Smith MBAs to Celebrate Annual “International Week”

The MBA community at the University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business is eagerly awaiting the celebration of one of the school’s long held traditions: International Week, Feb 20-23, 2012.

Smith students come from a variety of backgrounds: approximately 40 percent of MBAs come from outside of the United States, including China, India, Kenya, Nigeria, Spain, Taiwan, Thailand, and Venezuela.

This signature event is hosted by the Asian MBA Association, Black MBA Association, Center for International Business Education and Research (CIBER), Hispanic MBA Association, and International MBA Association. First-year MBA student Tonia Wang, who is the master of ceremonies of the four-day event, says that there will be a multitude of diverse activities for students to attend.

Beginning Monday, Feb. 20, students will celebrate the Chinese Spring Festival with food and games, including a dumpling race. The winners of the race will get to have a special lunch with Prof. Shreevardhan Lele, who is an institution at Smith for teaching the extremely rigorous Data Modeling and Decision making core course.

On Tuesday, Feb. 21, students will screen a series of short films from a variety of countries.

On Wednesday, Feb. 22, the MBA Association will host a special version of Trivia Night, a bi-weekly Smith community event. This Trivia Night will focus on the intersection of business and culture and will give students the chance to learn about the different ways business customs are practiced around the world.

All of this culminates on Thursday, Feb. 23, with a large community potluck cooked by the MBAs themselves. Students will be able to sample foods from each other’s national cuisines and enjoy a series of student performances, including singing, dancing, a fashion show, and even Thai kick boxing.

“International Night is great,” says second-year MBA student Nick Price, “because it allows the MBA community to celebrate the huge number of cultures that comprise the student body. Plus, everyone loves food!”

Stephen Huie, Second-Year Smith MBA Candidate, Smith Media Group
Read his blog at blogs.rhsmith.umd.edu/stephen.