UM-Dearborn graduate student Brit Blazar found themselves in a classroom that buzzed with voices from more than 50 countries. Hearing languages like Italian, German and Mandarin all around them, Blazar spent time this summer getting a global business education in a top European business school. And it’s all thanks to the UM-Dearborn’s College of Business’ Study Abroad partnership with CUOA Business School in Vicenza, Italy.
CUOA, located in a 2,000-year-old city in northeastern Italy, gives graduate students the opportunity to expand their global perspective while completing four graduate-level courses. The courses, taught in English during a three-week program, are in subject areas like business, entrepreneurship, International business, management and marketing. The curriculum emphasizes practical, interactive learning that builds skills in conflict negotiation, cultural competence and strategic leadership.
Blazar said the subjects were more like lively conversations than lectures with the students from all over the world coming together to share their perspectives, tackle real-world challenges and learn from each other’s experiences. Some of the advice Blazar was given in a Strategic Leadership course is something they’d keep in mind as they move through their International Management and Leadership degree and beyond. “I learned that, as my professor told me, ‘You get from point A to E quickly... but you can’t drag someone to point E. You need to be quiet and allow them to get there themselves.’ That was probably the most important lesson I learned about leadership.”
Blazar described the study abroad program as “an amazing experience.” Their growth and participation throughout the program earned them the Certificate of Outstanding Achievement, an honor reserved for the top two to three students, recognizing not only academic excellence but also personal and professional development.
Outside the classroom, CUOA’s flexible schedule allowed Blazar to experience even more of Europe. On weekends, they explored cities from Venice to Rome, traveled to Greece and the Czech Republic, and even tried blacksmithing — making a knife from scratch became a personal highlight. The combination of practical coursework and travel opportunities gave Blazar valuable skills, connections and memories that will last far beyond the program.
Learn more about the study abroad program in Italy.
Article by Abir Hassan
