The Global Village for Future Leaders of Business and Industry is an intensive, five-week program on the campus of Lehigh University that teaches adult professionals business, entrepreneurial and leadership skills while preparing them to thrive in a global community. Villagers will learn and live among a culturally diverse group of more than 90 peers from more than 45 countries. 

Your admission to the Global Village depends largely upon how clearly you communicate who you are now as well as who you want to be in the future. The Selection Board will be looking for qualifications such as personal values and ethics, motivation, skills, the benefit that you hope to derive by attending and the contribution you would personally make to your colleagues in the Global Village experience.

Candidates are evaluated in 6 core areas:

• Leadership experience and potential
• International experience
• Business experience
• Interpersonal skills
• Vision and goals
• Commitment to the service of others

Candidates are also evaluated on what the Global Village can do to help them achieve their long term goals. The ideal candidate will be able to articulate both:

• How their presence at the Global Village will benefit the other participants.
• What they can gain from the Global Village at this particular stage of their personal and professional development.

Diversity is the foundation of the Global Village and each villager must bring some unique thread to that tapestry. If the country, region, or profession a candidate represents is already oversubscribed for this year’s program, he or she may be encouraged to apply again next year.

The average age of the Global Village participant is 26 years old and ages range from 19 to 35+. It is recommend that students be at least 21, although younger applicants whose applications demonstrate exceptional ability, motivation and maturity are also considered.

Application Requirements

In addition to the online application, you must submit:

• Educational transcript or latest job performance evaluation
• Two letters of recommendation
• Evidence of English proficiency (example TOEFL, Cambridge Score, written letter from professor, proof of studies in English language school)
• Copy of current CV or Resume
• US $50.00 application fee WAIVED for YES alumni applicants

Individual Scholarships

Tuition for the Global Village is US $7,500.

The Iacocca Institute offers individual tuition assistance in the form of the Iacocca Scholarship. Application for the scholarship is submitted as part of the Global Village online application; no additional forms are necessary. Please be aware that scholarship funds are limited. The Scholarship Committee will give strong consideration to applicants who have raised a majority of their tuition. The average individual scholarship awarded is between US $1,000 and $2,000.

Scholarship funds may be awarded in support of program tuition fees that cover materials, housing and local transportation for scheduled trips that are part of the Global Village curriculum. The Scholarship Committee NEVER awards funds to cover the costs of transportation TO and/or FROM Lehigh's campus in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. Additionally, scholarship funds will NOT pay for food, initial deposit or other personal expenses during the five-week program.

In order to insure diversity of culture, geography, gender and experience, the number of selectees from any one country, major field of study or employment, etc. is very limited. Applicants who apply early have a better chance of selection AND the best opportunity to be considered for scholarship dollars.