Over winter break, 112 full-time and part-time MBAs from the Robert H. Smith School of Business traveled abroad on faculty-led global business courses that had them learning about business practice in various, colorful foreign settings such as the United Arab Emirates, Singapore, Japan and Chile.
These short-term global business courses are part of a 4-credit Smith Experience course series open to all 2nd year full-time and part-time MBA students. While abroad, participating MBAs are given unique learning opportunities, such as the chance to visit Yahoo headquarters in Singapore or discusses export and marketing strategy at an entrepreneurial vineyard in Chile. While each course provides a different academic focus all programs include:
- On-campus courses that prepare students pre-departure and upon re-entry.
- On-site company visits.
- On-site applied learning that will help students to immerse themselves into the host culture both within and outside of the business realm.
- Opportunities to collaborate effectively with people in or from a different cultural environment, specifically in negotiation, conflict resolution, management, and teamwork.
Here’s what a few Smith School student’s told the university’s website about their experiences abroad:
“I was able to extract useful information from every single meeting planned on the trip while also expanding my network in the region as well as make new connections with soon to be Smith school alums,” said Angela Rowles, EMBA 2015 and participant on UAE global business course.
“After spending a lot of time talking to [Chilean brewers] and sharing ideas, we actually decided it would be interesting to work on a recipe together,” said James Holzapfel, DC Weekend MBA, participant on Chile global business course for DC Weekend 1st year students. “We are currently working on a collaboration to release in both countries towards the end of the Summer or early Fall.”
Each Spring the Office of Global Initiatives announces new global business courses and destinations, which are subject to change each year. For more information you can visit the Smith School’s Office of Global Initiatives website.