Program Overview
9
Days
6
Academic Engagements
31
Students
MBA students from James Madison University traveled to South Korea and Taiwan for a dynamic global business experience that combined industry exposure with meaningful cultural engagement. Developed in collaboration with WorldStrides, the program was designed to deepen students’ understanding of international strategy while highlighting the role culture plays in shaping business practices.
Starting in Seoul, students dove into Korea’s rich history with an immersive tour of palaces, a traditional village museum, and Gwangjang Market, the largest traditional marketplace in the country.
Firmly grounded in Korea’s past, the cohort then explored its future with an academic engagement at the Samsung global headquarters. Students met with leaders for a Q&A, exploring how business and culture intersect at Korea’s largest conglomerate. The visit offered a valuable look at one of the nation’s most influential brands and highlighted how Korea’s past continues to shape its present and future.
Moving from technology to textiles, the students then paid a visit to Hansoll Textile, an industry leader in Korea for exporting knit textile apparel. Students met with the Business Division Vice President to discuss topics ranging from global leadership to the challenges of achieving a sustainable textile practice on a global scale. They also received a preview of emerging fashion trends through shared future‑focused insights.
The access we had to executives, cultural experiences, and local perspectives in South Korea and Taiwan gave me a broader worldview and a deep er understanding of international business. Visiting Hansoll was a highlight, especially getting to meet the designers behind the clothing I bought and connect more personally with the company’s work.
Jeff Barrett
MBA Student
The second half of the program was spent in Taipei, Taiwan for a series of academic engagements focusing on technology and innovation. Students took a showroom tour at United Microelectronics Corporation, followed by an open discussion with UMC’s Senior Director focused on public affairs and corporate communications. They then met with two of Taiwan’s top semiconductor manufacturers—an industry for which Taiwan is globally renowned—and concluded with a visit to the TSMC Museum, exploring the company’s history and experiencing its interactive virtual‑reality exhibit.
An academic highlight of the program was a visit to the 2026 Smart City Summit & Expo, where international city leaders, stakeholders, and innovators came together to explore digital and green transformation across a range of smart city industries.
WorldStrides’ partner, the Industrial Technology Research Institute, was presenting at the Summit and extended an exclusive tour to the JMU cohort, with a particular focus on the ADI (Administration for Digital Industries) Pavilion. The exhibits there ranged from AI-enabled healthcare and wellness systems to sustainable smart infrastructure, precision agriculture, and cross-industry AI platforms.
The cohort closed out their time in Taiwan with a slew of cultural activities including a walk through Yehliu Geopark, a skylantern release, and a visit to Shifen Waterfall, the Niagara Falls of Taiwan.
Exploring the business landscape of two East Asian countries allowed the James Madison University MBA students to expanded their global outlook and deepen their understanding of how business operates across different cultural landscapes .
The JMU MBA international residency in South Korea and Taiwan could not have been better. We also used WorldStrides to arrange our business visits, and students raved about the opportunity to meet with executives from a diverse set of organizations. The experience could not have been better.
Matt Rutherford
Director of MBA Programs
A look inside the program
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