Undergraduate Programming

“…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.

Seven Competencies of the Global Mindset

1. Tolerance of Ambiguity — Ability to navigate unclear or uncertain situations without feeling stress or anxiety. Comfort with vague instructions or information.
2. Global Business Savvy — Knowledge of business environments and growth drivers (institutional, geographic, cultural, and economic) that operate in and between countries.
3. Passion for Diversity — Willingness to seek out and consider diverse viewpoints, appreciate the values and beliefs of others, and collaborate on diverse teams.
4. Cultural Curiosity — Interest in learning about cultures and world events, and taking the initiative to seek out more information about local contexts.
5. Adaptability — Ability to overcome challenges and be resourceful when faced with difficult situations.
6. Self-awareness and Humility — Confidence in oneself without overestimating one's abilities while valuing the experience and backgrounds of others.
7. Relationship Building — Eagerness to interact with new people and develop a strong network built on communication, empathy, and mutual respect.

The International Business (IB) Agility Labs are short-term virtual case challenges that allow undergraduate students to learn from global business leaders and collaborate with international peers. Students will benefit from exposure to an international company, work on teams with business students around the world, and gain hands-on case experience to build their resumes and CVs. 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.

Learn more about IB Agility Labs

September 22, 2023

Read the event highlights

As part of the Careers Crossing Borders series, the Case Interview Competition is intended to give students the opportunity to realize their international experiences and practice skills in global mindset, critical thinking, and problem-solving.

Students participating in this half-day program will learn how to:

• Translate any international experience into practical skills;
• Practice these skills in a case interview setting;
• Learn how to think critically and problem-solve;
• Understand what is a global career and how to use resources to search for one;
• Learn from experts in the Office of Career Services and the Center for Global Business;
• Network with the president of a Maryland company and global business alumni from Maryland Smith; and,
• Win monetary prizes!

Program Agenda

Friday, September 22, 2023

Maximizing Maryland Internship Program

Maximizing Maryland is an internship program where students 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.

Applications are now open through Sunday, March 24, 2024.

Eligibility: Open to all business majors.

Faculty champions: Mary Beth Furst, Associate Clinical Professor, Marketing and Philip Evers, Associate Professor of Supply Chain Management

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 anything from eCommerce and digital marketing strategy to supply chain operations and compliance. Students are matched with companies according to the student's experience and the company's needs during this 2+ month, part-time summer internship.

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.

Questions? Contact Marina Augoustidis, maugoust@umd.edu.

Leveraging Your Global Mindset is an online module geared to help students translate their global experience into their career and is sponsored by the Office of Career Services and the Center for Global Business. 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.

Embassy Day is a Maryland Smith students’ first introduction to a global mindset and the launching point for their self-guided discovery of the competencies that make up a global mindset. Embassy Day is a two-part event of Smith Start, a year-long orientation program for first-year business students.

Part 1: Global Competencies for the 21st Century Workplace

Event highlights & video

Part 2: Embassy Visits

Students will be contacted directly with registration instructions.

Embassy Day is an opportunity to learn about an embassy's culture, business, and society. Embassy visits will take place either in person in Washington D.C. or virtually.

Embassy Day is hosted in collaboration with the Undergraduate Programs Office.

The International Business Student Organization strives to foster professional relationships, connect students with international opportunities, and enhance the mindsets of students at the University of Maryland to prepare them to become global leaders. Through regular meetings, professional development activities, professional speakers, community service, and social activities we seek to develop a network of students with the guidance of the faculty advisor and the Center for Global Business.

Find out how you can become a member

IB Trek in Maryland

Thursday, November 16, 2023
8 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Transportation from/to Van Munching Hall and lunch provided.

Register by Sunday, November 12

The IB Trek in Baltimore is intended to expose undergraduate and graduate students to concepts in international business while highlighting industry right here in Maryland. Students who participated in the IB Trek in Baltimore heard from companies that range in size, industry, and sector, and were introduced to the various ways a company does business across borders, business culture, and life as a business professional.

Confirmed visits include:

• The Port of Baltimore
• T. Rowe Price
• Flywheel Digital

Transportation will pick up from Van Munching Hall at 8 a.m. and return by 5 p.m.

This one-credit Certified Global Business Professional (CGBP) Student Pathways in International Business Course or BMGT 499I is designed to help students achieve the CGBP is a nationally recognized certification sought by employers around the country. See more information about the certification below. This course is structured as a CGBP Student Pathways Program and intended to provide deep exploration of global business topics and prepare students for the CGBP exam.

Watch the info session for more information.

The Certified Global Business Professional (CGBP), managed by NASBITE International, is a nationally recognized certification sought by employers around the country. It confirms applied knowledge in international trade and export management and shows potential employers that the holder brings the level of global expertise and professionalism that is required in today’s competitive environment.

The center offers the CGBP Student Pathways Cohort Program, a structured program intended to prepare a cohort of students for the CGBP exam and introduce them to and engage them with NASBITE International.

The program is comprised of a mix of four synchronous sessions and asynchronous study to prepare students to take the CGBP exam. The program offers facilitation by a CGBP professional, access to take the CGBP exam, networking and relationship-building opportunities, and NASBITE International Membership (a $75 value) which includes:

• CGBP study guide
• Preparation support
• Expert Helpline
• LinkedIn Student Group
• CGBP Practice Exam
• Other networking opportunities

Enrollment, requirements

• All interested students are eligible to register.
• Students enrolled in the program will have the option to take the CGBP exam at any point during their program at Smith or up to six months after graduation.
• Students will have to enroll themselves to take the exam and pay upfront.
• Students will be obligated to submit their results to CGB to verify their passing of the CGBP exam.
• If a student passes, CGB will reimburse them the exam fee of $195.00.
• If a student does not pass the exam the first take, the student will not be reimbursed the fee of the exam.
• If a student does not follow through with exam commitment, the student will not be reimbursed the fee of the exam.

Structure

• The course will be held synchronously and asynchronously over the winter term and a student must take the course before they are able to sit for the exam.
• Synchronously: Students will meet with a CGBP professional four times over two weeks for two hours. Confirmed course schedule is below. 
• Asynchronously: Students will be assigned readings and other assignments correlated to each of the four domains of the CGBP exam.
• Final content provided and how each session is devised is ultimately up to the CGBP professional.

Suggested calendar/content:

The Positive Impact Internship is a way to learn from companies in Brazil that strive to make a positive impact on the world. Students are placed on multicultural teams to work on a real business problem focused on social impact. 

Questions? Contact the Center for Global Business at smithglobal@umd.edu.

The Global Business School Network Beyond Conference brings together students, educators, and professionals from all around the world to discuss the most important issues facing the world of business. Participants learn about the bold steps that business schools are taking to positively impact society, promote inclusivity, and grow sustainably in an effort to modernize business education to the needs of tomorrow.

Learn more about the conference.

The Social Logistics Challenge

The Social Logistics Challenge is designed to immerse learners in a digital environment that promotes teamwork, encourages collaboration, and stimulates innovation in addressing societal problems using logistics principles and technology. This year’s contest theme revolves around People, Technology, and Logistics.

If you are interested in competing and have a team, please complete the GBSN registration by Thursday, October 19. Upon doing so, please send your confirmation along with your team's names to the Center for Global Business at smithglobal@umd.edu.

If you would like to participate and do not have a team, please complete this registration from the Center for Global Business by Sunday, October 1.

For any questions, please contact smithglobal@umd.edu.

The Business International Studies Network (BisNet) helps connect business schools that have a focus on international business to opportunities for students to develop a better understanding of business in a global context.

The Center for Global Business Presents the BisNet International Case Competition Fall 2023

Please see the details about the competition below.

When: November 1 through 8, 2023
Cost: $400 (USD) per team (covered by the Center for Global Business)

Case Information: TBD

• November 1: Case Presentation and the official kickoff of the competition
• November 2-7: Group Work
• November 8: Final Student presentations to the panel of judges and selection of the winning team

Student Deliverables: PowerPoint presentation sent to judges before the commencement of each presentation and a one-page memo headed to a company executive summarizing the group’s recommendations.

For more information about the case competition, please download the flyer.

For more information please contact smithglobal@umd.edu.

CGB Presents: NASBITE International 2024 Student Case Competition

NASBITE is the leading authority and industry standard for global business education, trade credentialing, training and practice.

The 2024 Competition will provide an opportunity for both undergraduate international business students as well as graduate business students to solve a real-world challenge posed by a U.S.-based international business. The goals of the NASBITE International Student Case Competition are:

• To provide college and university students the opportunity to work collaboratively on a creative solution to a real-world international business challenge, and to put their research, presentation and networking skills to work.
• To provide the sponsoring company access to the very best international business students presenting potential solutions to their international business challenges.
• To provide a solid foundation for student involvement and participation within NASBITE International.

Learn more

Applications for spring 2024 are now being accepted through December 14, 2023.

Upon completing your application, CGB will be in touch with next steps and the process to move forward to represent Maryland Smith in the competition.

The Center for Global Business (CGB) will cover any associated fees for participating. This is supported in part by CIBE, a Title VI grant from the U.S. Department of Education.

NASBITE International is the leading authority and industry standard for global business education, trade credentialing, training and practice.

Apply through CGB to become a member of NASBITE International and receive access to the annual conference, network with international trade professionals, and earn the Certified Global Business Professional credential.

Application closed for 2023.

Semester study abroad is great way for students to expand their global mindset.

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.

Business Exchange

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 business exchange partners

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 careers.

Winter Break Courses

Applications will open on May 15.

The application deadline is October 1, 2024. Program dates are subject to change.

United Arab Emirates (UAE): Finance and Business in the New World

Proposed Dates: January 2025 
Proposed Locations: Dubai, UAE and Abu Dhabi, UAE 
Program Fee: TBA

The course will explore the finance, business, and financial market landscape of Dubai and Abu Dhabi, two of the most successful emirates of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Dubai is leading in tech, finance, and innovation, continuously evolving to a future-forward hub for business. Students will gain insight into key financial and market issues in the UAE within the greater context of Islamic and regional finance and financial institutions. Dubai is leading the way in tech, finance, and innovation, continuously evolving this future-forward hub for businesses. Visit to Dubai International Finance Centre (DIFC) is the financial heart of the MEASA region. Abu Dhabi, the capital city of the UAE, is home to the Louvre Abu Dhabi, a Formula One circuit, and the Ferrari World, among others.

Leading Innovation and Design in a Cross-Cultural Setting

Program Leader: Gerald Suarez 
Proposed Locations: Barcelona, Spain, and Madrid, Spain 
Proposed Dates: January 2025 
Program Fee: TBA

Students in this program will delve into the cultural dimensions that influence human-centered design, gaining insight into how cultural beliefs shape design practices, particularly between American and Spanish cultures. Through a comprehensive study that includes comparing and contrasting these cultures, and examining Spain's approach to new product development and innovation, participants will develop the skills to lead problem-solving initiatives in a cross-cultural context. They will learn to effectively communicate and collaborate within diverse, multidisciplinary teams, including conducting interviews and translating insights into tangible design opportunities in Spanish contexts. Based in the cultural hubs of Barcelona and Madrid, students will explore the convergence of art and science in design thinking, visiting landmarks and institutions to study creative techniques like biomimicry. These experiences aim to enhance their appreciation and understanding of Spain’s rich cultural tapestry, history, and design heritage, fostering innovative solutions to both business and societal challenges.

Technology, Analytics, and Consulting in the Global Age: London

Program Leader: John Bono 
Proposed Location: London, United Kingdom 
Proposed Dates: January 2025 
Program Fee: TBA

This course focuses on examining how information systems are implemented and managed in support of digital transformation and disruption from a global lens. A special focus on the application of data analytics and machine learning will help students understand how large volumes of data can help enable insights and decision-making powered by information systems. From a global context, students will be exposed to EU data protection laws surrounding handling personal data, such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

Business Leadership in a Global Context (SBLF Cohort program)

Program Leader: Christine Schaaf 
Proposed Locations: Lisbon, Portugal, and Marrakesh, Morocco 
Proposed Dates: January 2025 
Program Fee: TBA

The proposed focus of the course is on exploring diverse business leadership styles across different cultures and environments, specifically comparing those found in the United States with those in Lisbon, Portugal, and Marrakesh, Morocco. Students will visit key institutions such as the World Business Council for Sustainable Development and the Center for Responsible Business and Leadership at Catolica Lisbon School of Business and Economics. The course aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of how business is conducted in various international contexts, how organizations structure their operations both locally and globally, and the challenges leaders face in these settings.

Sustaining Luxury – how luxury products can coexist with responsible sustainability (IBH Cohort program)

Program Leader: David Ashley 
Proposed Locations: Milan, Italy; Florence, Italy and Rome, Italy 
Proposed Dates: January 
Program Fee: TBA

The focus of the course is on luxury branding within the sustainability context, specifically in the fashion, food, and automobile industries. Students will explore this theme in key Italian cities known for their cultural and business influence: Milan, Florence, and Rome. In Milan, the focus will be on how luxury brands integrate sustainable practices. Florence will offer insights into the cultural aspects of branding, with visits to significant sites like the Uffizi Gallery. Rome will blend these perspectives with its rich historical backdrop. The course also includes practical interactions with local business leaders and cultural activities, such as scavenger hunts and cooking classes, to deepen students' understanding of sustainable luxury branding.

Founding Partners – Comparing Economic Leaders in South East Asia (QUEST Cohort program)

Proposed Locations: Bangkok, Thailand and Singapore 
Proposed Dates: January 
Program Fee: TBA

The course will focus on the contrasts between emerging and fully developed economies, particularly in terms of quality in business practices. It will explore the relationship between Thailand and Singapore, two founding partners of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), and their roles in advancing Southeast Asia's economies. Students will have the opportunity to observe these differences firsthand: Bangkok, with its rapidly developing economy, provides a backdrop for understanding growth dynamics, while Singapore, as a fully developed hub for finance, shipping, and distribution, exemplifies a mature economic infrastructure. Additionally, the course will delve into the cultural, legal, and regulatory differences that influence attitudes and practices in quality management, as well as the varying customer expectations of quality in these distinct environments.

Spring Break and May Courses

Sustainability in Business: Scandinavia

Program Leaders: Gisela Bardossy 
Proposed Location: Copenhagen, Denmark and Oslo, Norway 
Proposed Dates: March 14, 2025 to March 23, 2025 
Program Fee: TBA

We’ll discuss the opportunities and challenges that sustainability brings to business practices. We’ll talk about culture and policies and how they shape and promote sustainability in a society. Scandinavian countries are world leaders in sustainability. We will gain first-hand experience by visiting companies in both Denmark and Norway and learn some of the challenges and opportunities facing the business communities in these countries. We will focus on our visits on how sustainability shapes their business practices including strategies, supply chains, and day-to-day operations. While we are there, we will participate in cultural activities to learn about the local culture and traditions and tour two urban cities known for their eco-friendly initiatives and protection of green spaces.

Entrepreneurship in Europe (EU Entrepreneurship post-Brexit)

Program Leaders: Oliver Schlake 
Proposed Time: May 2025 
Proposed Locations: London, United Kingdom, and Munich, Germany 
Program Fee:

The course will examine entrepreneurship abroad, allowing students to compare and contrast across three settings (the USA, the UK, and the EU). This cross-cultural immersion will highlight simple differences in ideas and approaches to business (business cards) as well as what binds us together across boundaries (e.g. food).

Information Session

Read about previous short-term study abroad programs: 

• Undergrads Reflect on 2020 Winter Study Abroad
• Smith Undergraduate Students Explore the World

If you have questions about study abroad programs please contact CGB at smithglobal@umd.edu.

The Global Summer Internship Program

Gain professional experience abroad and earn 7 credits

Spend the summer of a lifetime working in Sydney, Singapore, Auckland, Madrid, Dublin, Prague, or Buenos Aires at a for-credit internship. Students travel abroad for a 7-credit internship.

Experience first-hand the challenges and opportunities of working in another country and with people from different cultural backgrounds. Based in one of seven exciting locations around the world, the internship program gives students an international experience that is invaluable for professional development and building one's resume

How to Apply?

Applications open November 1, 2023, and are due February 1, 2024.

Program Fees

The program fees below reflect what will be charged to the participant's UMD student account. The program fees below do not include the non-refundable Education Abroad Fee ($700) and required international health insurance ($92 estimated). The program fee does include housing (shared apartments or similar), and instructional costs (7 credits, cultural activities, some group meals, and on-the-ground support). Housing and instructional costs vary by location.

Program Dates

*Meal plan and costs included

Eligibility

• Open to all undergraduate UMD majors who are second-year sophomores and above.
• Students must have at least a 3.0 GPA.
• Students must be in good academic and judicial standing with the university.

Scholarships

#SmithGoesGlobalFund Scholarship – up to $2,700

Maryland Smith students can apply for the #SmithGoesGlobalFund Scholarship to help reduce the out-of-pocket costs of study abroad such as airfare and personal expenses. Learn more about the #SmithGoesGlobalFund Scholarship in the ‘#SmithGoesGlobalFund Scholarship’ section on this page.

CIBE International Internship Scholarship - $1,000

All students who commit to the Summer Global Internship Program are eligible to receive a $1,000 CIBE International Internship Scholarship. This award is provided by a Title VI grant from the U.S. Department of Education known as CIBE (Center for International Business Education). The UMD Center for Global Business is one of 15 schools nationwide to receive the CIBE grant and its mission is to promote the ability of U.S. businesses to compete globally and to foster international understanding. Application instructions will be provided in your internship acceptance letter.

Questions?

Contact CGB at smithglobal@umd.edu.

Apply for the #SmithGoesGlobal Fund Scholarship to help reduce the out-of-pocket costs of study abroad such as airfare and personal expenses. The #SmithGoesGlobal Fund Scholarship consists of three types of awards: flight scholarship, semester program scholarship, and short-term program scholarship. The application process is the same for all three awards.

How to Apply

• Check to ensure eligibility (see eligibility section below).
• Apply to a study abroad program in MyEA AND apply to the Education Abroad Fund Scholarship. Make sure to check the study abroad application and Education Abroad Fund Application deadlines.
• Complete the #SmithGoesGlobal Fund application below by the deadline.

Apply for the scholarship

Students will be considered for a scholarship based on their responses in the application form, their responses in the Education Abroad Fund Scholarship application, and their study abroad program information. Applying to this scholarship has no bearing on a student's study abroad program application.

Application Deadlines and Notification Dates

Eligibility

To be eligible to apply, students must:

• Be a current business major.
• Have applied or be in the process of applying to their first study abroad program at UMD.
• Have completed a FAFSA and received financial aid.
• Have completed an application to the Education Abroad Fund Scholarship (deadlines: September 26 or March 1).

Scholarship Amounts

Questions? Contact smithglobal@umd.edu.

Enroll in a language course abroad and apply for the $1,000 Business Exchange Language Scholarship. This award seeks to encourage students to pursue language learning opportunities while studying abroad on a business exchange or direct enroll program. 

How to apply

1. Check to ensure eligibility (see eligibility section below).
2. Apply and commit to a business exchange or business direct enroll program.
3. Complete the application below by the deadline. As part of the application, students must submit proof of registration in a language course.

Apply for the Business Exchange Language Scholarship

Students will be considered for a scholarship based on their responses in the application form, their proof of registration in a language course, and their study abroad program information. Applying to this scholarship has no bearing on a student's study abroad program application.

Upon completion of their study abroad program, students must submit proof of successful completion of the course (transcript or letter from host institution verifying successful course completion) in addition to one or two other deliverables that will be used for marketing purposes.

Scholarship amount - $1,000

The scholarship award will be applied to students’ UMD account.

Application deadlines and notification dates

Eligibility

To be eligible to apply, students must:

• be a current business major. 
• be committed to a business exchange and business direct enroll program.
• be registered for a language course (credit or non-credit bearing).

Questions?

Contact smithglobal@umd.edu.

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.

In collaboration with the UMD Summer Language Institute through the UMD School of Language, Literature, and Culture, the Center for Global Business may award up to $5,000 of tuition, room and board to participate in either the Arabic, Persian, or Korean Summer Language Institute this summer.

To be eligible for the Global Business Summer Language Institute Scholarship you must be a current business (major or minor) student enrolled in a U.S. academic institution and must apply for the scholarship by April 12, 2024. It is recommended to apply to the Summer Language Institute before applying for the scholarship. The application to attend the Summer Institute can be found online and information on the scholarship and how to submit it is below.

Learn more and apply

Dates: May 18-May 26, 2024

Location: Medellin Colombia

Apply by: April 8, 2024

The Center for Global Business is offering full funding for the week-long Global Student Leadership Council program.

To be eligible:

• Current undergraduate student at the Robert H. Smith School of Business
• Availability and ability to travel to Medllin Colombia from May 18-26, 2024
• Student leadership experience

Join other student leaders in a week-long workshop in Medellin, Colombia. The experience will be a mix of academic sessions, networking, professional development opportunities, and cultural activities. See the full agenda.

Apply by April 8, 2024, to be considered for this fully funded week-long experience.

Apply for the Global Summer Leadership Council

For questions: smithglobal@umd.edu