Our world is more interconnected and dependent than ever. Leaders across every industry need to cultivate expertise in public-private strategies, global perspectives, leadership and worldwide networks. 

Global Launchpad was designed to provide an immersive learning experience that complements graduate degree programs in business, STEM fields, liberal arts and social sciences.

Why Partner With Fletcher?

We can help complement your educational offerings with a hands-on experience that prepares leaders to enter new markets, navigate international trade policies and regulations, manage cross-cultural teams, respond to emerging global trends and lead with confidence in a complex world.

Ranked Among the Best

Fletcher is proudly among the Top 5 international relations schools in the world, according to Foreign Policy Magazine’s Best Master’s Programs 2024 edition.

An Experiential Education 

Today’s young professionals are looking for next-level learning experiences that can take them beyond the classroom, build their leadership skills and accelerate their career opportunities. This program combines the transformative power of immersive educational travel with targeted training in leading strategy in a multi-national context. ​

A High-Impact Network

The Fletcher School is honored to serve as a top training center for diplomats, government officials, public sector leaders and social innovators in the private sector. Fletcher’s alumni and partners offer unparalleled access to the complex networks and ecosystems that shape global affairs.​​

It has been the best we have experienced in comparison to other short courses we have taken abroad. The warmth and kindness shown by every one of the staff involved has been incredible.

2025 Fletcher Global Launchpad participant

Frequently Asked Questions

We help you build a tailored curriculum that complements your students’ studies. Our most common launchpads by audience include:

  • MBA and Business Students: learn how to internationalize an organization and explore the nuances of global market entry.
  • Social Impact Leaders: build a foundation of best practices in impact-oriented business to help students cultivate the skills for leading a social enterprise.
  • STEM Entrepreneurship: go beyond the lab and transform ideas and inventions into scalable solutions.

The program complements graduate degree programs in business, STEM fields, liberal arts and social sciences.

We welcome inquiries from accredited degree-granting university departments, which may be based in the United States or in another country that has diplomatic relations with the U.S.

We can accommodate a range of cohort sizes based on your budget and availability. We typically find that the most effective cohorts contain 15-26 students. We have enjoyed offering programs for over 50 participants.

We do not recommend having a program with fewer than eight students. We do acknowledge that contexts vary and are happy to adjust based on your needs.

Based on the collaboration between our two institutions, participants will have the option to experience a:

  • Summit (two-three day immersion)
  • Flagship (five-seven day immersion)
  • Seminar (12-14 day immersion)

Summits are ideal for participants balancing professional, academic, and personal commitments. Students have the ability to enhance their MBA experience with a condensed and enriching program over just two to three days. Learning experiences may include long weekends based on availability and demand. This program is typically 12-16 instructional hours.

Intensives take your immersion to the next level, combining academic work with group projects and robust site and cultural visits around Greater Boston. This model allows for a more in-depth engagement and is typically 24-30 instructional hours.

Seminars offer the opportunity for specialized study within one focus area, allowing time for the full range of class time activities, including coaching, public-private site visits and cultural excursions. This program is typically 40-60 instructional hours and allows for in-depth work with faculty. Generally, the seminar is at least equivalent to a three-credit graduate course offering.

The greater Boston area is an innovative hub of technology, environmental research, international finance, security and global healthcare. Whether your interests lie in biotech, the defense sector, academic research or entrepreneurship, Boston has the ecosystem to support you. 

Participants have two different options for attending the program based on accommodation services and the length of the Immersion program.

Full Service Program:

  • Faculty-led programming, including keynote presentations, hands-on workshops, case studies, individual or group feedback, and local excursions (e.g. site and cultural visits).
  • Accommodation at a 3.5+ star hotel
  • Daytime dining, including breakfast, lunch and refreshments during the program
  • Dinner receptions, including a welcome dinner and a networking reception
  • Certificate of completion from Fletcher

Efficiency Program:

  • Faculty-led programming, including keynote presentations, hands-on workshops, case studies, individual or group feedback, and local excursions (e.g. site and cultural visits).
  • Daytime dining, including lunch and refreshments during the program
  • Dinner reception(s), including a welcome dinner and a networking reception
  • Certificate of completion from Fletcher

Please reach out to fletcherexeced@tufts.edu to discuss details.

Fletcher typically works on a contract basis, developing a customized agreement that includes an agreed-upon timeline, price model and scope of work. We also welcome agreements for multiple years or multiple programs.

Financial models are arranged with the partner based on program parameters, customization, cohort size, location and a variety of other factors that may affect operational costs. Please inquire directly with our team for more information.

It is a non-credit-bearing program offered through Fletcher Executive Education. It is not a component of a Fletcher degree. Our degree-granting partners may choose to offer course credit through their own institution for the completion of the program, and the Fletcher team is typically able to accommodate specific parameters and requests by the partner institution to make the customized launchpad experience viable for offering course credit at the home institution.

When developing your immersion program, please consult with us about the specific requirements that you may have, including instructional hours, assignments, learning outcomes, instructor of record, program dates and other factors.

We currently only offer launchpads on a bespoke basis, targeted to an individual degree program or university, which allows us to create a truly customized experience that complements each degree program. Should you choose to partner with another department or university for a joint launchpad, we are happy to explore that opportunity.

Our team can create a program to be appropriate for advanced undergraduates, such as juniors, seniors or co-terminal students. However, they must be over 21 years of age.

Students are considered visitors to Tufts University and are subject to visitor policies, not student policies.

However, as part of the program, we can arrange to provide students with certain amenities:

  • Tufts IDs, which provide library and gym access
  • Tufts email addresses, which can have an expiration date
  • Tufts parking
  • Tufts dining packages
  • Tufts dormitory housing (summer only, limited availability)

It should be noted that Tufts visitors do not have access to the full range of Tufts Student Health Services. We provide access to local Urgent Care and health services during the program.