Lehigh University Iacocca Institute
Bethlehem, United States
About Lehigh University Iacocca Institute
The Lee Iacocca Institute for Global Leadership is part of Lehigh University's Office of International Affairs in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. Lehigh founded it in 1988 in partnership with alumnus Lee Iacocca, who led Ford as president and later ran Chrysler. The Iacocca Institute says it prepares current and future leaders to take on complex global problems through research, conversations with experts and hands-on programs. For high school students, the main offer is the Iacocca Global Leadership Intensive (IGLI). It's a three-week residential summer program on Lehigh's campus. IGLI 2027 runs from 11 July to 31 July 2027 and costs $7,400. Students choose either a Business & Entrepreneurship or a Health & Innovation concentration. Student testimonials on the IGLI page are credited to alumni of the Iacocca Global Entrepreneurship Intensive (IGEI). The Iacocca Institute also runs the Global Village, a five-week summer program for university students and professionals. It also runs the Iacocca International Internship Program, which sends Lehigh students to work or do research overseas. Its program list also names the Iacocca Global Future Leaders Lab: Silicon Valley.
Teaching style
Teamwork is at the center of how the Iacocca Institute teaches. On IGLI, every challenge and project is a team effort. The Iacocca Institute says success isn't measured by individual achievement, and each member is required to contribute what the team needs. The Iacocca Institute bases its work on systems thinking and idealized design. In practice, IGLI students learn design thinking and work on client-sponsored projects that tackle real business and technical challenges. They also take concentration courses. The Iacocca Institute says these vary from year to year and may include AI and Business, Global Marketing, and Art & Community Health. Field trips go to New York City and Philadelphia, and students visit local and regional businesses. Learning carries on outside class. Students live in Lehigh dorms alongside young professional mentors. They also take part in team-building workshops, networking sessions and keynote talks. The Office of International Affairs, which oversees the institute, calls its wider teaching model Self-Other-World Learning (SOWL). That model pairs reflection with action.
Reputation & Succeed take
The Iacocca Institute's standing rests mostly on Lehigh University's name and a long history. Lehigh founded it in 1988, and its Global Village program began in 1997. The Iacocca Institute says the Global Village alumni network includes more than 2,500 people from 135 countries. For its high school program, the Iacocca Institute says IGLI is an affiliate program of the National Conference of Governors Schools, which it describes as a consortium of precollege programs. It reports 66 countries represented in the program since 2001 and more than 1,500 alumni. A Lehigh news story says five alumni of the Iacocca Global Entrepreneurship Intensive are joining Lehigh's class of 2030. Lehigh doesn't say that taking part affects admission to Lehigh or to any other university.
Our take
In Succeed's view, IGLI fits a 15- to 17-year-old who wants to learn by building something with a team and is ready for three weeks away from home. It combines client-sponsored projects, field trips to New York City and Philadelphia, and life in a university dorm. Together, those give you a real feel for college life. The program's long history at Lehigh University also gives parents something solid to check. The commitment is the main thing to weigh. IGLI is fully residential, with no day option. Students can't leave for family events or sports competitions. The $7,400 fee covers tuition, room and board, materials, field trips, activities and in-program transportation. Travel to Bethlehem isn't on that list. Financial help is limited, and the Iacocca Institute says it usually covers only part of the cost. We'd suggest applying by the 15 February 2027 priority deadline, because only priority applicants can be considered for financial assistance.
IGLI is the Iacocca Institute's program for high school students, and its other programs serve older learners. The Global Village is for university students and professionals and runs for five weeks each summer. The Iacocca International Internship Program places Lehigh University students in internships or research abroad for six to 12 weeks. The Iacocca Institute's pages don't say who the Iacocca Global Future Leaders Lab: Silicon Valley is for. If you're in high school, IGLI is the way in.
Who this provider suits
Who should choose them
This may suit you if you'll be between 15 and 17 for the whole of 11 July to 31 July 2027 and will graduate high school in 2028 or 2029. Students from the U.S. and from other countries can both apply. It's a good match if you enjoy group projects and want to work on real business or health problems for actual clients. It also suits you if you're curious about living on a college campus and working with students from many countries.
Who it may not suit
Skip it if you can't give up all three weeks from 11 July to 31 July 2027. IGLI has no day option. The Iacocca Institute won't excuse students for family events, athletic competitions or other optional activities. It's also a weaker fit if you'd rather work alone or want to be recognized as an individual, because every project is a team effort. Families who need full financial aid should know the Iacocca Institute's need-based help is small. It says that in virtually all cases, aid covers only part of the cost. Lehigh's campus sits on a hill, with many stairs and 5- to 15-minute walks between buildings. If mobility is a concern, ask early, since the Iacocca Institute says it makes accommodations.
Contact
Frequently asked questions
Programs by Lehigh University Iacocca Institute
Program
Iacocca Global Future Leaders Lab: Silicon Valley
Organized by Lehigh University Iacocca Institute
Dates
20 Jun – 25 Jun 2027
Location
Multiple locations
Duration
6 days
