Students Share International Experiences at Third Annual Global Showcase

Greg Rafal, program manager of undergraduate programs for the Center for Global Business at the University of Maryland's Robert H. Smith School of Business writes about the Global Showcase, held on Feb. 15, 2018, in Van Munching Hall.

Over 110 recently returned study abroad students presented at the Third Annual Global Showcase on Feb. 15, 2018. The Center for Global Business hosted the poster exhibition where students highlighted their global learning from their winter faculty-led, short-term study abroad programs. The students participated in one of four study abroad programs to the following locations: Spain; South Africa; U.K., France, Italy; and Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Singapore.

The Global Showcase is the final academic piece of the students’ study abroad course and a part of the overall common core curriculum for faculty-led, short-term undergraduate programs. The students’ posters are a culmination of their global experience providing them the opportunity to prepare a presentation in one of four categories: 1) Comparative Business Analysis; 2) Effects of Culture on Business; 3) Enterprise and Innovation; and 4) Opportunities and Challenges for U.S. Businesses.

A panel of 12 judges, both internal and external to the Smith School, assessed the poster presentations. They were judged based on the presenters’ knowledge, professionalism, visual presentation, and their ability to thoroughly field questions. This year’s participating judges included the University of Maryland, Blue Ocean Global Wealth, Ellicott Dredges, and OutCons.

Students at the Global Showcase learned from their peers across different programs and demonstrated their global learning to the wider Smith community.

“I think the global showcase was a wonderful way to culminate the end of our study abroad experience,” says junior Jimmy Kemgang. “I think it was especially moving that we had faculty members here—it was really interesting relating different things that we’ve talked about in class to my study abroad experience.”

After the poster presentations, students and faculty gathered in Frank Auditorium where Greg Rafal led a final reflection. As a group, the students shared some of their most impactful experiences from their time abroad and how their view of other cultures and business practices has changed. In addition to final reflection, Rafal and the CGB debuted a #SmithGoesGlobal highlight video recounting the students’ time abroad (watch above).

Rebecca Bellinger, executive director of CGB, closed out the program by thanking the judges and faculty. The panel of judges then announced the winning teams in each category, awarding them $500. The fan favorite poster (voted on by attendees) won Amazon Echo Dots.

Comparative business analysis: "Comparing the Business Practices of Singapore and Vietnam" –Matthew Walters, Erin Engelbrecht, Haley Greenspan, Josh Singshinsuk

Effects of culture on business- "Cultural Implications on Business"—Ariana Riske, Jenna Hong, Rachel Leisten

Enterprise and innovation- "A Deep Dive into Entrepreneurial Thinking in Spain"— Kellen Liu, Cameron Harner, Benjamin Conway, Andrew Jones, Andres Arbelaez

Opportunities and challenges for U.S. businesses- "Doing business in Vietnam"—Xuan Tran, Hannah Rosen, Regan Shanahan, Rebecca Bitar

Fan favorite- "A Deep Dive into Entrepreneurial Thinking in Spain"— Kellen Liu, Cameron Harner, Benjamin Conway, Andrew Jones, Andres Arbelaez

“The showcase is always a highly anticipated event for our center. It gives students the opportunity to share their global mindset with the rest of the Smith community and allows us to see their experience really come to life,” says Bellinger. “Every year we are impressed by the students’ professionalism and global business savvy and this year was no different.”

Learn more about global programs at the Smith School.

Special thanks to the following team of judges: Rebecca Bellinger, Robert H. Smith School of Business; Marguerita Cheng, Blue Ocean Global Wealth; Humberto Coronado, Robert H. Smith School of Business; Protiti Dastidar, Robert H. Smith School of Business; Philip Grove, Ellicott Dredges; Kecia Hansard, Robert H. Smith School of Business; Brian Horick, Robert H. Smith School of Business; Sandra Loughlin, Robert H. Smith School of Business; Karolyn Maynard, Robert H. Smith School of Business; Patricia Reich, Robert H. Smith School of Business; Oliver Schlake, Robert H. Smith School of Business; Jason Siesko, OutCons; and David Tohn, BTS Software Solutions.

Additional thanks to the staff/faculty members who led this year’s programs: Pamela Armstrong, Lily Griner, James McKinney, Victor Mullins, Jeanette Snider, Gerald Suarez, and Mark Wellman.