Business students from around the world take classes together in Austria

As educational institutions restart their international exchanges after COVID lockdowns,  MCI | The Entrepreneurial School® and the Stillman School of Business at Seton Hall University have leveraged their collaboration agreement to mount an innovative way to engage students to study abroad.  In late May, the two institutions fashioned a blended class in Organizational Behavior.  In this class, 10 students from Seton Hall, led by Seton Hall Professor Karen Boroff, Ph.D., joined with a group of 12 students from MCI.

“In the class were students from Germany, Spain, Mexico, the Czech Republic, Italy, France, Thailand, and the United States.  The discussion of topics such as leadership, motivation, job values, and more was incredibly enriched by the cultures and experiences of students from around the world,” Boroff said.  “While textbooks regularly address topics of global implications of concepts, our students were able to apply immediately these concepts from the rich dialog they had with each other.” 

Ondrej Pesek, the International Short Programs Coordinator at MCI noted, ”It was a pleasure to support such a project. It underlines our strategy of current business issues and intercultural aspects.”

Susanne Lichtmannegger, Head of International Relations at MCI, oversaw the orientation for all students, providing them with insights about MCI and the Austrian culture.  “It was so exciting to restart in-person orientation and we welcomed our colleagues from Seton Hall in this novel approach to exchange relationships.  The model was a first for us and has not been replicated elsewhere.” 

All students were able to socialize outside of class, providing them the opportunity to learn from one another, share experiences and professional aspirations. Robert Callahan, a rising Seton Hall senior majoring in sport management and marketing, remarked, “MCI in Innsbruck was the perfect location to study.  The city was incredibility easy to navigate and the cultural and natural settings were beautiful.”  Fellow student Danielle Sikowitz, who is studying for her MBA in international business, at first wondered whether not knowing how to speak German would be a barrier, but soon learned that the city and fellow MCI students were bilingual.  “I found my favorite café in two days and felt at home quickly,” she said.

MCI exchange student Guntinun Bonkrathok, who joined the program from Thailand, enjoyed the course and praised the lecturer Dr. Boroff. “She structured the class well and always encouraged discussions. She was very supportive and was always available to her students."

Seton Hall University and MCI look forward to continuing their exchange under this format.  Boroff and Lichtmannegger agreed.  “It is an exceptional way to offer international learning experiences for all our students.”