Debbie Carney, McCombs Senior Program Coordinator for Advising and International Exchange Programs
Positioning McCombs on the world stage is something that has been on the forefront of Debbie Carney’s mind since she took up her post as Senior Program Coordinator for Advising and International Exchange Programs 12 years ago. Despite expanding the Texas MBA Program’s global business education partnership roster to include the two best London-based schools and forging new relationships with top MBA programs in Hong Kong, South Africa, Argentina, and Japan, Carney admits more still needs to be done.
“We are deploying the very best students from McCombs to experience hands-on cross-cultural opportunities,” she said. “But we are behind. We still don’t have the name recognition in the global arena that we deserve.”
The Global Student Exchange Program provides full-time MBA and Dual Degree students studying law, business, or engineering an avenue to learn alongside counterparts in other countries. But it can be costly to the students (approximately $10,000 per semester each), who are solely responsible for expenses, not to mention navigating life on their own in a new culture. Despite those challenges, however, Carney says she hears nothing but positive feedback.
“It’s hard to study abroad,” she said. “But for most of our participants, this is a life-changing transformational experience. Students say it’s the best decision they’ve ever made.”
Jhovany Duperval (MBA ’22), participated in the exchange with London
Jhovany Duperval (MBA ’22)
Business School and echoes Carney’s sentiments.
“I chose to apply for the exchange program because I wanted to extend my international experiences and immerse myself in a business practicum full of opportunities to tackle international problems,” he said. “The exposure educationally and culturally expanded my knowledge base and is an experience that I’ll carry with me wherever I go. This opportunity has been the highlight of my MBA experience and one I hope future McCombs students explore as part of their MBA journey.”
For those who think the GSE is just a travel experience, Carney refutes that, explaining that, students spend one full-time immersive semester studying business at a top-ranked global institution at their destination. In addition to the cost of travel, students are responsible for securing their own housing, insurance, class schedules, and local transportation while abroad. Currently, there is only one scholarship to support two students through the Sylff Foundation each year.
The experience provides the opportunity for McCombs to increase diversity across programs and enhance its presence around the globe, something Carney stresses as an increasing need in the current climate.
“Many times, our students are the only Americans in the room during these exchanges,” she said. “It allows them to be able to speak on the global stage, and that’s a huge benefit in today’s economy.”
Carney hopes to see the program continue to expand to include additional international experiences, scholarship support, and faculty assistance. In the future, she hopes participants will have a forum where they can return to share their experiences with other McCombs students and create an ongoing network of alumni in the program.
“We are building something for students who would never have this opportunity otherwise,” she said. “When they return, they are the best possible ambassadors for this program and McCombs.”
To learn how you can support the Global Student Exchange program, email Debbie Carney.
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