastic changes to the country and is developments, there are still many who remain close to their traditions as well as original lifestyle. Having the opportunity to witness these differences has allowed me to gain a better understanding as to what is still out there to explore around the globe.

IBS did a perfect job of mixing business with pleasure. The two-week seminar balanced work while still doing trips to the Grand Palace, the Reclining Buddha, the Chu Chi Tunnels and partaking in other breathtaking cultural moments. The various foods that we were able to indulge in are going to be some that I talk about for the rest of my life. The culture in Bangkok and Ho Chi Minh is very friendly and inviting, which made it easy to fall in love with. As soon as I returned from this trip, I immediately looked for the next seminar that interested me!

One notable experience, which happened every single day, was simply walking the streets of Bangkok, Thailand and Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Whether it was during the day or at night, I was able to engage with locals via vendors and bargaining for food or souvenir prices and admiring their hand crafted goods. The cities felt alive at all moments of the day. I received and gave countless smiles. The streets contained an abundance of colors, there were various smells changing every couple of blocks from the food, and the sounds of cars and motorbikes surrounded me, literally, as I crossed the streets. My senses were always flooded with something new and exciting. Having the opportunity to walk the steps of the locals was an eye opening experience for me. It highlighted the differences between the cultures, American and Thailand or American and Vietnamese, and it broadened how I view the world we live in in the best kind of way.
To top the experience off, I also had the chance to speak and learn from directors and executives of companies, such as Ikea, Osprey, US Commercial Services, and AMCHAM Thailand. The ability to ask open ended questions about the various industries and how businesses operate in South East Asia was not anything I expected it to be. I envisioned long hour or two hour presentations that would make me drowsier than engaged, but, instead I got intriguing and engaging back-and-forth dialogue with these representatives. I amassed and gained a better understanding of how business operates in Thailand and Vietnam than any of the research I was able to conduct in America over the internet. It is one thing to research a topic, it is another to actually experience the theories in practice and hear insight on the matter from experience professionals. Being immersed in the culture and learning about the business enhanced my awareness and knowledge in unprecedented manners.

IBS did a great job getting us in with companies that not only provided a lot of information on business/living in China, but with people who are clearly passionate about their jobs and open to speaking to students. They also did a great job planning out tours for us and providing information and recommendations for us to do on our free day. The staff with us also did a great job at keeping us informed on any schedule changes and made sure to communicate them with us during the trip. I also enjoyed that they made sure we would have an afternoon free on days of company visits so we could still explore the cities later in the day. The staff at IBS did an amazing job at working with a group of us when our flight got canceled and helped us keep track of our luggage and even make a schedule change so we wouldn't miss a company visit. All in all, a fun trip and a great experience.

IBS is such an amazing program! I attended their summer Europe seminar and it was such an awesome experience. You get the time you want to immerse yourself in the culture and enjoy the different cities while also studying the different business practices! I'd have to say my favorite part of the trip was that it was the perfect amount of time to be out of the country. Other programs offer a semester long experience but I did not want to miss everything that was happening on my own campus. IBS gave me the opportunity to travel without experiencing the FOMO (fear of missing out) that I had about traditional programs. The staff on the trip were very experienced and were able to help me with any problems that occurred on the trip and knew what to expect at every turn. I would recommend this program to everyone!

IBS offers a great opportunity to go abroad without spending the time and money required for a full semester. I had never left the country before my trip, and it was definitely helpful to be guided for that experience. Though we were not in any one place for very long, I got a taste of each of the six countries we visited, and I now plan on returning someday.

Another interesting aspect of this trip is that it was not a conventional study abroad trip. I was not in a classroom at any point while I was overseas. Instead, we visited various companies everywhere we went, and we learned about how businesses are run in each of the places we went. This offered us insight to foreign perspectives that we may very well come across in the professional world.

My experience was unique because I got to travel through six different European countries in three weeks time. Instead of sitting in a classroom in each of these countries, we got to visit and learn about these amazing international businesses. It was so cool to hear from actual companies about how the market in their home country and abroad. I also really enjoyed the number of places I got to visit. Once we got to each new city, we had an orientation, where our leaders taught us how to use public transport and find everything throughout the city center. This on boarding session made me feel a lot more comfortable in these foreign cities. IBS made it really easy to see so many different places and have so many fun experiences everywhere we went.

The 11 day trip allows you enough time to get used to being a new country but not so long that you have to give up responsibilities at home. Having a full-time job makes other study abroad opportunities too difficult to make work. IBS offers shorter trips that allow you to learn and also become a great traveler. Its also great being thrown into a new environment with people you don't really know and making friendships and bonds with new people. Its also great that there is time to have our own time and also group activities. The activities that are provided show the rich history of China that many travelers aren't aware of. The hotel accommodations are also wonderful. You have the freedom to do things on your own or with friends you've made.

I was fortunate enough to attend the Winter Southeast Asia seminar in Thailand & Vietnam this past winter break and not only learned a plethora about international business, but also grew as a professional and a person. I met new peers and friends, made professional contacts and saw a part of the world I never would have on my own. I got great value for my money and am anxious to go abroad with International Business Seminars again. As an international business major, IBS Abroad gave me the international experience I needed to confidently apply for jobs overseas. The two week seminar also counted as three credits towards my undergraduate degree, which was the cherry on top to an amazing experience.
Thank you International Business Seminars!