Empowering international students through alumni-driven Business Immersion

At Stellenbosch Business School (SBS) in Cape Town, our mission to "Shape Responsible Leaders for a Better World" comes alive through transformative initiatives like Business Immersion (BI) engagements, a cornerstone of our Alumni Relations and Careers Leadership programmes. These initiatives not only elevate the student experience but also accelerate access to the global job market, foster a profound sense of belonging within our vibrant alumni networks, and empower international students to thrive in diverse, competitive industries.

Central to this vision is the unparalleled contribution of our alumni, whose industry connections and leadership roles create transformative opportunities, particularly for international students navigating new markets, such as those in West and East Africa. Through these collaborative efforts, SBS is shaping future-fit leaders who are ready to make an impact on a global stage.

Alumni Relations and Career Leadership: shared commitment to student support

 The Careers Leadership function at SBS is dedicated to equipping MBA students, especially our international cohort, with the tools, strategies, and insights to make informed career decisions and confidently navigate their professional journeys. Through mentorship, personalised coaching, industry engagement, and experiential learning, Alumni Relations and Careers Leadership empower students to align their aspirations with meaningful career opportunities across local and global landscapes. For international students, who often face unique challenges in unfamiliar markets, these resources are critical to building confidence, cultural fluency and professional networks that open doors to success.

At the heart of this transformative experience are Business Immersion visits, which provide international students with unparalleled access to real-world business environments through partnerships with leading global companies. These interactive engagements allow students to:

• Connect directly with executives across diverse management functions, e.g. operations, finance, marketing, strategy and more.
• Gain a holistic view of how organisations drive success on an international scale.
• Bridge theoretical knowledge with real-world application.

These engagements broaden students’ career perspectives, deepen their global professional networks and illuminate pathways to impactful roles in globally operating firms. For international students, this exposure is particularly invaluable, equipping them with the industry readiness, global awareness and adaptability needed to lead with purpose in complex, cross-cultural business environments.

Alumni as catalysts: Opening doors for international students

The true catalyst behind these transformative experiences is the remarkable contribution of alumni, who leverage their influential roles in corporate, government and organisational sectors to amplify opportunities for international students. By opening doors to exclusive site visits, facilitating direct interactions with senior management and creating platforms for mentorship, alumni provide tangible pathways to internships, career opportunities and professional growth. In regions like East, West and Southern Africa, where navigating corporate landscapes can be particularly challenging for international students, alumni-established networks are instrumental in fostering connections with top-tier corporations, government bodies and innovative organisations.

These engagements not only provide insights into real-world challenges but also cultivate the agility and confidence international students need to excel in competitive, dynamic industries.

Alumni-driven Business Immersive initiatives bridge the gap between classroom learning and professional reality, ensuring international students are prepared to make meaningful contributions from their first day in the workforce. By fostering access to global industries, alumni empower students to envision themselves as leaders who can navigate and shape diverse markets.

This aligns seamlessly with the SBS 2025 theme of ''Shaping Responsible Leaders for a Better World'', as alumni inspire students to embrace purpose-driven leadership and pay it forward as future contributors to the SBS community. Their efforts not only enhance the international student experience but also strengthen the school’s legacy of excellence and societal impact, particularly in Africa, where responsible leadership is critical to progress.

Structured approach to facilitate an optimal learning experience

The following action-based framework provides tools for implementation of a Business Immersion (BI):

1. Establish alumni partnerships: Identify and brief alumni working in industries or government sectors aligned to the curriculum of the institution’s international student programmes, about the opportunity to facilitate access to host the students at the company.
2. Design a structured immersion plan: Design a curriculum to include site visits, a boardroom discussion and/or a workshop with the management team. This should include open discussion time where students can share their insights and the institution can explain specific industry challenges.
3. Secure institutional support: Both the university and the receiving host company play a critical role in supporting the return on investment for this initiative by committing resources, such as logistical funding and dedicated coordinating staff, to ensure its long-term sustainability. This commitment may involve deploying suitable staff to accompany students, arranging transportation and meals and establishing a mutually agreed indemnity to enable safe and secure visits to off-campus institutions.
4. Incorporate cultural experiences and environmental practices: Incorporating a cultural experience, alongside detailed information on the specific geographical areas and environmental practices, in conjunction with the students' educational training within a company, will significantly enhance the overall experience and sense of belonging for international students. This may include providing insights into local business practices and etiquette, as well as an understanding of local regulations, to strengthen their future engagement and effectiveness.
5. Ensure adequate engagement time: Students must be provided with sufficient time to engage with management or site leaders to maximize the value derived from the learning and experiential process.
6. Foster Alumni-Student Mentorship: Establishing opportunities for alumni-student mentorship following the visit will reinforce the learning experience and insights acquired, enabling students to effectively navigate the local organizational and business landscape while fostering trust and practical knowledge.
7. Evaluate and adapt: A reflective evaluation conducted after the visit by both the visiting students and the receiving institution will help to enhance the experience and inform preparations for future engagements, ensuring that learning objectives and industry expectations are met.

Purposeful engagement

Initially, a key challenge was ensuring that the local options available aligned with the diverse needs of international students. To create a purposeful and meaningful learning experience that meets students’ expectations, companies provided brief business summaries with potential discussion points for the visit. Additionally, a brief survey outlining various companies and their expectations allowed students to research the businesses beforehand, enabling them to register for specific visits and enriching the overall experience.

Shaping the next generation of global leaders

Alumni have a pivotal role in shaping the next generation of global leaders. Their contributions create a ripple effect, empowering international students to build brighter futures and drive transformative change in the global business landscape. We invite our community to join us in recognising these changemakers and supporting initiatives like BI visits, which equip students with the vision, purpose and gratitude to lead responsibly.

Together, alumni and students are forging a legacy of leadership that will transform the world for the better.