University at Buffalo School of Management

Autumn 2017 Buffalo Business 17 Outside a school in Ghana, children bang on drums and sing to celebrate each region of the West African nation. Soon, kids in flow- ing white garments begin to dance, as several UB faculty and staff members look on. Then, the UB team, along with board members from Buffalo- based nonprofit HOSIKIDS, present six laptops, provided through a $1,500 do- nation from the School of Management undergraduate class gi. As each lap- top is revealed, the children cheer in jubilation. "I started crying. It was incred- ible," says Cynthia Shore, senior as- sistant dean and director of alumni engagement and external relations in the School of Management. "Education is the king of kings in Ghana. Wherever we went, the respect for education, and impact of education, was clear and inspiring." The experience was part of an ex- ploratory trip led by Dorothy Siaw- Asamoah, clinical assistant professor of organization and human resources, to develop a study abroad experience in Ghana focused on social innovation and entrepreneurial leadership. "There are so many things you can learn by taking a courageous move to visit another culture and work in that community," says Siaw-Asamoah, who grew up in Accra, the country's capital. "Ghanaians are welcoming and hospi- table to guests, truly value the oppor- tunity to collaborate with UB and will introduce our students to a new form of leadership." With representatives from the School of Management, UB Honors College and Division of Academic Affairs, the group spent most of the trip in Accra. They visited three universities, a nearby fishing village and historic sites, including Elmina Castle, formerly a European slave trading post constructed in the 15th century. Aer noticing an issue with pollution, the team reached out to Zoomlion Ghana Ltd., a waste management leader in Africa, and toured multiple facilities. "My favorite memory was seeing Dorothy in her element, surrounded by family and friends and sharing cultural context," says Mara Huber, associate dean for undergraduate research and experiential learning at UB. "It's a gi to experience a new place through a colleague's personal connections, which always results in the most impactful learning opportunities for our students." Using insights and connections they formed during the ex- ploratory trip, Siaw-Asamoah and her team finalized the details for a new study abroad experience that will launch this winter. The 10-day pro- gram will complement the School of Management's focus on global lead- ership, entrepreneurship and social innovation. During the first two days, under- graduates and MBA students who are selected to participate will engage with local chiefs and learn about Ghanaian customs. Then, students will break up into three tracks: education, waste man- agement, and health care and economic development. They will gain hands-on experience by teaching public speak- ing and reading at a rural school, help- ing Zoomlion solve a business problem, or working with the nonprofit African Rights International Initiative on health care concerns, financial literacy training and food systems planning. Aerward, as an entire group, they'll delve further into the country's history by visiting significant sites, in- cluding two former slave castles and Kakum National Park, and reflect on all they've learned. "Through this extraordinary trip, students will dig into their creative problem-solving skills to develop sys- tems that help a community thrive," says Tara Jabbaar-Gyambrah, senior as- sistant director, UB Honors College. During the program, students will keep a daily journal, complete a re- search project related to their chosen track, interview Ghanaian leaders and, ultimately, bring their ex- periences back to the School of Management by presenting at next year's DEAL Expo, a poster showcase held during UB's spring open house. "Our students will see challenges facing communities thou- sands of miles away, work to address them and then share their sto- ries with our community," Siaw-Asamoah says. "This experience is going to change their minds — and their hearts." x — Matthew Biddle [ ] " Education is the king of kings in Ghana. Wherever we went, the respect for education, and impact of education, was clear and inspiring." cynthia shore, Senior Assistant Dean and Director of Alumni Engagement and External Relations At left and above, children at the Bawaleshie School in Ghana. At top, Emelia Arthur, former advisor to the President of Ghana, with UB representatives Tara-Jeneil Fenton, Siaw-Asamoah and Shore outside the University of Ghana.

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