University of Virginia (Darden) Wins 2025 MBA Best In Class Award for Student Immersions

Picture this: by the spring term, you could be trekking across an Icelandic glacier, navigating the vibrant innovation hubs of Rwanda, or connecting with startup founders in Tel Avivall integrated into your MBA journey. At the Darden School of Business, international immersion isnt optional; it is an essential part of the curriculum.

Students engage in global business firsthand, spending a fully funded week abroad in locations that challenge their assumptions and broaden their perspectives. This opportunity is supported by the Batten Foundation Darden Worldwide Scholarship, fueled by a $15 million endowment from the Batten Foundation and matched by UVAs Bicentennial Scholars Fund, ensuring every full-time MBA student can participate without extra cost. Previously, these programs could cost roughly $3,000 per student, but now they are a standard component of the Darden experience.

The scale of the program is impressive. After pandemic-related restrictions lifted, over 300 full-time MBA students traveled to 11 countries in a single March term, guided by 22 faculty and staff members. These faculty-led courses combine company visits, executive briefings, and cultural exploration, offering immersive, academically structured experiences rather than simple sightseeing.

Recent destinations have included Italy for luxury and export studies, Iceland for renewable energy, Spain for design and creativity, Germany for technology and AI, and Sweden and Finland for sustainable entrepreneurship. Newer additions such as Costa Rica, Estonia, Rwanda, and Israel focus on themes like ecotourism, digital innovation, and ESG strategy. Each immersion revolves around a central question: how do businesses thrive within the context of local markets, regulations, and cultures? Students prepare in Charlottesville and then spend a week abroad engaging with executives, policymakers, and local operations, turning travel into a concentrated learning experience.

The Executive MBA program mirrors this approach on a broader scale. EMBA students participate in multi-country residencies covering destinations such as Chile, Morocco, Spain, Australia, Germany, South Korea, Argentina, Ghana, India, Israel, Vietnam, and Finland. Each residency addresses three key questions: what it is like to do business in, with, and for the host country, emphasizing practical application over theory.

Darden faculty design these courses to integrate academic preparation with on-site exploration. For example, energy markets might be studied in Iceland, where students examine geothermal systems, or in Sweden, observing green transition policies. Marketing might be explored in Barcelona through its combination of art, commerce, and design. Each location serves a specific educational purpose.

Flexibility is a key strength of the program. With multiple immersions offered each year, students can select destinations and topics aligned with their career paths. Those targeting consulting might focus on emerging markets or ESG initiatives, while future tech leaders might explore AI ecosystems abroad. This customization enhances the real-world relevance of the experience.

Reflection is integral to the learning process. After returning to Charlottesville, students debrief, write assessments, and present insights, transforming international experiences into lessons in leadership, ethics, and global awareness.

Before the Batten Foundation funding, only a fraction of students could participate in international programs. Today, global immersion is a defining feature of the Darden MBA, providing fully funded, high-impact learning led by the same professors who teach in the classroom. It is inclusive, scalable, and embedded in the programs culture.

In 2025, Darden clearly stands out in student global immersions. No other top business school offers such accessible, academically rigorous international learning experiences tied directly to leadership development. With full funding, faculty-led instruction, and destinations spanning Iceland to India, Dardens model redefines what a world-class MBA can offer. At its core, the program cultivates responsible, globally aware leaders, ensuring students return with more than a passport stampthey gain insight into how culture, values, and leadership intersect across the world.

Author: Olivia Parker