This winter, the Immersion Experience Program (IXP) continued its focus on participant-centered, field-based experiential learning activities. In January, almost 400 HBS students took part in six international programs - China, India, Peru, Rwanda, UAE/Bahrain and Vietnam - and three domestic programs - New Orleans, Silicon Valley and Boston - giving first- and second-year students an opportunity to learn from each other and from their observations and meetings in the field. (1) comment
More than 40 HBS students, faculty and staff landed in New Orleans on January 6 ready to roll up their sleeves for the next 10 days and put their knowledge and skills to practical use. The New Orleans IXP began five years ago as a student-led initiative to help clear the destruction caused by Hurricane Katrina. (12) comments
As a native-born Israeli carrying an American passport, I was nervous about participating in the UAE/Bahrain IXP despite assurances that entering these countries wouldn't be a problem (you can only imagine how worried my Jewish grandmother was). My unease was exacerbated when I applied for my visa to Bahrain; "Israel" wasn't even listed in the drop down of countries to choose from for "Country of Birth" forcing me to choose "Other". (0) comments
As I packed my bags in the early hours of a cold Monday morning, I wasn't sure what to expect over the next two weeks. I was one of 49 students from HBS headed on an Immersion to Peru, led by Professor Diego Comin. Amidst the cluttered array of my last-minute packing, I picked up the required reading for the trip, stuffed it into my bag and made a mental note to read on the flight. (17) comments
"There are several paths to success." That is my key learning from the China IXP this January that proved to be an amazing learning opportunity and an extremely dazzling experience. I was hooked on the charm of the orient. I went on the China IXP because I was attracted by their economic success and the enigma of being able to achieve it in a political and cultural setting so different from the Western model we're so used to revering. (9) comments