Global Village interns are selected to attend based on multiple criteria including their ability to be Ambassadors for business and culture in their home countries.  During Global Village Country Presentations, we provide a forum for interns to speak about current business practices, the business climate, impacts of culture on business, and acceptable business practices in their home country or Global Village Country of representation. Interns not only learn from each other, but also teach their peers. Country Presentations learning objectives include:

• Developing and enhancing presentation skills
• Working with a team and then collaborating with other teams
• Providing Peer Support
• Learning and teaching business principles and facts about individual countries
• Exploring potential business partnerships
• Time management skills both in planning and in presenting
• Developing Skills in Providing and Receiving Feedback
• Gaining experience in a competitive business context

The format for Country Presentations includes the preparation of a SWOT analysis of their country for the purpose of providing data to organizational leadership about a specific Country as a new business opportunity. Utilizing their completed analyses, Countries are partnered and then tasked to present how their two markets can do business together. Their findings are developed into a PowerPoint presentation and formally presented to Global Village peers, staff and guests.

DELIVERABLES AND DEADLINES

Summary:  Each country represented in the Global Village is required to participate in Country Presentations.  When applicable, interns will work in teams with fellow countrymen/women.  Countries with solo representation may recruit others to assist from their peer group, or choose to work independently. Countries will be randomly paired for their joint presentation.

STEP 1:  This work should be completed before arriving at Global Village. 
Each country of representation in Global Village is to identify the major Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats for business leaders to consider when assessing that country as a new place to do business.  Please see our TOOLS MENU below to download helpful documents and directions.

STEP 2:  At Country Presentation Orientation, two countries will be assigned to work together. The two countries assigned to work together are to explore how business can succeed across their borders. Country Pairings:  On July 1, each country team will learn with which country they will collaborate and on which date they will present.  All assignments will be RANDOM so that there is no perceived advantage for border countries or countries in established relationships. 

STEP 3: Presentation:  The research from Step 1 and Step 2 will be developed into a PowerPoint presentation and presented to the Global Village during week 2 of the program.  Each country pairing will compete against other paired countries on the same day.  If your country has more than one representative, your team may choose to have one presenter or multiple presenters-- the choice is yours, but you must adhere to your group’s time structure. 

Each Country Presentation session will be moderated by Dick Brandt, to ensure that interns present within the time allotted. A total of 12 minutes will be allotted for the entire presentation for the paired countries. How interns use this time is to be determined by the two collaborating teams, together. (Interns may decide that each country will have 4 minutes to present their SWOT analysis and the remaining 4 minutes be allotted for the joint presentation.) The only requirement we enforce is that the entire presentation must be completed within the 12 minute time frame and a large alarm clock will be used during the presentation for this purpose. Following the 12 minute presentation, a maximum of 10 minutes will be permitted for questions from the audience.  There is no restriction as to the number of slides or speakers permitted. 

A sample of a country presentation session schedule from 2:30 PM to 5:00 PM is as follows…

STEP 4: EVAULATIONS:  A feedback group of 20 or more of your peers will be assigned to each country presentation day.  The feedback group will consist of two members from each guide team.  Every intern will be part of one feedback group during the Global Village.  Those selected to provide feedback will be announced at the beginning of each session.  Interns will not have advance notice.  Peer Evaluation Forms or feedback forms, will be provided to the feedback group at the beginning of each session. 

Evaluations by both the feedback group and moderator Dick Brandt, will be provided at the end of each session.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Questions regarding Country Presentations can be directed to the Learning Experiences Team at eas7@lehigh.edu.

To find out if there are other interns representing your country, contact Alicia Fowler, Candidate Coordinator, at village@lehigh.edu.