Student Development and Support (SDS)

We support IBSS undergraduate and postgraduate students as they explore industries, understand career pathways and strengthen their employability through structured, practice-based activities.

Company visits

• Direct exposure to real business environments
• Conversations with industry professionals and HR teams
• First-hand insights into roles, expectations and workplace culture

Career events

• Industry sharing sessions and panel discussions
• Career pathway exploration and role clarification
• Practical advice on internships, graduate roles and early career development

Student competitions

• Business case and industry-related competitions
• Opportunities to apply knowledge to real-world scenarios
• Develop problem-solving, teamwork and presentation skills

In today’s rapidly evolving AI era, employability is no longer defined solely by qualifications or certificates. It is increasingly linked to AI literacy — the ability to use AI tools effectively, think critically, and make sound decisions throughout one’s career.

The AI-Enhanced Employability Workshop Series is designed specifically for IBSS students. The series integrates AI prompts and AI agents into real-world career scenarios. Grounded in business education and global career trends, it aims to strengthen students’ overall employability, spark intrinsic career motivation and prepare for long-term professional development.

Key topics:

• AI + Self-Exploration
• AI + CV Optimisation
• AI + Interview Preparation
• AI + Internship Strategy
• AI + Further Study Strategy
• AI + Industry Research

We provide students with extensive access to internship and full-time employment opportunities through close collaboration with employers and industry partners. Our initiatives create multiple recruitment channels and direct connections with organisations across a range of sectors.

Our services include:

IBSS job fair

• School-level events held twice a year (Spring and Autumn)
• Brings together employers across key industries
• Offers internship and graduate opportunities aligned with students’ academic backgrounds

Company tours

• Employers present business operations, culture, and career pathways
• Includes workplace tours, CV screening and on-site interviews

Campus recruitment activities

• Targeted events such as employer presentations, role-specific information sessions, and on-campus interviews
• Help students engage with specific companies and prepare for recruitment processes

Job bulletin

• A regularly updated platform featuring curated internship and graduate opportunities from our partner organisations

One-to-one career consultations

Our team provides personalised one-to-one consultations to address individual career-related questions and concerns.

Group counselling

For common topics and challenges, we organise group counselling sessions to encourage guided discussion and peer learning.

We deliver weekly soft skills training and targeted coaching designed in response to evolving labour market dynamics and employer capability expectations, supporting students in building practical competencies for workplace effectiveness and long-term career readiness.

Regular training

A structured portfolio of workshops focused on the development of core transferable skills valued across professional settings. Current themes include:

• Professional Communication
• Presentation & Influence
• Team Collaboration
• Interview Strategy
• Workplace Readiness
• Cross-functional Agility

Skills coaching (one-to-one or small group)

Personalised coaching that supports students in strengthening specific soft skills and employability skills based on their goals, profiles and target roles.

This includes:

• Career Positioning
• Skill Articulation
• Interview Readiness
• Professional Communication

CV Clinic

A structured career service designed to help students build high-quality CVs aligned with recruitment expectations.

Delivered fortnightly in both English and Chinese, it offers focused consultations on CV refinement and effective positioning, consistently receiving strong positive feedback from students.

Students develop clearer articulation of their strengths, experiences, and role fit.

Key Features:

• Immediate CV structuring and positioning
• Monthly CV insights based on real student cases
• One-to-One career strategy consultations
• Selected profiles shared with employers

Wind & Python Programme

The IBSS “Python and Wind: Data Collection, Analytics, Visualisation Camp” is designed to help learners quickly grasp the fundamentals of Python programming and apply them to the collection, processing, and visualisation of data from the Wind terminal. Through a combination of theoretical explanation and practical application, learners will study how to efficiently retrieve data from the Wind terminal using Python, process the data, and extract valuable information from it. On successful completion of the programme and the Wind Examinations, students will acquire a Wind Terminal Basic Capability Certificate issued by Wind.

Doing Business in Changing China Summer School

Designed for international students, the Doing Business in Changing China Summer School delivers a comprehensive introduction to the country’s dynamic business culture. The programme is a collaborative initiative between International Business School Suzhou (IBSS) and the China Studies Department, hosted at Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University (XJTLU) in Suzhou—China’s largest international university. Throughout the two-week programme, students will immerse themselves in academic study, industry engagement and cultural discovery, gaining a distinctive insight into China while forging lasting international friendships.

In-company Consulting Project (ICCP)

The IBSS Summer In-Company Consulting Projects are designed to connect partner companies with the talents of today and tomorrow. Each year, from July to August, teams of four to six IBSS international students work on live consulting assignments under the supervision of a faculty expert. After receiving a tailored project brief that addresses the client company’s key strategic priorities, students collaborate to develop innovative, effective, and practical solutions. This initiative not only provides companies with fresh perspectives and actionable insights, but also offers students a unique opportunity to apply their learning in a professional context, building skills and networks that will serve them throughout their careers.