Why Go Global?
Employers consistently demand that their employees have global competency. But how do students develop such a global competency? Maryland Smith offers a variety of programs — both abroad and on-campus — to help students develop their global mindset.
Passport to a Global Mindset
“…one that combines an openness to and awareness of diversity across countries and markets with a propensity and ability to see common patterns across countries and markets.” – Financial Times
Different authorities may take different approaches to define a global mindset. The important thing to remember is that people with a global mindset can understand differences among cultures and business practices and welcome the opportunity to learn about similarities.
CGB defines ‘Global Mindset’ by seven competencies or attributes that those with a global mindset exhibit. Contact CGB for more information on how to develop a global mindset.
- Tolerance of Ambiguity — Ability to navigate unclear or uncertain situations without feeling stress or anxiety. Comfort with vague instructions or information.
- Global Business Savvy — Knowledge of business environments and growth drivers (institutional, geographic, cultural, and economic) that operate in and between countries.
- Passion for Diversity — Willingness to seek out and consider diverse viewpoints, appreciate the values and beliefs of others, and collaborate on diverse teams.
- Cultural Curiosity — Interest in learning about cultures and world events, and taking the initiative to seek out more information about local contexts.
- Adaptability — Ability to overcome challenges and be resourceful when faced with difficult situations.
- Self-awareness and Humility — Confidence in oneself without overestimating one's abilities while valuing the experience and backgrounds of others.
- Relationship Building — Eagerness to interact with new people and develop a strong network built on communication, empathy, and mutual respect.
On-Campus and Virtual Programming
As part of the #KeepGlobalSmith campaign, the International Business (IB) Agility Labs are innovative virtual programs. Through these labs, students gain multiple global perspectives in a fast-paced, intensive, and hands-on competition while working on a real global business issue.
Eligibility: Open to all business majors, though geared towards marketing majors.
Program Dates: Program dates will be announced in the spring semester.
Faculty Champion: Mary Beth Furst, Associate Clinical Professor, Marketing
How to Apply: Applications will open in the spring semester.
The Global Marketing Virtual Internship program is an opportunity to gain professional experience with a Maryland company. Students are matched with a small to midsize enterprise internationalizing their business and seeking Maryland Smith talent to help them do so.
The internship program is paid through a stipend and students work on assigned teams. More information on the company is provided during the application and matching process. Students work on projects focused on eCommerce and digital marketing strategy during this 2+ month, part-time summer internship. Potential projects include:
- Website optimization for international eCommerce
- Website tracking and analytics
- Search engine optimization
- Website localization (creating or enhancing a website for a specific country)
- Global social media strategy and analysis
This internship is not for academic credit. Students interested in receiving credit for summer internships may be eligible to register for one of several courses offered through the Smith School. Learn more.
The Office of Career Services and Center for Global Business invite students to leverage their global learning experience with the “Leveraging Your Global Mindset” online module. By watching this module, students reflect on their global experience, analyze specific skills that they developed or enhanced through their global experience, and develop techniques to translate their global experience in an interview and on their resume.
The Global Young Professionals Institute (YPI) is a Maryland Smith students’ first introduction to a global mindset and the launching point for their self-guided discovery of the competencies that makeup a global mindset. Global YPI is a two-part event of Smith Start, a year-long orientation program for first-year students, and the sophomore experience.
Part 1 of Global YPI: Global Competencies for the 21st Century Workplace
As an annual event as part of the Distinguished Speakers in International Business Series during International Education Week, students learn the meaning of global mindset and the seven competencies. Students also hear from Maryland Smith alumni about how to be globally competent in business and what they can do now to be successful in the future. Please access the news story which includes a link to the most recent recording here.
Part 2 of Global YPI: Virtual Embassy Day
February 11-12, 2021
Virtual Embassy Day is the second event of Global YPI and an opportunity to virtually travel outside the U.S. to learn about culture, business, and society at an embassy.
Global YPI is hosted in collaboration with the Undergraduate Programs Office and co-sponsored by EY.
Study Abroad
The Center for Global Business offers a variety of new programs and opportunities for students to engage with the world. The current virtual environment makes it possible for us to connect students and industry in novel and collaborative ways.
Broadening your global mindset isn’t limited to study abroad programs. The Smith School offers an abundance of opportunities to get involved in global learning while on campus–from internationally-focused classes to case competitions and speaker series.
Semester study abroad broadens horizons and enhances students’ ability to succeed in business. Students who study abroad learn how to successfully navigate foreign environments, to communicate effectively with people from different backgrounds and cultures, and to adapt to a variety of situations. Some students may also choose to practice a foreign language; however, all of our partner schools offer courses in English.
The study abroad process includes a number of factors including financing, course transfer, choice of destination, and more. Students must speak with their academic advisor and the Center for Global Business before committing to a study abroad program.
Here are what some students said about their semester abroad experiences:
Undergraduate Exchange
Please note that all study abroad programs have been suspended for spring 2021. Learn more about study abroad updates »
The Smith School has set up agreements with universities around the world that offer business courses in English each semester. Smith students pay the University of Maryland tuition to participate in these programs. Learn more about our exchange partners.
Maryland-In
The University of Maryland's nine "Maryland-in" programs provide a great way to spend a semester abroad with more support than an exchange semester, semester abroad through a provider, or by direct enrolling. Often there is resident credit available (classes will appear on your transcript as if you took them here). Business students, in particular, should review the Rome and Barcelona programs for how they might fit in with your academic plan, as these programs have a substantial number of business courses available in English.
Please note that all Smith short-term study abroad programs have been suspended for winter 2021.
Engage in an experience that will broaden your global mindset by fostering cultural curiosity and adaptability. The Smith School's short-term programs provide students with the opportunity to apply a comparative international lens to their business education and professional career.
Please note that all study abroad programs have been suspended for spring 2021.
Learn more about study abroad updates »
Looking for a way to enrich your summer? Can’t fit a semester abroad into your schedule? Want to gain professional and academic experience in Australia, Hong Kong, Singapore, the Caribbean, Europe, or Latin America? Enroll in one of the summer programs below and earn up to nine credits!
If you are a Pell Grant recipient, you are able to apply for up to a $5,000 in Gilman Scholarship for all programs.
The Global Summer Internship Program
Spend the summer of a lifetime interning in a new culture. Earn seven credits as you learn to navigate different cultural work environments on an eight-week internship. Open to all majors, including non-BMGT, and to current sophomores and above. Gain valuable and unique work experience to highlight on your resumes.
Pell Grant recipients are able to apply for up to a $5,000 in Gilman Scholarship for all programs.
Maryland Social Entrepreneur Corps (MSEC)
Join the Social Entrepreneur Corps (SEC) program and combat poverty in Latin America by supporting small community-based businesses. This unique eight week, nine credit study and internship program will teach you basic principles of social entrepreneurship through courses, case studies, discussions, and hands-on, practical experience.
Other Programming
Applications are open now through February 15, 2021, for coursework beginning fall 2021.
The Smith Global Consulting Fellows program is designed for students who have an interest in the world’s people and cultures and a desire to apply business and language skills to enhancing economic development worldwide and helping others succeed.
Students in Global Consulting Fellows study intercultural issues in global management and learn skills in group research and consulting through two courses: Cross-cultural Challenges in Business, and Practicum in Global Consulting. Students work in teams to conduct research and develop feasible business ideas that contribute to business, social and economic development, especially in emerging economies.
While English is a universal business language, acquiring and mastering a foreign language can often give professionals a competitive advantage when doing business abroad. Language competency can often be the gateway to understanding cultural and societal norms that a business person would otherwise not know. For these reasons, CGB partners with the University of Maryland School of Language, Literature, and Culture (SLLC) to encourage Smith School undergraduates to enroll in language programs.
SLLC offers an array of programs in Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Hebrew, Italian, Japanese, Persian, Portuguese, Russian, and Spanish as well as programs that bring together language and business.
If you are an undergraduate interested in learning more, please see the SLLC website or email CGB at smithglobal@umd.edu.