Faculty and Professional Development in International Business

GW-CIBER's faculty and professional development (FDIB/PDIB) programs provide participants the opportunity to enhance their international business knowledge, particularly on topics related to the center's theme and focal areas. Initiatives include workshops, overseas study tours, faculty mentoring and shadowing, and networking opportunities, among others.

Upcoming Programs

Scandinavia: Innovation & Sustainability faculty development program 2023

Scandinavia: Innovation and Sustainability

June 10-22, 2024
Sweden (Stockholm & Roslagen)

This FDIB/PDIB to Sweden (Stockholm and Roslagen) is led by the George Washington University Center for International Business Education and Research (GW-CIBER). It will showcase the advancements and uniqueness of Nordic innovation and technology entrepreneurship, with a particular focus on the importance of sustainability in creating business solutions.

The Nordic business culture of collaboration and openness, as well as its focus on flat organizational structures, has led to a high concentration of innovative entrepreneurs and born-global companies, some of which are now leaders in their respective industries worldwide. The Scandinavian region is the birthplace of prominent innovative companies such as Ericsson, Skype, Spotify, Maersk, and Novo Nordisk, among others. Additionally, Stockholm is second only to Silicon Valley for the number of unicorns (billion-dollar tech companies) per capita (2015), and the density of start-ups in Sweden is four times higher than in the U.S. (OECD, 2016).

The Nordics are also global leaders in developing sustainable solutions to today’s world challenges. They are proactively addressing global issues such as the need for clean energy, sustainable urban development, and access to finance and healthcare. Nordic politicians and CEOs have embraced the ideas of the UN Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris Climate Accord, and have committed to industry practices that foster innovation while being responsible and inclusive.

This year's program will include a deep dive into the emerging area of ImpactTech — technology solutions that aim to enhance outcomes for both people and the planet. Participating faculty and practitioners will have an opportunity to engage with thought-leaders who attempt to accelerate the green transition through joint research and commercialization of innovative sustainable energy ideas.

Who Should Attend

Faculty members who want to:

Conduct research and/or offer courses related to innovation, entrepreneurship, and sustainability in general.
Conduct research and/or offer courses related to the business, economic, and innovation environment of Sweden and the region.
Examine the role of institutions for creating a thriving culture of start-up innovation.

Practitioners who want to:

Acquaint themselves with the Nordic way of doing business.
Learn about best practices in Nordic innovation that can help companies enhance their competitiveness, such as recognizing and taking advantage of opportunities to internationalize early and identifying which practices are easily transferrable to the U.S. context.
Network with local entrepreneurs, industry experts and policy makers.

Program Leader

Dr. Anna Helm

GW-CIBER Faculty Director and Associate Teaching Professor of International Business

Anna Helm is an associate teaching professor of international business at the George Washington University School of Business (GWSB) as well as the faculty director of GW’s Center for International Business Education & Research (GW-CIBER). She teaches courses on international marketing management, green business, the cultural environment of international business, and foreign market analysis.

Dr. Helm has developed and taught several online courses and regularly offers courses with real-client projects. Since 2010, she has taught international consulting courses in Sweden and other countries with projects in both the cleantech and healthcare industries, with a particular focus on high-tech startups. Her devotion to teaching, student-centered learning, and interdisciplinary collaboration has resulted in numerous teaching awards, including the 2019 inaugural GW School of Business Dean’s Award for Teaching Excellence, and most recently GW’s university-wide Morton A. Bender Teaching Award in 2020.

Originally from Sweden, Dr. Helm holds a MSc in International Business and Economics with German from Lunds Universitet, Sweden, as well as an MA in Germanic Studies from the University of Maryland. She received her Ph.D. from Georgetown University in 2002. Prior to joining the GW School of Business, she was the director of the Business, Culture and Languages Program at the University of Maryland, College Park. Professor Helm is pursuing research on cross-cultural differences in consumer perceptions of green products, sustainability innovation, and CleanTech marketing strategy.

Prior to taking on the role of faculty director of GW-CIBER, Dr. Helm was co-coordinator of GW-CIBER’s Business Languages Program. In this role, she led workshops across the U.S., presented at national conferences, created teaching materials and business cases, and published articles in peer-reviewed journals. As the GW-CIBER faculty director, she continues to be deeply involved in the Business Languages programming at GW.

Itinerary

June 10 – Arrival in Stockholm; Program Intro & Welcome Dinner
June 11-15 – Academic/Business/Cultural visits in Stockholm
June 16 – Departure to Roslagen by bus
June 16-20 – Academic/Business/Cultural visits in Roslagen
June 20 – Departure to Stockholm by bus
June 21-22 – Academic/Business/Cultural visits in Stockholm
June 22 – Departure

*Please note: The itinerary will be updated as business site visits and cultural experiences are being finalized.

Sample business site visits:

Sample cultural visits & experiences:

Midsummer’s Eve Celebration
Viking Village
Dinner Cruise in the Stockholm Archipelago
Royal Palace in Stockholm
Skansen Open-Air Museum
Vasa Museum

*Please note: The above lists are reflective of some of the site visits that will be included in the program; however, it is not exhaustive and not all visits listed here will necessarily be on the final itinerary.

Program Costs

Registration fee: $5,500. Includes single-occupancy accommodation, business site visits, cultural activities, some meals, and in-country transportation.

Please note that the above fee does NOT include:

Airfare to/from Sweden (Stockholm)
Transportation to/from airports
Visas and passport fees (Note: U.S. citizens do not need entry visas to travel to Sweden. Participants of other nationalities should consult with the appropriate consulate to determine if a visa is required for entry.)
Meals not covered in the program
Currency exchange fees
Tours/visits not included in the program
Any expenses associated with a quarantine resulting from a positive COVID-19 test. All participants need to carry travel insurance that may help cover such expenses. Please await further information about this.
Other incidentals

How to Apply

Please submit the registration form. Payments for this program must be made by check payable to "The George Washington University." We cannot accept credit cards.

Required Documents

Copy of photo/info page of passport (passports should have a minimum of 3 months validity remaining after scheduled completion date of the program and 2-4 blank pages)
Copy of any visas (if citizen of a country that requires visas; please check with the appropriate consulate)
Release/Assumption of Risk Waiver/Agreement to Abide by COVID-19 Protocols (form will be provided)
Proof of health insurance
Proof of travel insurance for the duration of the program
Round-trip itinerary to Sweden (Stockholm)

Past Programs

Germany: CleanTech and Green Business - May 2023

Germany: CleanTech and Green Business

May 20-28, 2023
Frankfurt, Stuttgart, Heidelberg

The Faculty Development in International Business (FDIB) overseas study program to Germany provided opportunities for participants to examine German practices and perspectives within the realm of CleanTech and “green” business. We traveled to Frankfurt, Stuttgart and Heidelberg to participate in numerous business site visits, interacting with both large and small companies — from Mercedes to an eco-fashion start-up — as well as experiencing lively cultural tours, and engaging academic and professional seminars. Germany is on the cutting edge of the green movement and has fostered a dynamic business climate for innovation in the Clean Technology (CleanTech) sector, which capitalizes on advantageous regulations and incentives and strong public support, even as the country faces the challenge of an energy crisis.

Rwanda and South Africa: Understanding the Business Challenges of Sub-Saharan Africa - May 2023

Rwanda and South Africa: Understanding the Business Challenges of Sub-Saharan Africa

May 14-29, 2023

This program provided opportunities for all participants to experience firsthand the unique business challenges of Sub-Saharan Africa as they traveled to Southern and Eastern Africa to participate in numerous business and academic site visits, cultural tours and academic and professional seminars.

Sponsored and managed by the University of South Carolina CIBER team (and periodically with the George Washington University CIBER), the FDIB-Africa programs are co-sponsored by several other CIBER universities, as well as regularly by the CIBER Minority Serving Institutions/Community Colleges Consortium (CMCC). Scheduled visits on the program itineraries routinely include embassies and consulates, governmental and nongovernmental agencies, financial institutions, ICT and tech companies, agri-business, colleges and universities, women's entrepreneurship programs, renewable and sustainable energy, ecotourism sites and other major industries and small businesses in the Southern and Eastern African region.

Scandinavia: Innovation and Sustainability - June 2023

Scandinavia: Innovation and Sustainability

June 13-24, 2023
Sweden (Stockholm & Örnsköldsvik)

This FDIB/PDIB to Sweden (Stockholm & Örnsköldsvik) showcased the advancements and uniqueness of Nordic innovation and technology entrepreneurship, with a particular focus on the importance of sustainability in creating business solutions.

The Nordic business culture of collaboration and openness, as well as its focus on flat organizational structures, has led to a high concentration of innovative entrepreneurs and born-global companies, some of which are now leaders in their respective industries worldwide. The Scandinavian region is the birthplace of prominent innovative companies such as Ericsson, Skype, Spotify, Maersk, and Novo Nordisk, among others. Additionally, Stockholm is second only to Silicon Valley for the number of Unicorns – billion-dollar tech companies – per capita (2015), and the density of start-ups in Sweden is four times higher than in the US (OECD, 2016).

Scandinavia: Innovation and Sustainability - June 2022

Scandinavia: Innovation and Sustainability

June 13-25, 2022
Sweden (Stockholm and Luleå)

This FDIB/PDIB to Sweden (Stockholm & Luleå) showcased the advancements and uniqueness of Nordic innovation and technology entrepreneurship, with a particular focus on the importance of sustainability in creating business solutions.

The Nordic business culture of collaboration and openness, as well as its focus on flat organizational structures, has led to a high concentration of innovative entrepreneurs and born-global companies, some of which are now leaders in their respective industries worldwide. The Scandinavian region is the birthplace of prominent innovative companies such as Ericsson, Skype, Spotify, Maersk and Novo Nordisk, among others. Additionally, Stockholm is second only to Silicon Valley for the number of Unicorns – billion-dollar tech companies – per capita (2015), and the density of start-ups in Sweden is four times higher than in the US (OECD, 2016).

Scandinavia: Innovation and Sustainability - June 2019

Scandinavia: Innovation and Sustainability

June 12-22, 2019
Copenhagen, Denmark and Stockholm, Sweden

This FDIB/PDIB to Copenhagen and Stockholm showcased the advancements and uniqueness of Nordic innovation and technology entrepreneurship, with a particular focus on the importance of sustainability in creating business solutions.

The Nordic business culture of collaboration and openness, as well as its focus on flat organizational structures, has led to a high concentration of innovative entrepreneurs and born-global companies, some of which are now leaders in their respective industries worldwide. Stockholm and Copenhagen are the birthplace of prominent innovative companies such as Ericsson, Skype, Spotify, Maersk, and Novo Nordisk, among others. Additionally, Stockholm is second only to Silicon Valley for the number of Unicorns – billion-dollar tech companies – per capita (2015), and the density of start-ups in Sweden is four times higher than in the US (OECD, 2016).

Succeeding in Emerging and Developing Markets: Understanding How Institutions Impact Firms and Managers – June 2015

The majority of traditional Western business curriculum is founded on theory and research generated in developed countries, where political, economic, legal, and social institutions generally are formalized, well-developed, and stable. But MNCs increasingly are setting their sights on developing and emerging countries for future growth potential, where the institutional context is quite different. In these markets, international institutions play a prominent role, and local institutions are often informal, weakly formalized, in transition — or even non-existent.

This workshop was designed to equip international business educators with an in-depth understanding of how institutions shape the strategies that firms employ and the actions that managers take in developing and emerging countries. It explored how weak institutions create particular challenges, such as corruption, political risk, regulatory obstacles, social divisions, and civil strife — and the ways firms and managers can cope with these issues. The workshop also examined how non-governmental organizations (NGOs), social entrepreneurs, diaspora communities, and multilateral organizations are striving to strengthen institutions in these markets and how these new institutional forms affect firms and managers. Previous workshop speakers have included representatives from key institutions, such as the World Bank, International Finance Corporation (IFC), the US Agency for International Development (USAID); firms and NGOs operating in developing countries; and international business academics conducting cutting-edge research on institutions in developing and emerging countries.

Participants learned about the institutional realities practitioners and policymakers currently are facing in these countries and the latest scholarly research findings in this area. They also acquired hands-on experience with various teaching materials, including cases, videos, and in-class and internet exercises that will help participants better prepare their students for success in developing and emerging markets. All workshop participants received a package of teaching and research resource materials that could be used in a stand-alone course or as modules in courses across a wide range of disciplines. Materials included articles, cases, videos, in-class and internet exercises, PowerPoint slides and syllabi.

Past Participants Say:
“The workship was great the way it was conceived and organized. Thanks for a great week of learning and fun!”
“I was fascinated and really inspired by all of the sessions — really! Hard to choose the ‘best’ one.”
“I was impressed with all of the sessions. All were interesting and provocative. Kudos on lining up such a thoughtful group of speakers.”
“Great job! This is one of the most well-organized workshops that I have been to.”

Other Programs

A list of faculty and professional development programs offered by other CIBERs can be found on the CIBER Network website.

Explore international FDIB/PDIB programs offered by the CIBER network