Reflecting on a Summer of Experiential Learning and Economic Impact at CGB

This summer, the Center for Global Business proudly relaunched the Maximizing Maryland Graduate Internship Program (MMGIP) and offered summer internships abroad for undergraduate students through the Global Summer Internship Program, one of its signature study abroad offerings.

Maximizing Maryland Graduate Internship Program

By expanding its reach to provide valuable global business experience to graduate students at the Smith School of Business, the MMIGP is designed to support both students and local businesses and offers a streamlined approach for companies in the Maryland–DC area to recruit top talent for internships focused on global operations.

Through the program, 14 business masters students were hired by five companies across a diverse range of industries, including healthcare, logistics, consulting, software development, and biotechnology. Each student worked from 30 to 40 hours per week throughout the summer, applying classroom knowledge to real-world challenges and gaining hands-on experience in international business strategy and operations.

Participating employers noted the ease of the hiring process and the high caliber of student talent, while students received meaningful exposure to the complexities of conducting business in a globalized economy. Baji Jadhav of the Premier Health Group emphasized that “Partnering with the Maximizing Maryland Graduate Internship Program through the University of Maryland’s School of Business was one of the best decisions we made this year. We were matched with eight exceptional graduate students, all of whom brought unique perspectives, strong analytical skills, and a deep sense of curiosity to our team.[...] Their ability to understand complex healthcare workflows, ask the right questions, and deliver actionable insights made a real impact on our internal processes. More importantly, the exchange was mutual. While they contributed to improving how we work, we were also able to offer them meaningful exposure to real-world healthcare systems, strategy, and implementation.”

By relaunching the Maximizing Maryland Internship Program with a focus on graduate students, the Center continues to foster strong industry-academic partnerships and prepare the next generation of global business leaders. The program exemplifies the Center’s ongoing commitment to experiential learning and to supporting economic growth in the state of Maryland.

Global Summer Internship – 2025 Cohort

This summer, 17 students participated in the Center for Global Business’s Global Summer Internship Program, gaining 7 academic credits while immersing themselves in hands-on, real-world business experiences around the globe. Participants interned at leading firms such as Danone, Irish Liquidations, Qapita, Brophy Gillespie, and more, across industries spanning food and beverage, law, marketing, and healthcare. Internship placements this year spanned Spain, Ireland, the Czech Republic, and Singapore, offering students the opportunity to develop critical professional skills in new cultural and business environments.

Global Summer Interns shared how their international experiences contributed to their professional development and broadened their understanding of global business environments:

“I’ve really enjoyed my experience here in Singapore and have learned so much about what it’s like to work in an international business environment. I’ve truly grown my professional skill set and gained experiences that I can apply to future jobs.” — Hana Farrag, Marketing, Dec. ‘26

“I believe that working abroad demonstrates to employers that you’re flexible, adaptable, and capable of navigating ambiguity in the workplace.” — Lili Sipos, Sociology, ‘25

Students interested in applying for similar opportunities for the 2025–26 academic year can learn more on the Center’s undergraduate and graduate programming pages.

Do you represent a company and are interested in working with an intern or a team of students? Learn more on the website or contact the Center at smithglobal@umd.edu.

The Maximizing Maryland Graduate and Global Summer Internship Programs are supported in part by CIBE, a Title VI grant provided by the U.S. Department of Education.