Smith Freshmen Venture to D.C. for Global YPI

Greg Rafal, assistant director of Global Programs, Center for Global Business, writes about the Global Young Professional's Institute on April 26, 2019, at the University of Maryland's Robert H. Smith School of Business.

On April 26, 2019, Smith freshmen participated in the Global Young Professionals Institute or Global YPI. Global YPI is the first introduction to a global mindset as a Maryland Smith student and the launching point for their self-guided discovery of the competencies that make up a global mindset.  This was the final event of Smith Start, a year-long series of programs and events for first-year students designed to prepare them for the next four years and beyond. Global YPI was hosted in collaboration with the Undergraduate Programs Office and sponsored by Ernst & Young (EY) and the Title VI CIBE grant.

The program was held at the Stamp Student Union where Rebecca Bellinger, executive director of the Center for Global Business, introduced the audience to a global mindset by sharing the Financial Times definition and highlighting the importance of it to a student’s career. Greg Rafal, assistant director, Center for Global Business, continued the presentation and delved into the seven competencies that make up a global mindset and how to develop these skills at Maryland Smith.

“Developing a global mindset is not a luxury for business students, it’s an absolute necessity,” said Rebecca Bellinger, “In order for our students to thrive in the global economy and become global business leaders, we need to invest in programs that help them develop a global mindset. Employers are looking for candidates with these skills and global exposure.” Mark Rabinowitz of EY upheld this sentiment at Global YPI by sharing specific examples of how each of the global mindset competencies is valuable in the workplace.

At the end of the presentation, students were introduced to the Passport to Global Mindset mobile application. This gamified tool aims to help students not only learn about global opportunities at UMD but demonstrate their grasp of global competencies to a wider audience, namely employers.

During the second half of the program, students ventured to DC with Smith School faculty and staff to visit an embassy and learn more about that specific culture, economy, and relationship with the United States. Students had the opportunity to visit and hear from one of the following embassies: Austria, Colombia, Jordan, Philippines, Rwanda, and Switzerland.

At the conclusion of Global YPI and through the Passport to Global Mindset app, students logged into the app to learn about global programs and events that, if they participate, will earn them points as part of the Passport to Global Mindset Challenge. At the end of their sophomore year, students with the most points will receive a study abroad scholarship among other prizes.

Students and partners interested in learning more about Global YPI, the Passport to Global Mindset, the app, or the Passport to Global Mindset Challenge can contact CGB at global@rhsmith.umd.edu.

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