X-Culture, a global collaboration project, allows students from the Texas A&M University – Mays Business School to gain real-life experience in the global market without leaving campus.
Daria Panina, a faculty member in the Department of Management, gives students enrolled in International Management class the opportunity to participate in X-Culture, a global collaboration which includes professors from 107 universities in 43 countries.
As part of the involvement with X-Culture, students in Panina’s class are assigned to global virtual teams, typically uniting up to seven students from different countries. The teams must then work together to develop a business solution for an actual company, partnered with X-Culture. Students spend the semester working together and developing skills in market analysis and global strategy development.
At the end of the semester, participants are eligible for X-Culture Global Collaboration Experience certificates. Awards are offered for Best Team, including cash prizes in addition to sales commissions and job offers. Top students are given the chance to participate in the annual X-Culture symposium, sponsored by a partner company. The symposium gives students the opportunity to finally meet their team members in person, and interact with representatives from around the globe.
Despite the challenges of the program- including time differences and learning to work with students from different cultures- students who have participated in X-Culture have consistently lauded the value of the program. Not only does X-Culture give students the opportunity to gain international experience, but many students say it has helped their job search.
Panina has received the Best Instructor Award now for several semesters, based on a peer review of 116 performance indicators. Some of these evaluators include theoretical training of students, judging group projects and her support of the X-Culture collaboration.