Academics
Immersion Experience Program (IXP)
The IXP Objective: Learning through Context
T o develop outstanding leaders who will make a difference in the world demands a business education that is both practical and far-reaching. The Immersion Experience Program (IXP) offers off-campus, faculty-led programs committed to the pedagogy of experiential learning. The IXP goes beyond creating educated tourists. Instead, it facilitates the transmission of key ideas in managerial practice through field-based applied management projects and active learning exercises. As such, the majority of an IXP takes place outside a classroom or lecture environment and every IXP has students working in small teams to conduct field and project work for at least half the time.
IXP History
The IXP is an off-campus learning opportunity for first and second-year MBA students. A key component of the IXP, most appreciated by MBA students, is the opportunity to engage in field-based exercises that allow them to apply leading ideas in managerial practice and interact directly with the communities and business leaders. The information below outlines the growth of the program and the importance of active learning.
2009-10
2010 plans include eight international programs to: Brazil, China, Costa Rica, India, Peru, Rwanda, United Arab Emirates & Bahrain, and Vietnam. Rwanda is the first international IXP in which students work for local organizations on weeklong projects. Domestic programs include a New Orleans IXP, and, in partnership with the Rock Center for Entrepreneurship, programs in Boston and Silicon Valley. In addition to the nine January programs, two international IXPs will take place in March. A new planning process also was introduced to further increase our commitment to student-centered active learning.
2008-09
HBS committed resources to three full-time staff to administer the IXP and Regina Abrami was asked to serve as Faculty Chair. Together the IXP Office, Faculty Leaders, and Program Managers from across the MBA administration implemented seven IXPs in China, Europe, India, Israel, Mexico, New Orleans (Service), and Silicon Valley (Entrepreneurship). For the first time, all international IXPs included a student-centered field-based learning component.
2007-08
January 2008 included six IXPs in Boston (Healthcare), China & Vietnam, Europe, India, New Orleans (Service), and United Arab Emirates & Egypt. The program was overseen by MBA Career & Professional Development with logistics for each IXP managed by administrators from across the MBA administration. The "Real Markets Lab" was introduced in the China IXP, allowing students to identify through field interviews the opportunities and challenges of doing business in emerging markets.
2006-07
In the spring of 2006, then MBA Program Chair, Rick Ruback, organized a group of MBA students and administrators to develop the concept of an "Immersion" program in which faculty and students engage in field-based learning. Following this meeting, the MBA Program committed resources to support a New Orleans Immersion, a China Immersion, and a campus-based Healthcare Immersion, all of which took place in January 2007.
2005-06
A project-based collaborative learning model emerged in the wake of Hurricane Katrina when students, accompanied by faculty and MBA staff, established cross-sector relationships with organizations to aid in the city's recovery efforts.
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