Academics
Immersion Experiences Program History
IXP History
The IXP is an off-campus learning opportunity for second-year MBA students. A key component of each IXP course is the opportunity for students 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 development of the program and the growing importance of active learning in IXP courses.
2011-12
January 2012 brought about many exciting changes to the Immersion Experience Program. With the addition of a required global immersion for all first-year students in January, IXPs are now offered for second-year students only. IXPs continue to be faculty-led academic programs, but are now more intensive and taken for course credit. The academic components of IXPs include more rigorous deliverables coupled with additional requirements for on-site participation. Students also participate in several pre/post-IXP course sessions that are structured to enhance preparation and reflection. The IXP Office has grown to become the Global Experience Office, which administers IXP and other off-campus courses for second-year students, as well as the Global Immersion for first-year students.
Five IXP courses were offered in 2012 in the following locations: Brazil, China, India/Singapore, Japan and Malaysia.
2010-11
In January 2011 the MBA Program offered 14 IXPs for both first and second year students, including programs in Brazil, China, Haiti, India, New Orleans, Rwanda, Silicon Valley, South Africa, Turkey, and Vietnam. The IXP Office further refined program focus with the introduction of three distinct models: a) Ideas in Management, where students apply and assess leading frameworks in management theory in a global context; b) Career Focus, where students understand the practice of a given career or function in an organization; and c) Project-Based, where student teams engage in short-term consulting projects in combination with on-site and off-site faculty guidance.
2009-10
2010 included eight international programs in Brazil, China, Costa Rica, India, Peru, Rwanda, United Arab Emirates & Bahrain, and Vietnam. Rwanda was the first international IXP in which students worked for local organizations on week-long projects. Domestic programs included a New Orleans IXP, and, in partnership with the Rock Center for Entrepreneurship, programs in Boston and Silicon Valley. 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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