19Partnering with UNC Study Abroad and KFBS

Partnering with UNC Study Abroad and KFBS: A Strategic Approach to Global Education

Our organization views our relationship with UNC Study Abroad and the Kenan-Flagler Business School (KFBS) not merely as a service provider arrangement, but as a reciprocal, strategic partnership. By leveraging our shared resources, we can elevate the student experience, foster impactful cross-cultural collaborations, and expand access to global business education.

A successful immersion program relies on seamless coordination and a shared commitment to academic rigor. UNC Study Abroad and KFBS can best support our operations in three critical areas:

• Early Planning and Adherence to Timetables

  The logistical complexity of international academic immersions requires rigid adherence to deadlines. UNC can assist us by engaging in early, proactive planning. By jointly developing and committing to a transparent project timetable—clearly defining "what happens next" at every phase of the program lifecycle—we can secure top-tier venues, secure high-profile speakers, and optimize the value of the immersion.
• Elevating Student Performance and Professionalism

  To secure the highest caliber of international business leaders and corporate partners for our speaker sessions, we rely on UNC and KFBS to prepare students thoroughly. By setting strict expectations regarding student engagement, professional behavior, and pre-departure research, KFBS ensures that the cohorts we host are ready to interact dynamically and thoughtfully with our on-the-ground partners.
• Joint Engagement on Content and Pedagogy

  We rely on KFBS faculty and UNC staff to co-create the academic narrative. By actively collaborating with us to select speakers, frame consulting challenges, and align our local network with KFBS’s specific syllabus objectives, we ensure the immersion is a rigorous academic exercise rather than a standard travel tour.

While student mobility remains a cornerstone of our work, the future of global education demands multi-dimensional collaboration. We envision partnering with UNC in several innovative capacities:

• Cross-Border Consulting Engagements

  We can facilitate live, high-stakes consulting projects where KFBS students work directly with our network of international NGOs, startups, and multinational corporations. These engagements can be executed in a hybrid format (domestic preparation coupled with international in-country delivery), allowing students to solve real-world global business challenges while earning academic credit.
• Transnational Joint University Projects

  We specialize in brokering academic partnerships that connect US institutions with global universities for collaborative learning. For example, we successfully designed and executed a joint project between Newcastle University (UK) and Arizona State University (USA), where students from both institutions formed cross-cultural teams to tackle a unified curriculum and shared business challenges. We would be thrilled to architect a similar flagship program pairing UNC with one of our premier global university partners.
• Virtual Global Exchanges (COIL)

  To supplement physical mobility, we can help KFBS integrate Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) into the standard curriculum, bringing international business leaders and global student peers into the Chapel Hill classroom via structured digital immersions.