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Oyu-Erdene Ankhbayar’s summer was anything but conventional.

Ankhbayar ‘26 interned at the Luxembourg Institute of Health, working on the Bioinformatics & AI team. She worked on predicting gene expression from tissue images using machine learning techniques, finding that certain genes linked to brain and muscle tissues could be accurately predicted based on image features.

“It was challenging in a lot of new ways,” said Ankhbayar, 26, an international student from Mongolia majoring in population health at Lehigh University. “I learned a lot and it really helped me to realize my potential and what I’m capable of. It was a really motivating, encouraging experience.”

Ankhbayar was one of nearly 100 people who attended the Iacocca International Internship Showcase at Williams Hall on Sep. 4, where students shared their summer internship experiences from around the globe.

A total of 61 students from all of Lehigh’s undergraduate colleges interned in 18 countries this summer through the Iacocca International Internship Program (IIIP). More than 800 students have interned in 58 countries since the program began in 2011.

“Trust me, when you reach the point where you are seeking that first job after Lehigh or applying to graduate school, this kind of experience is a differentiator,” Lehigh President Joseph J. Helble ‘82 said at the event. “What you have learned working, living, and studying in a different country I trust has given all of you a new perspective and maybe even changed your view of the world a little bit.”

These internship experiences reflect the strategic initiatives of Lehigh’s Office of International Affairs. These include ensuring all students have access to international education experiences, and preparing Lehigh community members to be global learners, citizens, and leaders.

Lauryn Heskin ‘25 and Lillian Smith ‘26 interned together at PAR University of Applied Sciences in Rijeka, the third-largest city in Croatia. Smith, 20, a supply chain major at Lehigh’s College of Business, worked as an assistant international officer. She communicated with colleges across Europe, providing her a broad perspective on operations not only in Croatia but globally.

Heskin, 21, who is majoring in both marketing and psychology, interned in the marketing and public relations department. Part of her role involved interviewing exchange students and featuring their stories into social media posts and digital platforms to promote the university’s study abroad programs.

“In the future I want to work in the sports industry and work with a global audience, so it was cool to see how the Croatian market works,” Heskin said. “Our supervisors were really accommodating, so we were able to travel and explore different parts of Croatia and other countries, so it was a really great, balanced experience.”

Ankhbayar said her Luxembourg team was the most diverse environment she has ever worked in, with members coming from at least 8 different countries  and various backgrounds and disciplines, ranging from biology to data science.

Helble said Lehigh is deeply committed to broaden its global perspective and impact, one of the initiatives outlined in the university’s long-term strategic plan, Inspiring the Future Makers.

“The Study Abroad office supports more than 300 programs in over 60 countries.” Helble said. “This is one of the things I get to tell alumni from my era, and they are always astonished, because this is so different from the Lehigh many decades ago.”

IIIP was established through a generous endowment gift by Lee Iacocca ‘45, who championed the value of providing students with hands-on opportunities to apply their academic knowledge and skills in real life

“The late, great Lee Iacocca, also a Lehigh alum, had something particular thing in mind when he was looking at competitiveness for our learners and Lehigh graduates,” said Scott Koerwer, Executive Director of the Lehigh’s Iacocca Institute. “He was a future maker, and I share that because it’s important to think about what future makers do.”

Bill Hunter, Director of Fellowship Advising and UN Programs, also spoke during the IIIP event. He provided details about Lehigh’s Office of Fellowship Advising (OFA), which works with university students, faculty, staff, and alumni to prepare nationally competitive scholarship and fellowship applications.

“Our office is specifically on campus to work with high-potential students; to sit down and have a very informal conversation with you about where you are now, where you are heading, and how we can help you get there,” Hunter said. “So make the Office of Fellowship Advising the next stop on your list, and we’ll be very excited to work with you.”