Experiential Learning Abroad: Smith Students Transform Their Design Perspectives in Spain

From preparing paella and learning the science behind cava-making to site visits at major soccer clubs and historical landmarks like the Sagrada Familia basilica, the streets of Spain served as a fitting classroom for Smith School students to hone their design and innovation skills.

In January, undergraduate students in the Spain Short-Term Abroad course offered by the Center for Global Business (CGB) at the University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business spent two weeks in Barcelona, Madrid and Segovia, immersing themselves in the country’s environment and exploring the convergence of art and science in design thinking.

The course, “Leading Innovation and Design in a Cross-Cultural Setting,” is co-taught by Smith School Professor J. Gerald Suarez, Professor of the Practice in Systems Thinking & Design and Fellow at the Academy for Innovation & Entrepreneurship, and instructor Christina Hnatov. It is also one of several winter break experiences offered by CGB, including the UAE, England and Italy.

Through the program, students gained an appreciation for Spain’s approach to new product development and how history, design heritage and culture manifest in innovative solutions to business and societal challenges.

The program also included a site visit to the Sagrada Família, the world’s largest unfinished Catholic basilica, which helped students identify key principles and patterns in nature that inspire harmonious and practical designs, as well as a tour of the Riyadh Air Metropolitano Stadium, home of soccer club Atletico Madrid, where students appreciated how organizations leverage cultural rituals and artifacts to create an emotional sense of belonging.

Other significant experiences included a walk through Park Guell, which deepened the students’  understanding of biomimetic design, and a paella cooking class at La Lonja, where students learned to work effectively in teams to design for the senses.

“Each venue was chosen to expose students to various aspects of design, from the intricacies of architectural innovation in the Roman aqueduct in Segovia to the harmonious integration of art, nature and functionality in Antoni Gaudí’s masterpieces,” says Suarez. “The course provided an unforgettable experience that blended cultural engagement, meaningful reflections and creative exploration—ultimately preparing students to become more informed and innovative thinkers, empathic designers and pragmatic problem solvers.”

Over the program’s duration, students also journaled their thoughts, observations and inspirations, which enabled them to draw meaningful connections from their experiences and nurture their creative confidence.

All of these experiences culminated in a final team presentation synthesizing the lessons learned from each stop. The project is intended for students to demonstrate their understanding of cross-cultural design practices and mastery of systems thinking and design principles.

Marketing senior Ella Ashby ’25 viewed the course as a “perfect opportunity” to step out of her comfort zone while remaining in a structured environment. She says her Smith School coursework encourages her to express her creativity, flex her problem-solving skills and create empathic solutions to projects. However, her experience in Spain helped deepen her appreciation for that approach.

“I can’t imagine a better way to become equipped with these skills than to travel to a completely new environment where typical conveniences are no longer a given,” says Ashby. “Gaining a global perspective of how other cultures interact, understanding their values and learning what they experience has allowed me to grow as a human both personally and professionally.”

Management senior Aidan Uffelman ’25 applied to the program because of the appeal of a short-term trip and the opportunity to broaden his understanding of design by getting immersed in an unfamiliar environment. He says the visits and activities made the program “an unforgettable part” of his UMD experience.

“I’d recommend prospective students take inventory of what they want to gain from an abroad program and be open to new experiences,” says Uffelman. “Studying abroad is a life-changing experience, especially when you're part of a program led by Professor Suarez. Getting out in the real world through experiential learning is such a shift from what we're often used to and in the best possible way.”

This program was supported in part by CIBE, a Title VI grant from the U.S. Department of Education.