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Author: carneyn16

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How do you study abroad from home?

As with many facets of post-COVID life, students participating in Global and Experiential Education’s (G&EE) short-term study away program (STAP) Spain: Technology and Innovation in Barcelona were required to be incredibly adaptable on short notice. Within 24 hours before the first student was to depart the United States for Spain, the university announced cancellation of all international travel for students, faculty, and staff. 

In collaboration with G&EE, Dr. Mary Granger, Professor Emerita of Information Systems & Technology Management; Dr. Nina McGarry, Adjust Professor of Information Systems & Technology Management; and I as the Student Administrative Assistant worked to create a new syllabus for this now virtual course. The show would go on!

Amidst the other, arguably more serious disruptions to work life, family life, and personal routine, it was reassuring to know that the students would still be able to complete the course for full credit, albeit in a revised format and far from the Catalan capital. For many students, being able to complete a revised version of this course allowed them to stay on track for their graduation at the end of the Spring 2020 semester.      

While the physical limitations of the class might not have allowed the students to experience the in-person environments of the start-ups we were due to visit, the online learning format did end up uniquely contributing to the course in a meaningful way. Rather than the usual half-hour visit, students got the chance to spend two hours (virtually) with each entrepreneur, including: Kathy Korman Frey, Founder, The Hot Mammas Project; Alan Patterson, Founder of Boxstore Split Buddy; Ken Huntsman, Angel Investor and co-founder of America Online; and Joan-Albert Garcia Moga, Associate Professor at ESADE Business and Law School. The shared trials of social distancing allowed for common ground and richer conversation. The extended timeline of the course furthermore allowed students to spend a full month developing their own startup pitches, rather than a short week.

Ultimately, the students were able to experience the role of technology and innovation in adapting to changing circumstances firsthand. I'm confident that when the world finds its "new normal," they will      be able to leverage the resilience, adaptability, and entrepreneurial spirit developed during this time to make great change.

Nicole Fitchett served as Student Administrative Assistant for GW’s Spain: Technology and Innovation in Barcelona course and is a ’21 MBA Candidate at the George Washington University School of Business.

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The Arizona: Business of Spring-Training Baseball short-term study away program was designed to offer insights into the economics and social impact of Major League Baseball (MLB) spring training in Phoenix, Arizona - home of the Cactus League. The course led by Professor Mark Hyman, Assistant Teaching Professor of Management & Tourism Studies with the support of the Office of Global & Experiential Education (G&EE) covered the profitability of spring training games, the public investment decisions factored into facility projects, and the changing demographics of fans amid tailwinds such as advanced data metrics and sports betting.

 At the beginning of the course, students read pertinent baseball novels and conducted secondary research on their respective research topics. The bi-weekly campus meetings were a chance to learn about the students’ findings and connect with relevant guest speakers such as author of Under the March Sun, Charles Fountain; Mickey Shupin, MLB Director of International Events; and Teddy Dwork, Washington Nationals Accounting Coordinator.

Due to unprecedented challenges presented by COVID-19, travel to Arizona was unfortunately canceled and it was up to the unified and prompt response of G&EE and Professor Hyman to continue a meaningful educational experience for the students. During these uncertain times, the G&EE office provided a sense of assurance by backing the students in returning program fees and refunding sunken costs for non-refundable flights. Fortunately, the students have been able to continue research thanks to our seamless integration into remote learning. Despite the students not being able to travel to Arizona to conduct site-visits and meet professionals firsthand, they still have been able to experience many #OnlyatGW moments.

Students continued conducting interviews online with key MLB stakeholders to contribute to their ongoing research during the pandemic. Speakers that have been able to contribute to the oral history of this contemporary research project include Los Angeles Angels Manager, Joe Maddon; Chicago White Sox Owner and GWSB BA ‘57 alum, Jerry Reinsdorf; Scottsdale, AZ Mayor, Jim Lane; and Executive Director, Cactus League Baseball Association Inc., Bridget Binsbacher.

In addressing future G&EE Student Administrative Assistants (SAAs), I would summarize this opportunity as a chance to support the inner workings of a once-in-a-lifetime experiential course offered at GW. These courses encapsulate what an #OnlyatGW moment is:  an opportunity to connect a diverse student body with similar interests. I implore prospective SAAs to stay connected with G&EE as well as have a vested interest in the learning outcomes of students in these unparalleled course offerings.

Jonathan Prete is a Senior at The George Washington University School of Business majoring in Finance.

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The Business & Society course Think Tanks & Business Organizationstaught by Professor Abdullah Akyuz took place March 18-21. Due to the university shifting to distance learning in response to COVID-19, this course adapted to an online format just days before its start with the support of Student Administrative Assistant Fatoumata Zahara Savane.

Below is Fatoumata’s reflection on her experience.

The course is structured to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of business engagement in policy making bodies through business organizations and think-tanks as shapers of public opinion, focusing on the U.S domestic context while also exploring global perspectives in foreign policy creation. This class helps students understand the complexity of the environments and social context executives operate in and evaluate the changing roles of business in a globalized economy.

The involvement of distinguished guest-speakers is what makes the class so impactful. Indeed, students had the chance to virtually engage with the Foreign Policy Program Chief of Staff at the Brookings Institution, Managing Director of International Government Affairs at Citi, and a former attorney adviser to a Commissioner at the U.S. International Trade Commission who now serves as Vice President of Education Programs at the Committee for Economic Development. These guest speakers created a good balance in the course and gave unique perspectives into how businesses engage with think-tanks.

After the university moved all classes online due to concerns about COVID-19, I worked closely with G&EE program staff and professor Akyuz to ensure the course still ran. I was impressed by the efforts made to switch everything online a week before the start of the course. I personally received a lot of support from G&EE as they made sure we had all the technical assistance and resources necessary to give students a great experience and achieve their learning objectives.

Last but not least, it was an honor to work with Professor Abdullah Akyuz. He is very knowledgeable and his extensive professional experience in this field helped students to better understand the content of the course. I highly recommend this course as it gives a unique experience to anyone interested in understanding the large field in which businesses operate by offering close contact with major organizations and associations.

Fatoumata Zahara Savane is a ‘20 MA Applied Economics Candidate at The George Washington University Columbian College of Arts and Sciences.

To read more Business & Society Series reflections on our blog, click here.

To learn more about the Business & Society Series, click here.

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Written by Matthew Rodgers, MS. International Business '21

 

As I write this blog post I’m currently sitting in the back of an airplane, flying somewhere over the Atlantic Ocean just south of Iceland. I’ve now spent a total of 12 days traveling through Europe with the majority of those days spent at the Grenoble Ecole De Management (GEM) located in Grenoble, France. This trip has exceeded my expectations in every aspect from academics to cultural activities to the people I’ve met along the way.

The two courses that I enjoyed the most while studying in France were Serious Games taught by Helene Mitchel and Design Thinking taught by Jose Gotsch. Both of these involved hands-on, engaging activities that included giant Rubik’s cubes, Legos, and classic craft materials like construction paper and glue sticks. Aside from the intellectual aspects of these classes, it was refreshing to create a tangible item, something that is uncommon in most graduate level business courses. These sessions forced students to take an active role in creating innovative ideas and designs that could solve problems faced by businesses or students of the classes. I left these classes with a deep appreciation for the creativity required to find unique, innovative ideas, as well as the detail needed to ensure the ideas are practical.

The site visits to companies in Grenoble provided a glimpse into how the principles learned during the class sessions play out in the real world. We met with leaders of two separate companies on different days. Both companies operated in the technology industry and stressed the difficulties they faced and the need to turn research and prototypes into products that meet consumers’ needs and wants. This helped drive home the applicability of the lessons learned in our classes. 

Through these classes, site visits, and GEM coordinated cultural activities, all of us students came into contact with the local French citizens on a daily basis. Although it may seem obvious to study the local language before traveling to a foreign country, I had not taken enough time prior to the trip to study the basics of French.  Fortunately for me, the citizens of Grenoble are friendly, and most speak some English.

Aside from the academics, the food in France is outstanding. We ended the program with a dinner at a prominent restaurant specializing in French cuisine. This dinner featured local products such as wines, cheeses, and walnuts, which Grenoble is known for producing. This was my favorite meal of the entire trip. Through it all, the students from George Washington University, University of North Carolina (UNC), and Duke University became close friends. A few other students from UNC and I even ended this study abroad trip by renting a car together and heading to Geneva for a brief tour before returning home.

I can’t stress how highly I would recommend this program to students considering participating in a Short Term Study Away Program. I can’t think of a more rewarding and exciting way to spend the winter break between semesters. This trip certainly won’t be the last time that I visit France.

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