Passport is your opportunity to gain experiences outside the classroom. You will participate in experiences that will broaden your business perspective, enhance your marketability and help define your personal brand.
UBUS 200: Passport Introduction is an online asynchronous workshop that will show you how to start the best path toward completing your Business Passport. Your journey will focus on seven key business continents:
Activities that promote active participation in social, civic, or service-oriented initiatives, empowering students to contribute meaningfully to the well-being and development of their local or global communities.
Examples: NIU Cares Day, volunteering (Huskie Student Food Pantry, Communiversity Gardens, Feed My Starving Children, etc.
Initiatives that celebrate diverse identities and perspectives, promoting inclusive dialogue, cultural understanding and advocacy for equity within academic and professional environments.
Examples: Office of Academic Diversity, Equity and Inclusion programming, guest speakers discussing diversity, equity and inclusion in action, NIU Diversity and Cultural Resource Center programming.
Engagements that challenge students to critically analyze moral dilemmas, understand regulatory frameworks, and apply ethical principles to real-world personal, academic and professional situations.
Examples: Events with a topic of an ethical dilemma experienced in workplace.
Hands-on learning experiences — such as internships, consulting or projects — that bridge classroom theory with workplace practice, enabling students to develop technical, collaborative and reflective skills.
Examples: Internships, ELC participant, company tours, case competitions
Programs and opportunities that immerse students in international contexts — virtually or physically — to broaden their understanding of global systems, cultures and challenges.
Examples: Study Abroad, guest speaker discussing global business interactions.
Roles and workshops that cultivate leadership through strategic planning, decision-making, group facilitation and mentoring within student organizations and institutional initiatives.
Examples: Executive board member position of student organization, guest speakers discussing leadership techniques and their experience.
Workshops and events that enhance students’ communication competencies for professional settings, including speaking, writing, presenting and listening effectively across media and audiences.
Examples: Networking events, mock interviews, student presentations, public speaking/communications workshops.
Your requirement is to participate in at least one approved Business Passport event or activity from each of the seven continents before graduation.
Check Suitable to find approved activities, get credit and track your progress
You can do more and become a scholar! Create a brand for yourself in the areas you choose.
Register for UBUS 400 in your last semester. Ensure you have completed at least one experience in each of the seven continents, and check Blackboard for further course requirements.
In Suitable, earn digital badges for your accomplishments. Badges and scorecards help embody your experiences and translate them to skills employers are looking for. Badges can be shared on your LinkedIn.
