Expanding Horizons: The Faculty International Partner Immersion Program (IPIP)

Intro by Mickey Quiñones, dean of the Robins School

The Robins School has a long tradition of excellence in international business education that prepares our students to navigate and succeed in a global business context. More than half of our graduates have a study abroad experience before graduation, and others pursue their interest in this area through our International Business concentration. A source of strength in this area is our relationship with 54 partner schools located across the globe that represent some of the top business schools in the world.

In 2023 we launched the Faculty International Partner Immersion Program as an exciting endeavor to deepen our bonds with these partner institutions. The vision for the program included the following objectives:

• Forging robust relationships and research collaborations with faculty from partner schools.
• Enhancing student advising by immersing ourselves in the curriculum available to our students.
• Explore experiential opportunities for students such as internships and site visits to companies in partner cities.
• Developing faculty cultural awareness.

The inaugural cohort of IPIP brought together 14 faculty members, representing all six academic departments of the Robins School.  Our aim was simple but profound: to gain firsthand insights into the transformative experiences awaiting our students while studying in these renowned institutions. With excitement and curiosity, we embarked on a journey to visit two universities in Barcelona, two in Madrid, and one in Lisbon. Collectively, these universities will host 32% of the 178 Robins School students that will studying abroad during Fall 2023.

The extraordinary outcome of the IPIP experience surpassed even my most ambitious expectations. Not only did we learn far more about each of the schools than I anticipated, but we also forged a strong camaraderie among our diverse group. What may have started as a faculty development program turned out to be an organizational culture-building exercise.  Furthermore, the experience strengthened our commitment to international business education. I am convinced that the Robins School and our students will be reaping the benefits of this program for years to come. There is already a buzz around the halls about next year’s IPIP.

Barcelona, Spain | Esade Barcelona Pedralbes
Joe Farizo, assistant professor of finance

Our first stop was Esade in Barcelona, a premier institution of executive and undergraduate business education, not only in Spain or Europe but in the world. 

The similarities between our school and theirs were apparent. We exchange big ideas in our EY iLab; they do so in their eGarage (named for the technological innovations developed in California garages). While we build and test financial and economic models in our Lessing Trading Floor, they build and test 3D-printed models of product prototypes in their Fab Lab. We congregate and engage with one another in the halls of Robins, much like they do on their Rambla of Innovation, the corridor running through campus. We both desire to make better “businesspeople” of our students, emphasis on “people.” 

Our similarities are important, but it is in our differences where the opportunities lie. Our university was founded in 1830; theirs in 1958. Our strength is in our liberal arts approach and experiential learning opportunities; theirs is training future executives and fostering international relationships. Through building on our partnership, we can continue to learn from one another, share resources, and collectively work to expand the cultural exposure of our common students. 

Antoni Gaudí, the brilliant Catalan architect and designer whose whimsical masterpieces pepper Barcelona’s landscape once said, “the most important requirement for something to be considered beautiful is that it fulfills the purpose for which it was conceived.” Our delegation set out to engage with our partners to learn from one another, promote collaboration, and better the experiences of our exchange and international students. I believe that in our short time there, we’ve fulfilled that purpose. A beautiful experience indeed. 

Madrid, Spain | Universitat Pompeu Fabra (Pompeu Fabra University (UPF)
Marina Astakhova, associate professor of management

UPF’s Cituadella campus, one of three university campuses, is located in the heart of Barcelona and is easily accessible by public transportation or even by walking (if you are a walker like me, it will only take you 30-45 minutes of a brisk walk through scenic streets of Barcelona and occasional Gaudi-inspired structures!). “Something-old-turned-into-something-new” is the key architectural feature that strikes you upon entering the campus. We visited the Dipòsit de les Aigües, a two-century old water tower building, repurposed into the university library and then strolled along a unique outdoor courtyard in the Jaume I building, which used to serve as military barracks. Those were all clear signs to the newcomer that UPF knows how to keep traditions while embracing change!

A presentation delivered by the International Programs team and an interactive session with six faculty members was on our agenda after the campus tour. During the presentation, we learned more about the business school’s profile, research commitment, degree and unique course offerings, and vast opportunities for international students. The business school comprises only one department, the Department of Economics and Business, which is the home for 250+ faculty members. The distinctive feature of the Department is its international focus. 

The Department’s faculty live and breathe research. Research areas represented by the meeting’s attendees were diverse and included topics in strategy, entrepreneurship, economics, accounting, and finance. Based on the highly engaged conversations among UPF and UR faculty, many of us found a point of convergence in research and will continue research discussions off-site. Faculty research is well-supported by UPF; it is customary for a UPF faculty to invite a co-author for a brief visit to work on a project; the Department will sponsor such visits. Who wouldn’t want to brainstorm a new research idea while hearing the bells of Sagrada Familia through an open window?  

The school is top-notch, and everyone we met was warm and inviting! The words of Daniel Serra, the chairman of the Department, that “taking care of a human being is what we strive to do” could not have been a more accurate reflection of the culture at UPF.   

Madrid, Spain | Universidad Carlos III de Madrid (UC3M)
Michelle Montague-Mfuni, assistant professor of management

Universidad Carlos III de Madrid is a top public university in Madrid with over 2000 academics and four locations that was founded in 1989. The universities’ strongest field is economics, and it was the first university in Spain to receive AACSB accreditation. Universidad Carlos III de Madrid partners with approximately 50 U.S. schools, hosting more than 1000 American students annually.

The average number of classes a student will take is 4-5 per semester, and the classes are taught in English. The business school is part of the School of Social Science in southern Madrid. The university is very quantitative at the business and economic levels.

I had the opportunity to speak to a professor in the finance department who confirmed that the course exam, cases, and lectures are uniform throughout each finance course. There is a strong research orientation for the professors. The tenure-track professors are ranked by the number and quality of their publications.

It was mentioned that U.S. students tend to like to live together, and that Universidad Carlos III de Madrid would love to see more co-mingling of the international Spanish-speaking students and the U.S. exchange students. It was also mentioned that exchange students could use their professor’s office hours better or approach the professor more at the end of the lecture/discussion class session.

Madrid, Spain | St. Louis University Madrid (SLU)
Adam Marquardt, associate professor of marketing

SLU Madrid is a small campus in Spain’s capital city of Madrid and receives roughly 330 sunny days per year.  The learning objectives at SLU Madrid are the same as at their flagship campus in Missouri. Roughly half of SLU Madrid’s 1100 students are degree-seeking students, and the other half are study-abroad students.

SLU Madrid offers a significantly different value proposition than the other four universities we met on this trip. The small, city-based campus comprises three soon-to-be four beautiful buildings proximate to each other.  All classes are taught in English, and SLU Madrid degree-seeking students receive an American Degree from St. Louis University.  The University’s academic calendar mirrors our own, with its fall term lasting from late August to mid-December, spring term from January into May, and an available summer session from late May to late June.  The University offers a Spanish Intensive second summer session from July into early August, though they indicated this was largely for their students. Faculty at SLU Madrid promote STEM knowledge and utilize lots of simulations and other hands-on activities. Like the University of Richmond, SLU Madrid business classes have significant amounts of class discussion and group project activities. The study abroad representatives and the faculty members said that UR students tend to perform very well at SLU Madrid.

SLU Madrid’s tagline is “People For and With Others,” which seems quite appropriate given that the faculty, staff, and students we encountered at the university were, without exception, very friendly and welcoming. The campus is in a predominantly residential neighborhood, and numerous boarding and eating opportunities are close to the campus. Because more than half of SLU Madrid’s student population is studying abroad, the University does multiple cultural immersion, walking, tapas, and other such tours every term.

Lisbon, Portugal | ISEG – Lisbon School of Economics & Management
Ashley Austin, associate professor of accounting

ISEG’s campus is right in Lisbon, only a few miles from the city’s historic sites, vibrant restaurants, bustling nightlife, and expansive waterfront. In Lisbon, sitting to savor a delicious meal on a rooftop terrace starts to feel normal while enjoying dramatic views of an imposing castle on a hill to your left and serene, 180-degree views of water on your right. It’s incredible!

During our visit, we met with several ISEG faculty members who described their school as “an American-sized university” that prides itself on its quality of learning within a lively, multicultural city. Offering bachelor’s degrees in economics, management, and finance, the school has roughly 4500 undergraduate students (30% international students). When the ISEG professors described the student experience to us, they noted the small class sizes (~30 students), the collegial rather than competitive nature amongst students, and a culture where students feel comfortable approaching their professors. Indeed, the student experience at ISEG sounded very similar to the student experience at Robins!

As the meeting continued, more similarities emerged – including our schools’ shared focuses on innovation, emerging technologies, entrepreneurship, and sustainability. When the full group meeting ended to allow for breakout group discussions among the faculty, there was plenty to talk about! The ISEG faculty were extremely welcoming and eager to meet with their RSB counterparts to discuss synergies across our research and teaching. 

Our visit concluded with a campus tour, highlighting the plethora of student activities available at ISEG, the blending of historical elements within the school’s modern buildings, and ISEG’s beautiful outdoor spaces with – you guessed it! – gorgeous rooftop terrace views of the city and waterfront.