In classes for the Global Research Practicum course, students learned about the issues of workforce development and the inclusive economy in Scotland. However, “what brought these topics to life was our ability to ask questions and have conversations about Scotland’s present and the experts’ visions of the future,” says Gianna Clarke (MBA ‘25).
Clarke spent spring break in Scotland with 18 other students as part of this course from the University of Pittsburgh’s Joseph M. Katz Graduate School of Business and Graduate School of Public and International Affairs. “We had several site visits where these topics were examined, such as the Scottish Parliament, Glasgow City Chambers, and the Lord Provost of Glasgow’s welcome reception,” she says. “Hearing experts speak about how Scotland is approaching these challenges was thought-provoking.”
Leveraging Pittsburgh’s current and historical ties to Scotland, this course is co-led by Pitt Business Associate Professor Heidi Bartholomew and Assistant Professor Tom Davis. While in Edinburgh, Dunfermline, and Glasgow, the students engaged with many public and private sector figures who highlighted the resiliency of the Scottish economy and how it is working to adapt and address current challenges.
The program featured a visit to the Andrew Carnegie Birthplace Museum and a discussion on workforce development and sustainable development at Fife College. Hosted by the Glasgow City Council, the group connected with some of the newest innovation districts in the country and enjoyed a reception from the Lord Provost of Glasgow. The students also visited CivTech Scotland, a Scottish government program that aims to drive innovation in public services, focusing on sustainable and efficient solutions.
“I think the emphasis throughout the week is that no single organization or entity will be able to make it without the collaboration of others,” says Sarah King (MBA/MPIA ‘26). “It’s in this space of fostering and support that innovation can grow and be sustained.”
Before traveling abroad, Neil Owen, general manager of Stresstech and Ambassador for the Scottish Business Network, and Kathy Risko, former executive director of the Sister Cities Association of Pittsburgh presented to the class. These guest speakers highlighted the business and cultural connections between the Pittsburgh region and the Edinburgh and Glasgow regions and prepared the students for some of their site visits.
“Upon returning to Pittsburgh, the students spend several weeks synthesizing their learnings into their research papers,” says Davis. “The breadth of students’ interests and the design of the research paper assignment allow each student to tailor the experience to their own academic and professional goals.”
These travels are integral parts of the coursework and Pitt Business’ commitment to experiential learning. Built thematically and led by faculty, these international experiences challenge full-time MBA, part-time MBA, and Master of Science students to consider issues from a global perspective and expose them to business environments abroad. Part of their final deliverables from this program includes a professional development piece designed to help students critically reflect and articulate the experience in a meaningful way.
In addition to the faculty members, Laura Oknefski, senior director of Graduate Academic Programs and Student Services, and Renee Schiffhauer, assistant director for Career Management & Corporate Engagement, traveled with the students. This program was supported by on-campus partners: the Nationality Rooms & Intercultural Exchange Programs and the European Studies Center, both within the University Center for International Studies.