college 101 experiential learning
the World of Business
“ The best education you ’ ll ever get is traveling ,” wrote author Mark Patterson . World travel is fun and exciting for students , but it ’ s also an intense form of experiential , hands-on learning .
The Culverhouse College of Business at The University of Alabama not only offers the STEM and CREATE Paths to the MBA , where undergraduates in certain degree programs can earn an MBA with one additional year of study , but also offers exciting and educational study abroad opportunities .
Culverhouse instructor Harold Wright , founder of the STEM and CREATE Paths to the MBA , took Culverhouse student groups to two countries last summer — Cambodia and Portugal — to help them learn more about the business world and a little about themselves . startup . Our experience in Porto was beautiful — from boat tours to chocolate tasting , it ’ s an adventure you ’ ll remember forever !”
Comprising just under 5 % of the 400 total students in the competition , Culverhouse students were nonetheless represented in leadership on four of the top ten teams . Additionally , UA student teams were nominated for all three intellectual property award and won the trademark award . UA student teams won two of the top market research awards as well .
Can you see yourself traveling the world as a Culverhouse student ? Get the whole story at culverhouse . ua . edu / intro
CAMBODIA : EXPLORING THE EAST
“ Our first day in Cambodia ,” Culverhouse student Chase Duncan recalled , “ we walked through a street market in Phnom Penh . The heat , the market vendors with their various products displayed , the locals ’ chatter , the smells of cooked ( and raw ) meats in the air — I remember all of it as we made our way through the crowds and market stalls .”
Wright and the students discussed supply chains , since Cambodia is a growing source of supply to China . They also met with She Investments , an incubator and business accelerator for women . “ In Cambodia ,” Wright explains , “ that ’ s a big deal , promoting women ’ s employment rights .” The group spent three days and two nights on a riverboat , navigating down the Mekong River , making stops at villages and doing customer discovery work , and learning about the needs and everyday lives of rural Cambodians . And , of course , they saw the sights , like the temple Angkor Wat , which is considered one of the Wonders of the World .
Sunrise at Angkor Wat . Harold Wright of The University of Alabama ' s Culverhouse College of Business and students from the STEM and CREATE Path to the MBA learned about emerging trends in global supply chain management and saw the local sights on a study abroad trip to Cambodia in the Summer of 2022 .
PORTUGAL : INNOVATING IN EUROPE
Wright also took 20 Culverhouse students to the European Innovation Academy Competition , where budding entrepreneurs from a wide range of countries team up in groups of five over 15 days to develop a product and competitively pitch it to investors – actual venture capitalists , and seed fund managers .
CREATE Path to the MBA student Elizabeth Underwood said , “ Studying abroad is an opportunity like no other … We got to meet leaders from Uber , Amazon , and Spotify , and collaborate with students from various backgrounds to create our own
The Culverhouse team at the 2022 European Innovation Academy in Lisbon , Portugal , where budding entrepreneurs from a wide range of countries team up in groups of five over 15 days to develop a product and competitively pitch it to investors .
www . potentialmagazine . com Winter 2022 | 19