Center for Global Business News

Disney executive Joe Welch encouraged Smith School students to explore careers across industries and sectors during a fireside chat. He discussed global business challenges and highlighted Disney internships, cultural exchange programs and a fellowship in public policy.

Eighteen Smith School undergraduates gained international business experience through the Center for Global Business' Global Summer Internship Program. Students earned six academic credits while working abroad, applying classroom knowledge to business challenges and developing intercultural teamwork and cross-cultural communication skills.

A team of University of Maryland undergraduates, including a student from the Robert H. Smith School of Business, achieved an exceptional result at the International Business Ethics and Sustainability Competition (IBESCC), hosted by Loyola Marymount University (April 13–17, 2026).

The Center for Global Business revived its International Business Agility Labs in 2026, bringing nearly 50 students from four universities together virtually to solve a global business challenge for Tanzania-based Kasole Secrets while gaining cross-cultural consulting experience alongside business leaders.

The Center for Global Business and Office of Career Services at the Smith School hosted the inaugural Global Business and Leadership Forum on April 17, 2026, connecting students with global leaders through panels, networking and a career fair focused on international business skills.

Between the fall and spring semesters of 2025-26, 90 undergraduates at the Robert H. Smith School of Business studied international business in the UAE, Spain, Malaysia, Singapore and Switzerland, exploring global markets, culture and industry through immersive courses and hands-on learning experiences.

Nearly 80 Robert H. Smith School of Business students visited embassies along Washington’s Embassy Row for the Center for Global Business’s annual Embassy Day, gaining firsthand insight into global economies, trade relationships and business cultures from representatives of nine countries.

Erik Peterson of Kearney outlined five “global wildcards” shaping 2026-2031 at the Center for Global Business Distinguished Speakers in International Business Series at the Smith School. He cited geopolitical instability, economic fragmentation, artificial intelligence and synthetic biology as forces reshaping business and government.

Maryland businesses faced rising costs, federal workforce cuts and new tariffs in 2025, but a statewide survey shows cautious optimism for early 2026. Firms reported weaker performance yet increased investment, while structural challenges continue to weigh on the state’s business climate.

New research from the Center for Global Business shows that study abroad programs enhance students’ career outcomes—leading to quicker job placement, higher salaries, and stronger global skills—highlighting how international experiences help graduates stand out in a competitive, tech-driven job market.