Category Archives: Study Abroad & Travel

QUEST Goes Global in 490H

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Immediately upon joining QUEST, one hears about the challenge of 490H. One hears that it’s demanding, realistic, and enriching- the pinnacle of the QUEST program. This spring, eight students from Cohort 23 have ventured even further outside of their comfort zone for their 490H projects. For the first time ever, the QUEST Program has teamed up University of Maryland students with students in Australia and Sweden.

“Providing an opportunity for students to work on projects with geographically dispersed teams has been a goal for the program for the past 5 years,” explained Kylie King, QUEST’s Program Director. “When asking our alumni how QUEST could be better-structured to prepare students for the real world, this emerged as a significant opportunity for improvement. Funding from the Office of International Affairs helped make this possible.”

Students working on the global projects have not only welcomed the challenge but say it’s right-in-line with what they signed up for when they decided to join QUEST two years ago.

“I think one of the biggest goals of the 490H consulting projects is to give us a relevant ‘real-world’ experience while we are still in college,” said Andrew Dicken, who, with Shmuel Gold is paired with a team from Sweden. “Working with international teammates is a very realistic challenge that many professionals deal with on a daily basis in 2016.”

These students were not only up for the challenge, but some even searched for it and welcomed it with open arms.

Joseph Dadzie, who with Alex Huang is paired with an Australian team and client, says he ranked all of the global projects as his top choices. Currently studying chemical engineering, he’s interested in working internationally in the future. “I’m involved with a lot of global programs at school, and I studied abroad,” Dadzie said. “Gaining a better global perspective is something I value.”

While the time differences and geographic positionings are two of the most prominent challenges these students face, through today’s technology, these students have been able to adapt and adjust. Being able to critically think through their group’s challenges and come up with innovative solutions echoes not only what real-world international professionals do, but what QUEST students have done since day one.

“[A] challenge that we have faced is that our Swedish teammates were not able to physically visit our client’s warehouse with us,” said Dicken. “Therefore, it is somewhat difficult for them to get a full picture of the challenges that our client is facing and their current solutions. We have tried to overcome these challenges by skyping with them while walking around the facility as well as answering any questions that they have about the layout as they come up.”

“There’s about a 15 to 16 hour time difference, so we have to schedule meetings in the late evening here, which is early morning for Australia,” said Dadzie, whose team has realized how valuable the time they can meet actually is. In order to make meetings more productive, his team has had to take a slightly more individual approach where they perform their individual tasks for the week on their own prior to meeting up, so that their team members can spend time on Skype monitoring progress and delegating work.

“The biggest challenge was finding a balance where we all remember that we are one team together, despite the distance,” said Shmuel Gold. “Along those lines, we also struggled with how to properly divide the work without separating into two teams entirely.”

Embracing the challenges and benefits of this unique experience, QUEST students are not the only ones getting this taste of international business. Their clients have also realized the prominence of global projects in the world today and have eagerly welcomed this opportunity.

“Our clients have fully embraced this challenge,” said Dicken. “They are very enthusiastic about working with us. They think that it is very appropriate that they have an international team consulting for them because Intralox is an international company, and we are facing many of the same challenges that they face on a daily basis.”

Hao Tian, one of the project champions from Intralox, stated that “the students have been very impressive so far. They recently handed in a statement of work with well-organized objectives and a great understanding of our current process and operations [at Intralox]. They came up with a very good approach for moving forward.”

Tian said that Intralox was interested in a global project because it provides the company with “a great opportunity to have a chance to work with students and gain new insights and opinions.”

Kylie King is the faculty advisor for the Intralox team. “Advising the Intralox team has been a wonderful experience so far. It was fun to tour the warehouse with the Swedish students joining us over Skype. The combination of the student skills and experiences has already resulted in some interesting findings. I can’t wait to see where this team takes their project.”

The students too have not only fully embraced this challenge, but also the opportunity itself to learn about new cultures. While Dadzie admits that other QUEST teams have had a lot more time to get to know each other, being that they’ve taken 190H and 390H together, his team has already gotten close enough to crack jokes in meetings and chat about differences in sports, culture, and slang.

“You realize how big the world really is,” said Dadzie, who eagerly looks forward to the opportunity to present his final presentation with his full team at the QUEST Conference this May.

King explained, “In addition to welcoming the international students to our final presentations here at Maryland, we plan to send the students working on projects in Sweden and Australia to present their final results at their client sites. I think this will be a rewarding experience for our students and will help showcase the quality of QUEST across the globe.”

If you’d like to check out the final presentations here at Maryland, be sure to save the date for the QUEST Conference on Thursday, May 5th, 2016 from 5-9PM at the Riggs Alumni Center!

Shmuel Gold and Andrew Dicken from Team Intralox skyping with their teammates in Sweden

Shmuel Gold and Andrew Dicken from Team Intralox skyping with their teammates in Sweden

QUEST’s Top 7 Quality Spring Break Plans

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Two weeks ago, we were attempting to stay warm indoors with a hot cup of cocoa on a chilly snow day. It’s hard to believe that we have already reached 60-degree weather, which can only mean one thing – spring break is coming!! And with midterms and the pressure of QUEST projects upon us, we are definitely ready for it. Take a mental break to read about seven of your fellow QUESTees’ *quality* spring break destinations:

1. Outdoor excursion in Arizona

Andrew Jones, an Aerospace Engineering major from Q26, is taking a class through the Science and Global Change Scholars Program. The GEOL288A course, called “Field Geology: The Natural History and Astronomy of Arizona,” is a ten-day hands-on excursion exploring the diverse geology, zoology, botany, astronomy, and archaeology of the breathtaking state. Some highlights include visiting the Grand Canyon, Chiricahua National Monument, and the Sunset Crater.

2. Road trip to Myrtle Beach

Some are opting for a more “traditional spring break” and heading to the beach. Q22 seniors Ben Hsieh, Dan Levine, Sarah Niezelski, Brogan Sheehey, and Chris Yeager (formerly known as 390H Team Sync) are taking a fun road trip to Myrtle Beach. Although Ben wanted to go the extra mile and drive down to Florida, Myrtle Beach sounds like a fierce competitor to the beaches of the Sunshine State. In addition to soaking up the rays, the 390H dream team will also be stopping by Charleston, Greenville, and the Great Smoky Mountains bordering North Carolina and Tennessee.

3. Spontaneous getaway to Iceland

If you thought spring break was all about warm weather, you thought wrong – Dominick Montero (Q24) will be flying all the way to Iceland. “My friends and I had been joking about going to colder places for the spring, and I brought up that we could try to go see the Northern Lights,” Dominick remarked. In addition to gazing at the Aurora Borealis, Dominick and his two friends will be driving along the coastline, hiking on glaciers and volcanoes, riding ATVs, and taking in the spectacular raw landscapes of the country.

4. Environmental conservation service in the Chesapeake Bay

Uva Dayalan, a junior majoring in Bioengineering also from Q24, will be staying a bit closer to home this spring break, but not to catch up on her Netflix shows. Uva is an Experience Leader for Alternative Breaks, a University-sponsored service-learning program that offers students the opportunity to engage in community service during school breaks. She is leading the Chesapeake Bay team in a service experience focused on environmental conservation. In collaboration with the Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF), Uva and her team will be helping out with tree plantings in Clagett Farm and a CBF oyster restoration center.

5. Chilly vacation in Montreal

Jacqueline Kwan (Q21) is going up north to Canada. She is visiting a friend of hers who attends McGill University in Montreal and some other friends she met on a study abroad trip and through her internship at Ernst & Young. Although she’ll be bundled up to avoid the frostbite, Jacqueline is excited to check out the main tourist attractions like Parc du Mont-Royal and the Old Port of Montreal.

6. Terp Pride in Indianapolis

For the die-hard Maryland basketball fans out there, Sydney Tommins from Q24 is going all out during her spring break. Sydney and her dad will be traveling to Indianapolis for the 2016 Big Ten Men’s Basketball Tournament at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. “I’m going because I love Maryland basketball and my dad and I wanted a nice father-daughter trip since I don’t get to see him as much during the school year,” Sydney explained. The tournament will take place from March 9th-13th.

7. QUEST in Silicon Valley

And finally, some QUESTees are so committed to the program that they devote even their spring break to all things QUEST. Michael George (Q23) is one of them. As a Computer Science major, Michael has always been particularly interested in QUEST’s Silicon Valley course (BMGT438G/ENES489Q: Design and Innovation in Silicon Valley) because it is “an opportunity to go to a place where technology and innovation thrives.” Michael especially looks forward to visiting Google, Twitter, and Facebook and is also hoping to stop by the California-native In-N-Out Burger.

QUEST Goes to China

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Article by Chris Coraggio

Before I begin, I would just like to say that this trip will be one of the most unforgettable experiences of my life.  I know I’m not only speaking for myself.  Thank you Dr. Bailey, Melanie, and the QUEST program for this once-in-a-lifetime QUEST2China experience!

Because the China blog (http://blog.umd.edu/quest2china/) covers specifics on the places we visited, here’s a brief list: Accenture Customer Innovation Network, J&J Tylenol Plant, Buddha Temple, silk museum, Old Shanghai, the Bund (the classic Shanghai Skyline), the French Concession and Yuyuan Gardens.

The moment we touched down in Shanghai, we were in disbelief.   Think New York City in all its glory, multiply that by 6, add some mysticism and avant-gardism and that’s almost Shanghai.  Its population is around 20M people compared to New York City’s 8.4M.  All the articles that you’ve read about China’s rise to global prominence – we witnessed it!

Shanghai is all about the future of China – it’s the financial capital of the country, touting over 4000 skyscrapers!  As our first city, it was also the first time we experienced “real” Chinese food – no General Tso’s chicken or chicken and broccoli, just KFC!  Well, that and jellyfish, eel, dumplings, and MANY more “exotic” foods.  One thing to remember: the Chinese eat “everything with 4 legs except the table”!

In Shanghai, we learned some important lessons.  Bargaining is an art, especially for foreigners.  Vendors jack up prices sometimes 100% over the actual retail price, so any discount less than 80% is a rip-off!  And in terms of how to bargain, it’s all about theatrics.  Just ask Jeff Jacobs or Asmi Joshi.  Communication in general was very difficult; it often amounted to excessive gesturing and saying bùhǎo (translation: bad).

Beijing, China’s historic capital, gave us the history.  Tiananmen Square and Forbidden City were awesome, but nothing beats the Great Wall.  As expected, we conquered it!  Other activities were visiting the U.S. Embassy, visiting companies, and riding a high speed train (Acela got NOTHING).  Some of us who stayed later visited the Bird’s Nest, Temple of Heaven and the Summer Palace.  Overall, Beijing was amazing because we witnessed hundreds of years of history, even in its people; truly a humbling experience.

But I can’t forget about our final presentations at the Smith School’s China Business Plan Competition! You should congratulate teams Transfastic, Happy Fish, Pangaea, and the award-winning QualiTea for completing incredible projects in less than 10 days!

Hannah Henningsgaard, a QUEST2China participant, said, “It is hard to describe the experience that we shared in China, but I can say this- it was one of the best decisions that I have ever made. I gained a new perspective on myself and my own country by immersing myself in the Chinese culture and developing relationships with others. Perhaps the most important lesson that we can take away from the experience is that the world is large and full of opportunity, so we must see it while we can!”