Sweden: Global Business Project: International Business of Sustainable Energy

Important Note: Due to COVID-19 this program is set to take place entirely online as study abroad programs and non-essential student travel will remain suspended through the Spring 2021 semester. 

Is this program for me?

This program is an interdisciplinary collaboration between GW’s School of Business and School of Engineering & Applied Science that aims to build a curricular bridge between business and engineering in order to give future energy professionals the interdisciplinary skills and perspectives required for careers in the sustainable energy sector. 

The program will bring together students from multiple disciplines to learn about energy technologies and perspectives, international business, and consulting methodology. To explore the varied global contexts across the energy sector, students will compare and contrast the energy perspectives of two countries, the United States and Sweden. The program will incorporate theoretical frameworks and topics relevant to international business, for example, innovation management across countries, impact of the regulatory environment, as well as clustering effects.

After learning core energy and business topics, interdisciplinary teams of students will partner with real clients in Sweden to complete sustainable energy sector consulting projects. The Swedish firms will present an energy technology issue or problem to the students, which relates to the firms’ impending or ongoing international expansion. Students will work in teams to research new market opportunities for the firm and propose their recommendations upon conclusion of the course. Students will meet virtually with representatives from the client company to discuss the parameters of the consulting project. In most projects, students will help their client identify strategic opportunities to enable them to successfully enter into or ex

pand in the US market.

Eligibility:

This program is open to undergraduate and graduate students within GW’s School of Business and School of Engineering & Applied Sciences. Qualified students in the sustainability minor program from other schools may also apply.

Applicants must have an established academic record at GW and be in good academic standing with the university (GPA of 3.0 or above). First semester students who do not yet have a GPA at GW are still eligible to apply. At the conclusion of the semester the G&EE team will obtain your GPA to ensure that it is a 3.0 or above to ensure eligibility.

Academic Credit:

3 credits are awarded for successful completion of the course IBUS 6297 (business students) or SEAS 6800 (engineering students).

• School of Business – Graduate Students:
  • This program fulfills general elective credit for Master's and MBA programs. 
  • This course fulfills the IBUS 6290 Special Topics (International Business Consulting Capstone I) requirement for MSIB students.
  • Students may petition to have study away courses count towards Graduate School of Business Certificates or other Master's degree requirements by speaking with their academic advisor. 

• School of Business – Undergraduate Students: Applicants are advised to consult with their advisors to see if this course will fulfill degree requirements; otherwise this course may serve as an unrestricted elective. 

• School of Engineering & Applied Science – Graduate and Undergraduate Students: Applicants are advised to consult with their advisors to see if this course will fulfill degree requirements; otherwise this course may serve as an unrestricted elective.

• Other Students: Applicants from other schools are advised to consult with their advisors to see if this course will fulfill degree requirements or serve as an elective.

Calendar:

Application Deadline:

Sunday, November 29, 2020 at 11:59pm (ET)

EXTENDED: Sunday, December 13, 2020 at 11:59pm (ET)
 

Live Sessions: Thursdays, 12:45 – 3:15 PM (ET)

There are 2.5 hours of direct instruction (class time) each week throughout the 15-week semester. There will also be virtual site visits with firms in Sweden over spring break.

There will also be virtual site visits with firms in Sweden over spring break. Students should expect to have these virtual site visits take place Monday-Thursday from 9am – 12pm (EST) over spring break.

GW Professors:

Dr. Saniya LeBlanc (sleblanc@gwu.edu)
Director, Energy Fellows Program
Associate Professor, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, School of Engineering and Applied Science

Dr. Anna Helm (ahelm@gwu.edu)
Faculty Director, GW Center for International Business Education & Research (GW-CIBER)
Associate Teaching Professor, Department of International Business

Cost Estimate:

For this program students will be charged GW tuition for 3 credits.

Please note that application decisions will be shared with students on Monday, December 7, 2020. To secure their place in the program, accepted students will be required to submit a non-refundable $100 program deposit within 5 business days of receiving their admit email. The deposit will be posted to the students' account for the semester and credited towards tuition for the course. If a deposit is not received within 5 business days, students will forfeit their spot on the program.

Students who pay the deposit and also receive tuition-benefit will receive a refund on their deposit in January once the program commences.   

Virtual Information Sessions:

Program Specific Info Session

Additional Program Information:

Draft Syllabus: coming soon!
Draft Calendar: coming soon!

Questions?

This program is administered by Global & Experiential Education in The George Washington University School of Business.

Feel free to contact us by email (sbintl@gwu.edu) with your questions.

Other Helpful Resources:

• Eligibility & Payment (GWSB Graduate)

• Cancellation Policy for Short-Term Abroad

• Health Insurance for Short-Term Abroad

• Non-Participant Accompaniment

• Pre-Departure, Health & Safety Orientation for Short -Term Abroad

• Withdrawal & Refund Policy (GWSB Graduate)

• Global and Experiential Education Scholarships

 
Photo credit: https://pixabay.com/photos/sweden-stockholm-pier-beach-996001/