By Aaron Reincheld
Greg Emery has a problem.
After overseeing work from students at Ohio University and the University of Guadalajara in Mexico researching the Mexican market for five local businesses, the director of Ohio University's Global Learning Community's (GLC) phone is ringing off the hook.
"The response from the community has been overwhelming," Emery said. "It's a good problem to have."
A two-week visit by 11 students and three professors from Guadalajara was the culmination of a several month effort to aid the businesses eyeing expansion. The students worked together on the projects through the Internet.
The Ohio businesses were selected with the help of the Voinovich Center for Leadership and Public Affairs. The businesses included Logan-based Carabourundum, which specializes in grinding wheels, and frozen fruit and juice import/exporter Twin City Frozen Foods from Lancaster.
During this year's winter break, 35 GLC students visited Guadalajara and finished similar projects for Mexican businesses. Both trips went so well that Emery is looking to work with his Mexican counterparts to arrange another set of trips for the 2004-05 school year.
Each year the GLC takes trips - students in the GLC must complete two international experiences - but this was the first year that the GLC played host to visitors. With the project's success, Emery hopes to make it a common occurrence so that students on both sides of the boarder get similar experiences.
"Everybody was so happy," he said. "They got to sit in on classes here, see the American system, see how American students live. They not only deal with the academic world, but reach out to the business world as well."
Through the projects, students form friendships that can last for years and learn how to work with diverse people.
"They develop the ability to work with individuals very different from themselves, not only international students, but also students from different majors and backgrounds," Emery said.
The involved students also enjoyed the experience.
"I really enjoyed the experience of working with students from Mexico and getting to know them," said GLC student Elaine Paulus. "The experience of working internationally with students and giving a presentation to a client was a fun challenge and very rewarding."
Started in the fall of 1998, the Global Learning Community is an interdisciplinary certificate program that works to instill leadership ability and confidence in a cross-cultural, global frame.
Aaron Reincheld is a graduate student writer with University Communications and Marketing.
