With normalcy returning around the world after the pandemic receded, the global X-Culture Project surged in the last school year.

That was the case at Indiana University East, where 12 students took part virtually in the cross-cultural collaborative experience – more than doubling the participant numbers in the previous two years. Bigger was better, but also a bit more challenging, said Arkadiusz Mironko, whose International Business Environment class has participated in the X-Culture Global Collaboration Project program since 2017.

“While managing a larger group of students can be challenging, it also provides more opportunities for cross-cultural exchange and learning in the environment where not many students have a direct opportunity to interact, let alone collaborate with peers abroad,” said Mironko, who is assistant professor of management and entrepreneurship.

Dozens of undergraduate and graduate students at IU East have completed the X-Culture Project. Each student was awarded a certificate of completion.

The program connects about 6,000 students from 100 universities in 40 countries. Students are put in randomly chosen cohorts of five to eight students and tasked with completing a consulting project for a multinational company. Their interactions take place online on platforms such as Zoom.

This year’s project included apparel companies from Brazil and Ukraine and a tourism company from South Africa.

“It was a very cool experience and … I am thankful that technology can allow us to do such a thing,” said Stella Shellabarger of Arcanum, Ohio, who is majoring in Business Administration.

Linda Marino said it allowed her to have a better world view: “It helped me gain experience and be more conscious about other country’s cultures and schedules. This will help me in the future when I am working with international firms.”

Marino is a junior from Bucaramanga, Colombia, who is double majoring in Accounting and Business Administration with minors in sports marketing and management.

The experience definitely makes her consider working for a multinational company. “This is something I have always dreamed about,” she said. “It makes me consider that whatever team I choose to work for should be friendly and many other characteristics in order for it to work.”

IU East students interacted with international students that ranged from Greece to Grenada, from Canada to India and from the Netherlands to the United States.

They worked with a wide variety of companies, Mironko said, including: 
– Atwix, an IT services company headquartered in Chicago that creates and supports online stores.
– Bergplaas Nature Reserve, a tourism and hospitality company in South Africa that focuses on self-development.
– EAFIT Universidad  in Colombia. 
– Eco Blu, a Brazilian company that specializes in private-label manufacturing of T-shirts and polo shirts.
– Garnе, a Ukrainian company that sells women’s clothing. 

The challenge focused on international student exchanges, Mironko said. Some of the projects included analyzing and proposing new market expansion. “As the global marketplace becomes increasingly interconnected, businesses continue to recognize the importance of developing international networks and partnerships. Cross-cultural understanding, communication skills, and the ability to work effectively in diverse teams continue to be critical skills for success in today’s global economy.”

Caden Shumaker of Parker City, Ind., said he developed friendships through X-Culture: “I connected well with the international students, especially with a student from Canada. We frequently worked together on our sections of the report and would get on Zoom calls together.” Shumaker is a sophomore majoring in Business Administration with minors in marketing and sports management/marketing.

The students met virtually for about two months.

Mironko believes the experience was highly positive for his students: “(They) demonstrated exceptional dedication, creativity and teamwork.”  Those attributes, he said, helped them overcome the two major challenges – of widely varying languages and time zones.

The experience was memorable and positive, agreed the other nine student participants from IU East.

– Briana Meyers, junior from Brookville, Ind.: “I have always been a very independent worker, but this project forced me out of my comfort zone, and I have learned to work well with others.”
Meyers is majoring in Business Administration and minoring in Marketing as well as Sports Marketing and Management.

– Jake Miller, junior from Richmond, said it was enlightening to hear the different languages. “In the real world, you never know if you will encounter a client who might not have English as their first language.”
He is majoring in Business Administration.

– Jordan Miller, junior from Rochester, N.Y.: “Having this educational option prepares students … to deal with issues within a group without the help of a teacher, coach or someone else in charge.”
He is majoring in Mathematics and Business Administration.

– Grace Morgan of Dunkirk, Ind., said the biggest things to overcome were time zones and working around participants’ busy schedules. “My group was only able to have a meeting a few times. We primarily used text messages … to work around this.”
She is majoring in Business Administration and minoring in Finance.

– Matthew John Nel of Bloemfontein, South Africa: “For me the hardest obstacle to overcome was the busy schedule everyone had, and finding a time for everyone to finish their parts of the project.”
Nel is a senior who is majoring in Business Administration and Accounting.

– Jalanie Ruth of Ridgeville, Ind.: “The experience will help me with diversity. … I feel it was an amazing experience.”
She is double majoring in Business Administration and Accounting. 

– Ashley Todd of Rushville, Ind. “I have never thought about working for a multinational company. After this experience … I could confidently say it’s something I would be able to do.”
Todd is a junior majoring in Business Administration with minors in psychology and marketing.

– Fayth Hill of Liberty, Ind. “I may end up in a company where I will have to meet with clients from (anywhere) …  this has given me a general background as to what to expect when that happens.”
Hill is a senior majoring in Business Administration with a minor in accounting. 

– Christoffer Hudgel of Eaton, Ohio: “My team and I were able to work very well together. With obstacles of life getting in the way, we all had each other’s backs when someone was sick or busy with exams… We were able to make a solid report and support most of our decisions.”
Hudgel is double majoring in Accounting and Business Administration.