By Kara Sherrer
During spring break, some students take off for the beach or the mountains for some well-earned R&R. However, many Owen students opt to participate in one of the many international trips available through the university, getting course credit and visiting a new country simultaneously.
Most of these trips follow a similar format: Students are formed into teams and select a company they’d like to consult for during Mod III. They do background research on the company and industry to prepare for the trip, and then travel to visit the company during spring break (and of course do some sightseeing in their free time as well). After returning to campus, students take Mod IV to turn their findings into strategic plans, which they then present to the company.
This year, Owen students visited China, Colombia, Ethiopia, Guatemala, Israel, Liberia, and Rwanda over spring break. Four of those country visits were part of Project Pyramid, an interdisciplinary program that is open to students at all Vanderbilt graduate programs and run through the Turner Family Center for Social Ventures. Teams are matched with a socially conscious organization; the goal of Project Pyramid is to help the organizations devise market-driven solutions that help fulfill their missions.
Regardless of where they visit or what project they’re a part of, Owen students leverage the trips to help the companies and people they meet while immersing themselves in new business and cultural worlds.
Explore their spring break 2018 destinations below by clicking on a pin.
