There are opportunities for students of any major to study abroad during their time at Fairfield. The Dolan School of Business has developed two unique study abroad semester opportunities where students take business courses at world-renowned business schools, and then complete a local internship to complement their experience. Global Fairfield recommends students take advantage of either programs in Barcelona, Spain or Sydney, Australia.
Students studying in Barcelona will attend Instituto Químico de Sarrià (IQS), a local private university. IQS is engaged in the personal, academic and professional education of people, both ethically and comprehensively, on the basis of social commitment. Upon arrival, all students will participate in an orientation program to help familiarize them with their local surroundings, discuss health and safety, as well as acquaint them with university and program resources. In addition, students will be given a walking tour of the city and will share a welcome meal with other students on the program.
A key feature of the semester abroad in Barcelona is the International Internship. This unique opportunity will allow students to develop international business skills for the working world. The internship also gives students:
- A chance to experience how business is conducted first-hand in another country
- An understanding of a new culture and society
- An opportunity to improve foreign language skills in Spanish and Catalan
Where does one even begin to find an international internship? Fairfield partners with AIFS Abroad Internships to offer interested students part-time internships during their study abroad experience in Barcelona. With an intense focus on career development, AIFS Abroad utilizes its unique partnership with Gallup Education to offer the Clifton StrengthsFinder® to all participants. This career development program includes personalized coaching for each participant, group webinars, and professional document reviews, as well as on the ground workshops and networking events. Semester students complete 144 hours of internship over 12 weeks during the semester and earn 3 Fairfield University credits for their internship, which is part of the academic course load. Internships such as these abroad will help students acquire skills that will lead them to success in the professional world.
To help students acclimate to the new environment, a local team of coordinators from Academic Solutions sponsors various social events throughout the semester. From cooking workshops to FC Barcelona football games, to breathtaking day trips, there are a plethora of opportunities.
If Barcelona is not far enough away from Fairfield, business opportunities also exist in Sydney, Australia at The University of Sydney. Dolan School of Business students have the option to attend either the University's Spring Friendly Study Abroad Program (January to May) or Fall semester (July–November). Students enrolled in this program will earn 15 credits, which include an internship plus three academic courses. During the Spring Friendly semester, business students will begin with a full-time, 3-credit internship (ARTS2600). Upon completion of the internship, students then complete 3 additional business and core courses. Fall students will complete the internship alongside their 3 other courses throughout the full semester. Internships will be with a local company in Sydney, and are a great way for business students to develop international business experience and cross-cultural skills.
Students will receive support from local study abroad offices as well as The University of Sydney Student Union (USU), a student-led, non-profit organization that invests into the student experience and runs many activities and events on campus. USU also runs over 250 clubs and societies and supports student initiatives on and off campus, and keeps students engaged with one another by helping them find a community across the globe. Additionally, Mates Abroad is a social program which pairs incoming students with enthusiastic and like-minded local student mentors, who help them transition and navigate life in Sydney. Mentors also help coordinate fun social events, like Breakfast with Koalas, and a harbor cruise.
The University also provides a range of services and offices on campus to help students reach their academic and personal potential while in Sydney, including a Learning Hub, Counseling and Mental Health Support, Disability Services, Mathematics Learning Center, Faith and Religion.
Both of these study abroad opportunities have great courses suited to business majors. At IQS, courses include Econometrics and Forecast, International Marketing, Selling to Corporations and more. Some of AIFS’s courses include Sin City? A History of Sydney, Oceans, Coasts, and Climate Change, and Machine Learning and Data Mining in Business.
The opportunities available for Dolan students in Barcelona and Sydney offer global perspectives valuable to a business education.
