14 Oct 2026
Established in 2021, the IBSS Summer In-Company Consulting Projects (ICCP) programme connects students with companies across the globe through structured online consulting projects. Working in small teams, with support from IBSS academic supervisors and company mentors, students are tasked with researching business challenges and developing practical recommendations.
Akin to a mini-internship, the projects offer students a taste of consulting work, from understanding a client's needs and managing deadlines to presenting findings to industry professionals. They also bring together students from different countries, degree programmes and stages of study, each contributing their own perspectives.
This year, 151 students from 28 nationalities participated in the 28 in-company consulting projects, covering areas such as applications of artificial intelligence, international business research and supply chain management. In this article, four students share what they worked on, what they learnt and what surprised them along the way.
For second-year BA Business Administration student Amina Omar, from Kazakhstan, the appeal of the programme was the chance to find out what consulting actually involves. Her team worked with OpenClaw AI on a project exploring how artificial intelligence could support venture capital firms in identifying and evaluating potential investments.
What struck Amina most was the difference between solving a university assignment and working on a genuine business challenge. In the classroom, she explained, the question is usually clear and much of the necessary information is provided. With OpenClaw, the team first had to work out what information was relevant, what needed investigating and how to turn their research into something the company could use.
For Kevin Yohanes Setiawan, a visiting International Business Management student from Petra Christian University in Indonesia, the ICCP offered an opportunity to work alongside students and supervisors from different backgrounds while gaining practical experience with an international business.
Kevin joined Fosmos Global (Nanjing Fuke Infinite Information Technology Co., Ltd.), working as a researcher and team leader on the Forbes China Selection Series Research project. His work involved researching prominent business figures across different countries, requiring careful analysis and an understanding of business environments in different markets. Leading the team also meant taking responsibility for keeping the research on track and ensuring that individual contributions came together effectively.
Kevin particularly valued the collaborative environment and the opportunity to learn from both his teammates and company mentors. The project helped him develop his analytical abilities, while strengthening his time management, resilience and leadership skills.
For Gabriella Tesalonika Ganda, a second-year student studying Intelligent Supply Chain with Contemporary Entrepreneurialism, the chance to work with a company such as L'Oréal China was an opportunity she didn't want to miss.
Her team's project examined how artificial intelligence could be applied to purchasing and procurement, exploring how new technologies might help L'Oréal improve its existing processes. Working alongside fellow student Nadya, Gabriella researched and analysed 13 real-world examples of companies adopting AI in procurement. The pair considered how these technologies addressed operational challenges and which approaches might be relevant to L'Oréal's own supply chain.
Although Gabriella was the youngest member of her team, she found herself working alongside students in their third and fourth years, as well as postgraduate students. The experience gave her the opportunity to learn from their different approaches to research and problem-solving.
She also benefited from the guidance of IBSS supervisor David Dufour, whose industry experience helped her connect the supply chain concepts she had encountered in class with their practical application.
One of the highlights came at the end of the project, when Gabriella and her teammates presented their findings directly to L'Oréal's representatives. Having to explain and defend their recommendations to industry professionals was a new experience, and one that helped Gabriella develop greater confidence in presenting her ideas.
Nadya Maqdalene Hartanto, a fourth-year International Business with a Language student from Indonesia, was already familiar with the ICCP programme. Having taken part in 2025, she returned for a second summer after seeing the range of companies and projects available this year. This time, Nadya joined the L'Oréal China project alongside Gabriella, investigating how artificial intelligence is changing procurement within multinational companies.
Her work focused on researching examples of AI adoption and bringing the findings together into a benchmarking report that L'Oréal's purchasing team could use as a practical reference.
Supply chain management was relatively unfamiliar territory for Nadya, whose degree does not focus extensively on the subject. Yet over just a few weeks, she gained an understanding of procurement strategy, supplier management and the ways companies are beginning to use AI in their purchasing operations.
She also had the opportunity to observe how a multinational company's team discusses problems, weighs up different options and makes decisions. Working to a deadline with students from different backgrounds, and responding to feedback from L'Oréal's company mentor, gave her a much clearer understanding of the standards expected in a professional setting.
Having now completed the programme twice, Nadya has gained experience that she believes will be useful whatever industry she eventually chooses to work in.
The 2026 programme concluded with an awards ceremony at IBSS on 16th September, hosted by Hailu Hou, Acting Team Leader of Student Development and Support, bringing together participating students, academic supervisors and representatives from partner companies.
The evening included an opening address from Professor Adam Cross, IBSS Associate Dean for Business Intelligence, followed by contributions from David Dufour, IBSS Global Partnership Director and Ewout van der Schaft, Associate Dean for Internationalisation and Global Partnerships. Company representatives also shared insights into their organisations and collaborations with IBSS.
Penny (Wang Bao), Marketing Manager at Stern Ingredients China, reflected on her experience as a company mentor: “I’d like to thank the five students I had the pleasure of mentoring. I learnt a great deal from their ideas, and I was genuinely impressed by their work. What stood out most was the passion and enthusiasm they brought to their research and final report, something that AI can never replace.”
Certificates of appreciation were presented to company supervisors, while participating students received certificates recognising their completion of the summer consulting projects. It was an opportunity to thank the companies and mentors who supported the programme, as well as recognise the work students had put into their projects over the summer.
Students, academic supervisors and company representatives at the 2026 IBSS Summer In-Company Consulting Project awards ceremony, held on 16 September.
How to get involved:
Interested in taking part in future In-Company Consulting Projects, or becoming a company partner?
Contact IBSS.International@xjtlu.edu.cn for further information.
Special appreciation to the following participating companies:
Trina Solar
GHD (Good Hair Day)
XTD Steel
Fosmos Global
Suzhou Zhenyou Technology
B.Braun Medical
Hunter.AI
Shanghai Electric Co., Ltd.
Oris Automotive Systems Ltd.
L'Oréal
Deep Synergy
Engma Group
Lighthouse Capital
Yili Dairy Group
AIIN Culture and Tourism
Bell & Ross
Nanjing Trans World Trading Co., Ltd
BeautyCos International (Suzhou)
Lumenis BE
Jiahui Health (Suzhou) Clinic
Johnson Electric Motion Technology (Changzhou)
Russell Investment Management (Shanghai)
Shanghai Haixin Group
Suzhou Feizhi Information Technology Co., Ltd.
You Lan Yun Incense Technology
Jiangsu China-Israel Industrial Technology Research Institute (JCIITRI)
Accenture
Stern Ingredients
14 Oct 2026