Ohio State students gain global business experience through internships

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Ohio State students gain global business experience through internships

University partners with state government, private industry for international program

Students at The Ohio State University gained firsthand experience in global business relations this summer by participating in the Ohio Export Internship Program (OEIP).

Ohio State teamed with the Ohio Department of Development and other colleges around the state to recognize students who completed the internship during Global Trade in Action at the Statehouse last week. The event brought together students, educators, business professionals and legislators.

Ohio State and the Department of Development initially formed the partnership that created OEIP. Program objectives include workforce development, growing export sales and creating jobs at small to medium-sized Ohio companies.

Students who are selected for the program must complete a course that prepares them for the internship, said Dominic DiCamillo, director of Ohio State's Office of Global Business and the Center for International Business Education and Research (CIBER).

"It's a full spring semester, three-hour course," he said. "Once they get through that, they're then placed in a 12-week internship where they're helping companies enter new markets or improve on some part of their export plan."

During the Statehouse event, DiCamillo and Fisher College of Business Interim Dean Aravind Chandrasekaran presented the Ohio State OEIP graduates with completion certificates.

OEIP's main objective is to close the gap between Ohio companies in need of employees who know how to export and students from Ohio universities who have developed global business skills, said Lydia Mihalik, Ohio Department of Development director.

"None of what we're building in Ohio happens without people. Companies don't grow, communities don't thrive and our economy doesn't compete on the world stage without talented, driven Ohioans who are ready to do the work," she told students during the Statehouse event.

"Ohio has something really special … incredible universities, businesses hungry to grow and students like you who show up with curiosity and with grit and the work ethic that the state is very well known for."

Students participate in OEIP internships from mid-May through mid-August. The interns analyze a company's export readiness and contribute to the development of the company's export strategy.

Nicole Sciuva, an international business major, said her internship with Columbus-based arcade equipment supplier Shaffer Distributing Co. made her aware of a potential career path that she hadn't before considered.

"This program gave me the confidence and autonomy to lead projects, strengthened my communication skills and introduced me to the possibilities of a global career in international trade," she said. "I have also had the opportunity to meet inspirational professionals both inside and outside the classroom, whose guidance and experiences have provided valuable insight and clarity for my next steps."

Alpha Bah, a logistics management major, said his internship with T.J. Clark International LLC, a Delaware-based water and fuel pump manufacturer, provided him with experience in international business negotiations.

"My greatest accomplishment was coordinating with an international supplier in Italy to obtain a critical component for our project, which demonstrated the importance of clear communication and proactive sourcing in global operations," he said.

Students who participate in OEIP gain global experience without leaving Ohio, Melissa Torres, an Ohio State alumna, said during her keynote address at Global Trade in Action.

Torres is president and CEO of The Forum on Education Abroad. She previously served as director of CIBER and international programs at Ohio State and was a member of the team that founded OEIP.

"I think this program, in particular, is a shining example of how you can educate students: These students don't have to leave the country, and they are increasing exports for Ohio companies," she said. "They are developing their own understanding of what it takes to export. They're learning marketing skills, manufacturing skills, language skills. … This program creates the next generation of small business leaders for the state."

Since its initial founding at Ohio State, OEIP has expanded to other universities across the state that teach the preparation course for students from over 18 universities, said Nate Ward, director of the Global Business Center and SBDC Export Assistance Network at Cleveland State University, one of the participating universities.

"Each of these institutions has played a crucial role in preparing students to take on the real-world challenges of international trading," he said.

"At the heart of this program are Ohio businesses, the small and medium-sized enterprises that welcome these students into their export initiatives. These companies are doing more than growing their businesses. They are strengthening Ohio's position on the global stage and investing in the future workforce of our state."

OEIP demonstrates the positive impact of partnerships between the state of Ohio, universities and private industry, DiCamillo said.

"I'm not aware of any other programs that bring together universities, government and businesses to work in such a way. And it's something that other states have reached out to us to ask, 'How do we do it?'" he said. "It's something that really sets us apart from other states around the country."

Ohio State students who also completed OEIP internships this year are: Sherry Dong, Global Recovery Group; Jackson Reider, Star USA Inc.; Kristine Shaner, Vesco Medical; and Shuto Urabe, Performance Results Plus Inc. Sharonda Exius, a Columbus State Community College and Franklin University student, was also recognized with Ohio State's cohort at the Statehouse event for her internship with The Janz Corp.

The other participating OEIP universities are Bowling Green State University, Ohio University, the University of Dayton and Youngstown State University.

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