It was a value-creating experience for us and we are actively implementing their recommendations.

- 2007 PROJECT SPONSOR

G-Lab Projects

The G-Lab schedule is as follows: our classes begin meeting in early September. We post the internship projects on an internal website, using information provided by the host companies from a standardized questionnaire. Students form their own teams, mindful of building a strong mix of resumes and skill sets. Where appropriate, we ask teams to have at least 1 fluent local language speaker on the team. After a bidding and matching process, team assignments are announced in early October.

Teams then begin project work, talking with their companies by phone and email, fixing scope and deliverables, and beginning their research on campus. The heart of the internship occurs in January (when classes are not in session at MIT): the teams travel to their host companies and work for 3 to 4 weeks, full-time, on-site, in country. At the end of the internship, teams formally present their conclusions to senior management, and deliver written reports and backup data detailing their analysis.

Host Company Obligations

Host companies receive optimal results when the CEO and senior management have spent focused time and energy on the project and with the team. This is especially true when the teams are onsite. Please seriously assess the ability of your company's senior management to commit the time necessary to gain maximum benefit from a G-Lab team.

As for cost, host companies do not pay the students any salary or compensation. (MIT policy prohibits full-time students from receiving compensation for course-related work.) Thus, there is no cost to host companies other than an obligation to provide economy-class airfare plus modest but safe lodging for the team members while they are on site.

Selected Previous Projects