You think you know so much, but you go outside the country, and you learn that you don’t … You go to another country, and you learn more.

– Chris Cammarata, an accounting senior

A recent immersive experience taught students at the Naveen Jindal School of Management that learning is not always contained within the four walls of a classroom. Sometimes it is not even restricted to the U.S. border.

A trip to Rwanda was the culmination of the Regional Management Area Studies: Africa (IMS 3v94), a semester-long JSOM course that introduces students to the historical, social, economic and political contexts of African nations. Participants explore the business landscape of the region and engage in seminars focusing on companies that operate within and impact the local economy. It is divided into three portions—pre-trip preparation, the seminar abroad and post-trip reporting.

For one week in November, the students traveled to Kigali, the nation’s capital and largest city, to study business practices and to evaluate opportunities and challenges. Additionally, their tasks were to analyze Rwanda’s role in the global economy and compare that country’s business operations to those of the U.S.

Led by Dr. Habte Woldu, a clinical professor in the Jindal School’s Organizations, Strategy and International Management Area, and accompanied by Hubert Zydorek, director of the Jindal School’s BS in Global Business program, 15 students traveled to the Republic of Rwanda for an immersion into the country’s business practices.

“You think you know so much, but you go outside the country, and you learn that you don’t,” said Chris Cammarata, an accounting senior and participant in the program. “You go to another country, and you learn more.”

“Here in the U.S., we have an Americanized view of the world,” said DaMarco Ellis, a business administration senior. He admits he was both excited and nervous before the trip, which broadened his perspective. “Going to Rwanda healed me because I received an appreciation for people who have less than what I have, and they are prospering. I saw how much I took for granted and how happy these people are who did not have much.”

The UTD group was hosted by the Rwandan board of development, led by Rosine Urujeni, its chief operations officer. Their experiences included touring the American embassy, speaking with Rwandan university representatives, visiting neighborhood women’s centers and even checking out the local soccer fields.

“Going to Rwanda healed me because I received an appreciation for people who have less than what I have, and they are prospering. I saw how much I took for granted and how happy these people are who did not have much.”

– DaMarco Ellis, a business administration senior

“This was a well-prepared trip,” said Woldu, director of the Sustainable Global Business Initiative. “This would be one of the top countries from an impact standpoint. It was great. Once we reached the country, we found the program very interesting.”

Woldu said one of the seminar’s main goals was to understand how business is conducted in another country. The Jindal School prepares its students to succeed in the world, not just the U.S.

“The best way for us to learn is, in fact, to go into the companies and institutions to learn how things are done,” he said. “Students need to be exposed to this earlier, while they’re young, so they can adapt.” His students, who were exposed to Rwanda’s business, government, history, culture, universities and people, agreed with their professor.

“It really opened my eyes to a new way of economy and doing business,” said Srinidhi Yelamanchili, a Canadian native and business analytics junior. “I learned a lot about marketing, strategy and analysis.”

Rwanda, located south of the equator in central Africa, is a country known for its beautiful scenery and has been dubbed “the country of a thousand hills.” The UTD visitors were struck by not only the beauty of the country, but also how the country has progressed since the 1994 genocide.

That tragic chapter resulted in more than 800,000 deaths, which has required reconstruction in many ways. The country, Woldu said, is rebuilding with peace and reconciliation.

“How their country is coming back is a true sign of resilience,” Yelamanchili said.

Cammarata considers that resilience one of the best things he learned during his stay there. “No matter the adversity you face in life, you can always bounce back and make something great out of it,” he said. “Life is tough, and you are always going to be down sometimes. You can build back. It shows character.”

The Jindal School students noticed the cultural changes throughout the African country. Empowering women, especially after so many men were killed during the 1990s, has become a leading Rwandan policy. More women than men are now in government, Woldu said, and that fact made an impression on the students.

“It was really eye-opening to see how much Rwanda is empowering women and helping them,” said Yelamanchili, who turned 20 years old while on the trip. “It was nice to see them encouraging women to go out and grow themselves and make a living, because so many countries don’t.”

The students also noticed a true sense of community in the country. For Cammarata, who had long wanted to travel to Africa, the Rwandan people’s welcoming, friendly spirit was a delight.

“We were treated like family everywhere we went,” he said. “It was nice and refreshing to see. Everyone got along.”

Such soft skills the students saw as transferable to the business world. Ellis said he learned that collaboration and communication are necessary in business, especially for the world of an entrepreneur.

“Your dream is actually a shared experience,” he said. “In a lot of business, it’s a cooperation, and that was my experience in Rwanda.”

The educationally enriching trip received wide support, including from outside organizations. The Ann and Jack Graves Charitable Foundation awarded each student an $1,800 stipend for travel expenses. Since 2019, the foundation has financially supported students and faculty traveling to African countries for various projects. Thanks to the foundation, selected students participate in a variety of educational and cultural activities for unique learning experiences, leading them to become better prepared for the business world.

Ellis, already a working professional even as he completes his degree, had always admired people who studied abroad, never dreaming he would one day be one of those lucky students.

“I want to express my appreciation to the foundation for this opportunity,” he said. “Without their generosity, I would not have been able to go. There are people who will facilitate dreams. It definitely changed me.”

It was really eye-opening to see how much Rwanda is empowering women and helping them. It was nice to see them encouraging women to go out and grow themselves and make a living, because so many countries don’t.

– Srinidhi Yelamanchili, a Canadian native and business analytics junior