Each January, a group of students from the UVA School of Engineering and Applied Science and the McIntire School of Commerce spend two weeks in Mendoza, Argentina. The course, Global Technology Consulting, pairs students with small businesses in the region to solve real client problems across cultural and language barriers and under tight deadlines.
In 2024, 30 students were selected from a competitive pool of applicants, then placed in six teams divided between three clients. The work ranged from business process improvements to warehouse design to technology implementation strategies. All projects involved daily client engagement on-site.
Before arriving in Mendoza, students completed pre-departure sessions focused on logistics, consulting methods such as design thinking, and background on Argentina’s culture and industries. Teams also met virtually with their assigned clients to start establishing a working relationship.
Daily life in Mendoza became part of the course itself. Students navigated cultural differences in real time — whether conducting interviews, presenting recommendations, or simply moving through the city. Faculty assessed students not only on the quality of their technical solutions but also on their ability to adapt, communicate clearly and understand the broader context of their work.
“This program differs from other study abroad options in both depth and structure,” said Reid Bailey, professor of systems and information engineering and co-lead of the course.
“Rather than surveying multiple topics or locations, each team of students focuses on one project with one client in a single community. This allows them to experience culture more deeply through building strong relationships with their clients.”
The program — the idea of then-systems engineering undergraduate Michael Ledwith — has run since 2009. It has involved nearly 400 students on over 80 projects at 30 different client locations.
“Our students engage directly with real businesses and solve real-world challenges,” said professor Stefano Grazioli of the McIntire School of Commerce and course co-lead. “They learn to adopt a consultant’s mindset, crafting solutions that are both economically viable and operationally sound. And they accomplish all of this in a foreign country, speaking in a foreign language and under tight deadlines. Their talent, resilience and drive are remarkable!”
