This summer, a group of students and faculty from the Romain College of Business had the opportunity to travel to Croatia for a Study Abroad trip involving two unique courses.
Led by Dr. Cristina Gilstrap, Associate Professor of Business Communication, and Dr. Curt Gilstrap, Professor of Business Communication, five students–Will Fardig, Emily Lang, Madisyn McIntosh, Zac Thomason and Carson Treadway–spent two weeks abroad from May 24 to June 7 visiting locations across Croatia. The trip was paired with two summer courses—Destination Promotions and Leading Organizations: Lessons from Game of Thrones.
The beautiful sights of Croatia provided the perfect backdrop for the Destination Promotions course, which emphasized the importance of collaboration, market research and the integration of technology in enhancing the competitiveness of destinations. And, home to several locations that were primary filming locations for the Game of Thrones TV series, it made perfect sense to host a course exploring leadership principles and practices through the lens of the popular series and how to apply those lessons in a corporate organizational landscape.
“The destinations blended perfectly with our classwork,” said Will Fardig. “Discussing the actions and values of leaders within the show and how they can be learned from in the real world while we were in the very places Game of Thrones was filmed made for an unforgettable experience–one I know I won't find anywhere else.”
While in Croatia, the group visited many locations, including the cities of Split and Dubrovnik, and the island of Trogir, all primary filming locations for Game of Thrones. They also had the opportunity to tour Diocletian’s Palace and Rector’s Palace, hike up Marjan Hill, snorkel and swim in the crystal-clear waters of the Adriatic Sea, participate in a honey and olive oil tasting and other activities, including trying the cuisine of Croatia and exploring the architecture and scenic views.
Students were grateful to learn a variety of important lessons from both the classes and the two-week visit.
“Croatia boasts indescribably beautiful scenery and experiences. Thanks to this study abroad experience, I've gained multiple lifelong assets: knowledge from the course and some of my happiest memories,” said Emily Lang. “After all, who wouldn't want to learn lifelong skills with the exquisite country of Croatia as their classroom?”
With the Fall Semester underway, the Gilstraps are hopeful these summer courses provided students with new insight as they approach graduation and careers.
“Through discussions and reflective exercises, they developed stronger communication skills, identified leadership strengths, and built a personal leadership development plan. As a result, they returned to campus with sharper skills in teamwork, conflict management, problem-solving and adaptability, practical tools that will benefit them as students at USI and later in their professional careers,” said Dr. Cristina Gilstrap.
Dr. Curt Gilstrap added, “My hope is they return to campus with sharper skills in collaboration, research and creative problem-solving—abilities that will strengthen their academic work at USI and serve them well in the future.”
View a gallery of photos from the trip, here.
