University of Victoria

International Summer Institute for Business Management (ISIBM)

Since the program was first offered in 1999, students have attended from 27 countries, including England, Germany, Taiwan, Japan, Mexico, Brazil, South Korea, France, Netherlands, India, Austria, Scotland, Bulgaria, Hungary, Tunisia, Indonesia, China, Saudi Arabia, Ukraine, Singapore and Australia.

The ISIBM is ideal for undergraduate students from various disciplines who:

• Wish to develop a fundamental understanding of business skills and tools to succeed in today’s global marketplace
• Wish to experience Canadian university-level education
• Plan to study abroad in the future and want to sample an international learning environment
• Need to improve their written, verbal, and non-verbal communication skills within a business management context
• Wish to gain additional credits to put towards their degree program at home

Module 1 - Business Communication

Business Communications will focus on the development and enhancement of skills in written/oral business communication, non-verbal communication, and cross-cultural communication. Students will learn how to develop efficient use of verbal and non-verbal skills in business situations and be able to use language to convey specific messages to intended audiences.

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

• Demonstrate an understanding of the principles of effective business communications
• Comprehend and implement cross-cultural communication strategies
• Apply cultural models and frameworks to ensure successful communications in an international business context
• Negotiate effectively in intercultural meetings
• Understand the key aspects of communication in virtual teams
• Develop effective business communications and send through appropriate communication channels within an organization in a global environment
• Understand and use non-verbal communication skills across cultures
• Develop and deliver effective multimedia presentations in global contexts

Module 2 - Business Management: Entrepreneurship, Service Management, and International Business

This course is based on a program that has earned UVic several international awards. It aims to develop a fundamental understanding of the skills and tools necessary to succeed in today’s global marketplace. We begin with issues relating to starting a business (entrepreneurship), continue with topics around ensuring success (service management), and end with issues involving growing the business (international business). Whether you plan to start your own business one day or work in a large multinational corporation, this course provides you with the knowledge to enhance your opportunities for success.