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The Ohio University College of Business is a national leader in preparing students for successful careers due in a large part to its focus on experiential learning.
“It is very important to us that we provide our students with real-world experiences to best prepare them for their careers,” explained College of Business Dean Jackie Rees Ulmer. “And thanks to the national business and industry connections that our faculty, staff and alumni bring to the College, we are able to provide our students with a wealth of opportunities.”
Every day, experiential learning propels the College of Business students forward with a professional skillset highly sought after by top companies worldwide.
In fact, 70 percent of the College of Business courses offer applied experiential learning, allowing all College of Business students to receive meaningful experience while they are in school.
"Experiential learning is critical to the value proposition that we have made with our undergraduate Business Bobcats," explained Jim Strode, Ph.D., director of undergraduate programs in the College of Business “We are educating students with a built-in reputation. When recruiters and hiring managers meet our business Bobcats, they immediately know that this student has the soft skills, technical skills, grit, and resilience to communicate, organize, problem-solve, collaborate, and lead. Our students graduate with these universally in-demand attributes thanks to our efforts in applied learning.”
At Ohio University, we are giving students more than just the opportunity for hands-on experiences. We are also introducing them to industries and careers not typically considered by business students, including careers in event planning, music, and esports, to name a few.
Business of Games Summit provides life-changing experiences
In 2018, for example, the Center for Entrepreneurship collaborated with OHIO’s Game Research and Immersive Design (GRID) Lab , the Scripps College of Communication and TechGROWTH Ohio to hold the first annual Business of Games Summit. The summit provided life-changing experiences for many of the participants, as the event featured prominent entrepreneurs from the software and hardware side to business development and marketing.
One Bobcat who attended the Business of Games Summit that first year as a senior now leads a booming tech/esports business, Efuse. Matthew Benson, CEO and founder of Efuse, developed his business idea as an entrepreneurship student at OHIO while involved in the inaugural Business of Games Summit. Benson's company Efuse is now generating over $10 million in revenue, and in 2021, Benson was named to the Forbes 30 under 30 Gaming list.
Ohio Export Internship Program allows students to receive hands-on training
This spring semester marked the start of the College of Business’ newest offering in applied learning. Ohio University was recently added to the Ohio Export Internship Program with the Ohio Department of Development. This hands-on internship provides export training to students, who can use their knowledge to help small-to-mid-sized southeast Ohio businesses strengthen their export programs through the Ohio Export Internship Program (OEIP).
"The College of Business is committed to making a societal impact in southeast Ohio by ensuring the next generation of business professionals possesses the vital knowledge and skills in exporting operations," College of Business Dean Jackie Rees Ulmer said. "Ohio University is well-positioned to provide such experiences, both in the classroom and in the field, through its world-class faculty's expertise and established internship ecosystem.
This program also allows students to prepare and complete the Certified Global Business Professional micro-credential by the National Association of Small Business International Trade Educators (NASBITE) Student Pathway Program.
Ohio University Student Fixed Income Management Group gives OHIO students a unique opportunity
The Ohio University Student Fixed Income Management Group (OUSFIMG) is one of three investment groups in the College of Business (the other groups are the Student Equity Management Group and the Derivatives Management Group). The group is unique because while many universities only have an equity management group. OUSFIMG manages a portion of Ohio University's working capital in fixed-income securities.
The group currently has an assets-under-management of $3.3 million split between two portfolios, traditional and Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG). OUSFIMG provides professional growth and knowledge and teaches soft skills needed to excel in the financial industry.
Students in the group receive real-world experiences weekly that directly correlate to prestigious internship opportunities at world-renowned banks and asset management firms. Weekly bond pitches, advanced financial training, and Bloomberg training all ensure students are well-versed in financial knowledge and prepared for Wall Street.
Despite the group's seriousness, the students are also great friends who help and support each other personally and professionally, leading to truly rounded members.
"With the technical knowledge I have gained from this group, I have been lucky enough to have two Wall Street internships,” said senior Jack Hueter. "I have also accepted a full-time position with JP Morgan Chase in New York City after graduation."
This is the power of experiential learning. Giving students the resources necessary to learn, experience real-world scenarios, and get in front of alumni and industry connections where they can secure their dream job. This is where Ohio University's College of Business shines.