Globalization and technology have changed the way organizations interact with internal and external constituents. Leaders must strive to create an environment where individuals adapt in socially responsible ways in order to foster the growth of global citizens. This course explores the realm of cultural intelligence or cultural quotient (CQ) and its importance in developing an inclusive approach to leadership and management. Through an experiential learning approach, students will develop skills that will aid in their ability to appreciate, manage, lead, and work with individuals across a multitude of cultural identities.

The international travel component of Cultural Intelligence in Leadership and Management will supplement the learning activities the students will participate in through the entire semester.  The course activities include a plant tour of a local Penn State Schuylkill Co-Op Consortium Employer, MAE-Eitel, Inc. The facility is located in Orwigsburg, PA which is only a few miles from Penn State Schuylkill. This business is a Penn State Schuylkill Co-Op Consortium Employer. Leadership team members from MAE-Eitel already mentor our students and support our campus community by providing internships for the Co-Op program students. Students will also have remote meetings with affiliated Germany-based businesses (MAE) that we will be visiting during our travel.  The leadership team of this company will provide insight into their company’s workplace culture and the culture of their region. While in Germany students will tour facilities, shadow professionals, participate in networking opportunities, discuss international business considerations, engage in cultural activities of the region, and participate in cross-cultural discussions with local professionals. 

The group will also visit the Netherlands. While there some excursions include visiting the Anne Frank House where she hid for more than 2 years during WWII and wrote her diary. We will also tour a working windmill village, clog factory, and the Van Gogh Museum.  

Brussels is the head of the EU and NATO.  While in this country we will visit the EU quarter and tour its most significant attraction the European Parliament. Then to learn about events that led up to the formation of the European Union, we will visit the House of European History in Léopold Park. While staying in Belgium, we will take a day trip to Luxembourg which is the country with the highest per capita gross domestic product in the world. Luxembourg enjoys a degree of economic prosperity that is very rare among industrialized democracies. We will visit historic Old Quarter which was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

These interactions will take place under the guidance of the trip leads from Penn State Schuylkill Gina Whalen, Assistant Teaching Professor of Business and Kate Zimmerman, Director of Cooperative Education.

Dates     

March 3 - 9, 2024

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• This course is open to all majors at Penn State Schuylkill.
• Admission in the course and permission to travel with the group are at the discretion of the faculty leader and/or academic department hosting the course. Academic standing and disciplinary or conduct issues may impact eligibility.

Housing and Meals

During the embedded travel component, housing will consist of hotel/hostel accommodations.

Program Costs