Programs_Gdynia
2010 Gdynia (Poland) Business Week Program
In partnership with the Seattle-Gdynia Sister City Organization, the Mayor’s Office of Gdynia, Washington Business Week (WBW) and Corporations in the Pacific Northwest Region we are taking the Washington Business Week program to students in Gdynia, Poland from
August 20-26, 2010.
Gdynia Business Week is an exciting and unique experience for high school students from Poland. Mentored by a volunteer from the Washington State business community, students spend an intensive week in a simulated “corporate” environment learning business, teambuilding, leadership and critical skills essential for today’s global economy. It’s a crash course in the challenges and opportunities of life in a free-enterprise, entrepreneurial society, such as preparing for a career, workplace issues, managing money, networking skills, brainstorming, teamwork, business ethics and so much more!
Students are part of a small team (“company”) of students from around the Gdynia region. A mentor “Company Advisor” helps each “company” complete challenges with real-life business scenarios through a computer simulation, competing against one another in the world of production, marketing and finance. Throughout the week students have the opportunity to network and enhance or develop skills in leadership, small group management, finance and general business management.
View a student produced slide show of the 2010 Gdynia Business Week here.
History of Business Week in Poland and 2009 Gdynia Business Week Program
Since 1976, Washington Business Week has inspired Washington State students to recognize their potential as successful employees, employers and community members. Through a five-year partnership with the Seattle-Gdynia Sister City Organization, a handful of students from Poland have attended WBW Programs each summer. The Polish students shared their experience and enthusiasm with educators and government officials upon their return to Poland. In 2008, a formal request was issued from the Gdynia, Poland Mayor’s office inviting WBW to Poland. In August 2009, 10 Company Advisors, 4 WA students, and representatives from the Seattle Sister City Organization traveled to Poland to bring the Business Week Program to Gdynia high school students. It was a huge success!
The program was an amazing opportunity for all involved. Given our regions importance in the global economy (we are number #1 nationally for exports per capita), students, volunteers and business partners have a unique opportunity to practice diplomacy, educate others about free enterprise, and form new personal and professional relationships abroad. The Polish students and educators learn, in English, about the practice of capitalism beyond theory. They view this collaboration as sharing America’s long history of free enterprise and democracy with their region, and want to establish a long term relationship with Washington Business Week and the sponsoring corporations.
Kristie English, one of our 2009 Gdynia Company Advisors, shared a little about here experience at Gdynia Business Week on her blog here.
What Gdynia high school students had to say about their 2009 Gdynia Business Week experience:
“I think that most important thing that I have learned here was how to take risk.”
“Teamwork is very important; it saves times, brings more ideas, improves the company.”
“I learned the importance of international friendships and how important it is to understand how other countries work in order to succeed.”
“It has changed my approach towards teamwork. I can distinguish the difference between a leader and a manager.”
“I’ve learned how to believe in Business and that I have to take risks. I’m the one who will decide my future.”
“In school I get theory and here I get practice.”
“Here we were obliged to express our opinions and thoughts and be creative.”
Gdynia Business Week 2010 - Volunteer as a Company or Student Advisor!
As a Company or Student Advisor for Gdynia Business Week, you will enjoy one of the best professional/personal growth experiences of your life by joining a group of 8-12 English-speaking Polish high school students in our program. Throughout the week, students will be working their way through our BizSim business simulation, addressing everything from daily HR issues to project based work under a tight deadline. As a Company or Student Advisor, your challenge is to encourage the students to take the lead, share your experience and help answer questions along the way.
This program will include: One hundred Polish high school students, eleven business volunteers from the US, ten American high school students, and 2-3 Business Week and Seattle-Gdynia Sister City staff. There will also be five students from Belarus and five from Kalingrad, Russia. All of the students speak English.
Requirements:
- We ask that Company Advisors be 21 or older and have completed at least one Washington Business Week program as a CA.
- We ask that Student Advisors have attended at least one Washington Business Week program.
- Each volunteer will need to pay (or raise) approximately $2,000 to cover their airfare and ground transportation expenses. Corporate and Gdynia sponsors are paying the program & material costs, lodging, and food for the program volunteers during the week.
- A full 12-day commitment (including travel) is required. Depart Seattle no later than August 17, return no earlier than August 27/28.
Advisor Preparation
Company Advisors and Student Advisors (and their parents) will be required to attend up to three program planning meetings in the greater Seattle area to work on parts of the curriculum and to provide specific information about the week, including what to pack. These meetings are typically held on Saturdays.
Click here to download a 2010
Click here to download a 2010
Click here to download a 2010