Students in the University of Nebraska–Lincoln online Master of Business Administration program from across the nation gained firsthand international business experience during the program’s inaugural study abroad trip to Barcelona, Spain, in March.

Designed to provide students in the International Studies in Business (GRBA 898) course with a deeper understanding of cross-cultural management and global business practices, the trip was led by Tony Kang, Deloitte Haskins and Sells Professor and Associate Professor of Accountancy at the College of Business.

“After spending my sabbatical semester in Barcelona last year, I acquired a good amount of knowledge about the city, country and culture. I wanted to share it with students and help them broaden their perspectives to become global business leaders,” Kang said.

The College of Business collaborated with the Institute for American University, a long-standing partner for undergraduate study abroad experiences, to help plan the trip. Though students completed most of their coursework before traveling, they met for two three-hour class sessions at the IAU campus while in Barcelona.

“My favorite part of the trip was getting to interact with other Nebraska MBA students,” said Tiffany Huffman, who received a new position as the director of the Enterprise Project Management Office at Naples Comprehensive Health in Naples, Florida, while in the online MBA program. “It was great for us to have in-person discussions and lectures to learn more about the course content and also share about each other's experiences in Spain.”

MBA students who qualified received fellowships to help reduce travel costs. Additionally, funds raised through a donor match from Brad, '05, and Haven Pearson, of Tomball, Texas, during the Glow Big Red-24 Hours of Giving campaign helped enhance the students' cultural and educational experiences abroad.

Corporate and Cultural Experiences

The MBA students immersed themselves in Spanish culture and visited historical landmarks in Barcelona. They also visited a diverse group of businesses and entrepreneurs and participated in cultural activities throughout the week.

“Marcus Castro, an American-born entrepreneur in the educational software industry, designed a job matching software program for universities called CarrerOS. He spoke to our students about how to create and maintain a business and the differences between Spain and the USA,” said Christa Rahl, graduate advisor & engagement coordinator of Business Graduate Programs, who went on the trip with the students. “We also met Carla Filannino, who created a new way to get a hands-on degree in entrepreneurship called TEAMLABS. Students apply for a program where they earn credit by creating real businesses and making real money.”

Taryn Anderson, a venture capitalist, also discussed founding Impulse4Women. With a mission to create and strengthen startup and investor ecosystems worldwide, she helps startups grow while increasing the number of women in investment.

"I loved visiting the companies and learning how they operate. Comparing the differences between their work culture and ours in the U.S. was insightful and allowed me to take notes on how I'd like to run a business of my own someday," said Hallie Roman, who is pursuing both her MBA and M.S. in Business Analytics at Nebraska.

Kang shared how the cultural visits included the world-famous Sagrada Familia, a basilica designed by Antoni Gaudí; Casa Batlló, an iconic modernist building known as "the house of the dragon" designed by Gaudí; the Gothic Quarter, a neighborhood that used to be a Roman village; and Las Ramblas, the most famous street in Barcelona.

“The Sagrada Familia was beautiful, and I enjoyed the Fútbol Club Barcelona Museum. We also had a day trip to a winery, Codorniu, where we learned how Cava was made and about the rich history of wine making in Spain," said Roman, who is a graduate assistant for the Husker Swimming and Diving team.

Students also experienced Spain’s work culture and daily rhythms, including the country’s mid-day slowdown, although their schedule did not include a formal siesta. The trip concluded with a farewell dinner at Can Travi Nou, where students shared about their experiences before departing for the U.S.

“It was great seeing all of the historical landmarks, but I really enjoyed the TEAMLABS corporate visit the most,” said Huffman, who graduates in May. “Their students learn from real-world application by starting their own businesses with coaches for support, but their grades are real key performance indicators. It was informative to see another take on higher education supporting entrepreneurship.”

Celebrating Success Abroad

While students enjoyed the trip, Financial Times released their latest global rankings for online MBA programs. The students, faculty and staff in Barcelona celebrated the Nebraska MBA’s recognition as the No. 1 Best Value in the nation.

“I decided on the MBA at Nebraska due to the positive student reviews and the value. Nebraska's brand, along with price point, made my decision easy,” Huffman said. “My biggest takeaway has been using management theory and strategy development in my everyday work. For being a fully online program, Nebraska has really facilitated student collaborations, like this study abroad trip.”

Kang said the ranking was “the cherry on top” of the Barcelona experience. 

"This program has broadened my understanding of the world, as I work with many diverse individuals, each with different communication and working styles," Roman said. "It's directly transferable to my job, as everyone learns and responds to feedback and praise differently."

The international business course and trip is one of the optional in-person experiences offered to online students by Business Graduate Programs. Other options include a course on adaptive leadership with a one-week residency on campus and opportunities like national case competitions and career expeditions.

“We plan to make international experiences a tradition for our online students,” Rahl said. “Since we have alumni from all over the nation, we also hope to incorporate domestic trips to places like Chicago, New York City, Silicon Valley and other areas in the future.”

For Kang, his favorite part of the trip was seeing students embrace the experience.

“Although it was a short trip, it was incredibly rewarding for me as an educator to see the students' perspectives transform and melt into the local culture,” he said. “Thanks to the donors and College of Business for making this trip possible. It was my honor to lead Nebraska's first faculty-led MBA study abroad trip.”