Students gain global business perspectives during embedded course trip to Greece

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — This past May, Penn State students embarked on a weeklong trip to Greece as a part of a labor and human resources embedded program, Comparative Labor and Human Resources: The Greek Experience, through the College of the Liberal Arts.

Fourteen students in LHR 499 explored comparative labor relations and human resource policies between the United States and Greece. The trip was led by Mark Gough, associate professor of labor and employment relations, and Dorothea Roumpi, LER Alumni Endowed Early Career Professor and assistant professor of human resource management.

“Studying abroad promises to open doors to new cultures, ideas and opportunities, enriching your academic journey in profound ways and making you a more globally aware individual. This trip was no exception,” Gough said.

Roumpi said she was grateful for the privilege of being able to lead the students on the trip and for all the experiences they were able to pack into the week to help students make the most of the their time abroad.

“Our students had many opportunities to engage with the country’s history and culture,” Roumpi said.

Maggie Alesius, a third-year student majoring in labor and human resources and minoring in psychology, provided an in-depth look at some of the training students received while on the trip.

“We met with the students from the Athens University of Economics and Business,” Alesius said. “We split into groups and did different activities comparing human resources practices in America and Greece along with cultural differences.”

Along with visiting the university, students visited two Greek companies, Apivita and PeopleCert, to complete instructional activities and learn about employment at each organization.

“One activity was a faculty-led tour of Apivita, where we again broke into groups for specific assignments to present to the faculty and our group,” said Leena Morant, a graduate student pursuing a master’s degree in human resources and employment relations. “The following day, we visited PeopleCert, which included a presentation about the company and its human resource goals, followed by another group assignment.”

While the trip was primarily focused around developing students’ studies in labor and human resources, it also provided an incredibly unique opportunity to explore the cities of Greece. The students said being immersed in Greek culture was an unforgettable experience.

“One of my favorite memories was getting to spend an evening exploring the center of Athens,” Alesius said. “We went to an authentic restaurant in an alleyway, and the food was amazing.”

Additionally, students explored the numerous historic sites throughout Greece such as the Acropolis.

“My favorite memory from the trip was learning about the Acropolis and then seeing the ruins in person,” Morant said. “The view from the Acropolis, overlooking Athens, was breathtaking. Being in such an incredible place with amazing people was an unforgettable and grateful experience.”

Students remarked that this trip provided new perspectives to their academic and professional careers. They explained that getting to experience a new culture and gain a global perspective on their careers was an incredible opportunity.

“It was so amazing to connect with students from a different country,” Alesius said. “I learned so much about different human resource practices. I also learned so much about their culture, which has provided me with so many insights.”

“Experiencing a different culture in the context of human resources gave me a deeper understanding of global practices,” Morant added. “It solidified my aspiration to work in the field of human resources.”

Students said the trip would not have been possible without support from the College of the Liberal Arts and that faculty advising and enrichment funding were integral to ensuring their success during the trip.

“If you have the opportunity to study abroad, do it,” Alesius said. “There are so many funding opportunities available, so make sure to look into all your options. I was hesitant at first, but I am so glad I did it. It was an experience of a lifetime that I will remember forever.”

Gough added, “If you have even a remote desire to study abroad, please reach out to your academic advisers, faculty leaders, peers or staff at the study abroad office — you have a whole team to support you and help you navigate the various opportunities.”

Liberal Arts Career Enrichment Network

The Career Enrichment Network empowers Liberal Arts students to explore, engage and define their career journey through diverse career development opportunities. Students can meet with a career coach to explore careers, internships, education abroad, research, the Liberal Arts Alumni Mentor Program and more. Through donor support, the Career Enrichment Network provides Liberal Arts students the opportunity to apply for funding to help support participation in many of these experiences.