A popular study abroad trip involving a group of students and faculty from the Romain College of Business (RCOB) was revitalized this past summer for the first time since 2022.
Led by Dr. Nicholas Rhew, Chair of the Management and Information Sciences Department and Associate Professor of Management, five RCOB students—Dulce Contreras, Natalia Duron, Travis Folz, Alexis Nation and Sam Wassmer—spent three and a half weeks between July and August studying and traveling as part of the summer program, “From Castles to Corporations: Studying International Business in Western Europe.” This program was part of a longstanding partnership with University of Applied Sciences (Hochschule) Osnabrück (UAS Osnabrück) in Germany.
The program offered students the opportunity to study international business in English across Germany, the Netherlands and France, with a focus on how institutional forces and cultural differences not only shape business practices but also have a real impact on a company’s performance. USI students learned alongside and from students from throughout Europe and the world, with classroom lessons driven home through company and cultural site visits—experiences with a lifetime impact.
“The Castles to Corporations trip was a fantastic experience, getting to meet new people and explore different cultures and cities,” said Alexis Nation. “Having the opportunity to make new friends from Germany, Mexico, Australia, Malaysia, Singapore, and South Korea was a great experience and one of the best parts of the trip.”
While the students primarily stayed in Osnabrück, they also explored Amsterdam, Berlin, and Paris. During visits to those cities, students had the chance to experience places such as the Sanssouci Palace, the Notre Dame Cathedral and many other sights. Two students, Travis Folz and Sam Wassmer, even expanded their visit for an extra week to visit other notable cities in Germany such as Munich and historic locations which included Eagle’s Nest, Linderhof Palace and the Neuschwanstein Castle.
Folz admitted he was a little nervous about going out of the country for such an extended period of time, but it ended up being one of the best decisions he’s ever made.
“Going to Germany for a month felt like it would be daunting, but honestly, it turned out to be a smooth experience,” said Folz. “Learning about each other’s cultures and how that plays into business decisions was very interesting.”
Rhew is hopeful this group of students not only enjoyed their time in Western Europe but also learned valuable lessons they can apply to their classes at USI as well as internships and future jobs.
“Research has long demonstrated the benefits for employability and other success measures that studying abroad provides participants, and I’m thrilled that these students took advantage of such an impactful professional and personal development opportunity,” Rhew said. “Their investment will pay dividends for years to come.”
For the students, it was an experience they surely won’t forget soon. From intensive classroom learning to making friends from countries across the globe, this study abroad program led to plenty of memorable moments for everyone involved.
“The Castles to Corporations trip gave such a detailed insight into many different European cultures,” said Sam Wassmer. “I developed strong connections and great friendships.”
Natalia Duron added: “My study abroad trip this summer was one of the best experiences of my life.”