Experiential Learning

Beyond the Classroom

At Kellogg, there are many opportunities to acquire experience with real world issues that are based outside of coursework. Conferences, business plan competitions, internships, and club activities add more relevance to academics to elevate the skills and opportunities of Kellogg students.

• Global Health Initiative (GHI)
  GHI (thinkglobalhealth.org) is a partnership between private industry, non-profit donors and academia to develop products that address health issues facing underserved communities around the world.  Northwestern University received a grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to research and develop affordable HIV diagnostics for resource-limited settings. To develop these new diagnostics, Northwestern University has essentially formed a small nonprofit biotech company. Scientists and engineers from the McCormick School of Engineering work with existing intellectual property to develop platform diagnostics. Students working through the Kellogg School's GHI gather and research user requirements, market dynamics, government procedures, and distribution channels for the developing world. In addition to valuable insight into the product innovation process, GHI gives students the experience of working in a medical device environment from cradle to grave. In three years, more than 200 Kellogg students participated in at least one GHI project through coursework or volunteer field research.
• Kellogg Board Fellow Program: This student-led program has become a well-known and highly competitive application process in which 45 - 48 Fellows are selected each year. Each Fellow is matched with a Chicago-area nonprofit Board of Directors and serves ex officio on the Board from spring of the first year at Kellogg through June of the second year. The Fellow serves as a non-voting member of the Board, actively contributing in a mutually agreed upon way – usually through completion of a project that furthers the work of the Board. In addition to gaining real-world experience on a Board of Directors, the Fellow also completes two courses: Board Governance and Advanced Board Governance, which together offer the Fellows an opportunity to study best practices, examine trends in nonprofit governance, exchange insights and learn how to be an effective board member.
• Levy Institute for Entrepreneurial Practice Internship Programs
  The entrepreneurial and private equity opportunities in the Levy Center include 8-week summer internship programs that have academic requirements in addition to professional demands. All internships are located within the greater Chicagoland area.
  • Kellogg Entrepreneurial Internship Program (KEIP)
    KEIP offers first-year students the opportunity to experience entrepreneurship first-hand through an internship with a small business in the area. Host companies provide real world projects and environments that allow students to make a real contribution to the company while having an invaluable learning experience.
  • Private Equity Internship Program (PEIP)
    PEIP is a vehicle through which students gain an understanding of a firm in the private equity industry. PEIP most benefits students with non-traditional backgrounds who might typically be overlooked in a quick review by a hiring partner at a PE firm. Typically, ten to fifteen first-year students are selected for this Program.
• Student-led Conferences
  Typically, Kellogg students present 12-14 conferences each year. The conferences allow students to apply their leadership and management skills, and to learn from business leaders and industry practitioners from around the world.
• Kellogg Cup Business Plan Competitions
  The Kellogg Cup is designed to expand each student’s understanding of the dedication, skill and work required in today's new venture process. Students organize this program and faculty select the judges -- successful entrepreneurs and venture capitalists -- most often alumni from Kellogg or other top business schools.
• Kellogg Venture Capital Competition
  Kellogg’s VC competition, held in the Fall quarter, brings in real companies with real funding requirements. Student teams act as VCs, conducting due diligence on the company and eventually presenting an investment recommendation including an investment thesis to the judges. Judges comprise industry experts, including venture capitalists and entrepreneurs.
• Social Enterpise @ Kellogg
  Social Enterprise at Kellogg (SEEK) develops more socially responsible global leaders through leadership and decision-making activities within the broader social environment. Leadership opportunities are available through student organizations and SEEK’s affiliation with Kellogg research centers (including the Center for Nonprofit Management and the Ford Motor Company Center for Global Citizenship). The Kellogg School supports a limited number of summer internships in public and nonprofit organizations with matching stipends, while SEEK and the Career Management Center help graduates obtain positions in the public and nonprofit sectors through loan assistance and fellowships. For example, the Beacon Capital Fellows Program encourages graduating Kellogg School students to work with nonprofit and public organizations by offering one-year fellowships.
• Student Club and Group listing

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