Making Impacts
in Mexico
The Global Career Launch Program in Oaxaca, Mexico is an innovative comprehensive global internship framework for undergraduate and graduate students to engage in high-impact work abroad.
Global Career Launch: Oaxaca, Mexico
International work experience develops important skills, builds resumes, and expands professional networks. This six-week internship with Tejiendo Alianzas (“Weaving Partnerships”), a Mexican non-governmental organization, will give future business leaders an opportunity to collaborate with local entrepreneurs and help resolve challenges faced by rural enterprises. Tejiendo Alianzas works with residents of rural communities who have limited economic resources to co-create and incubate sustainable micro-businesses, leading to more employment in Oaxacan communities.
As part of this internship, you will work directly with DAVA Artisan Design, a cooperative of 15 Zapotec women from the San Dionisio Ocotepec community who make high-quality handmade sandals and shoes. In partnership with DAVA, students will:
- Observe business operations and identify primary challenges
- Propose and share ideas for solutions, to be evaluated by DAVA
- Test and evaluate selected solutions
- Assess the final results of solutions
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At a Glance
Program Dates: June 12 – July 24, 2023
Application Deadlines:- Priority Deadline - November 15, 2022
- Standard Deadline - January 15, 2023
Eligibility: UT Undergraduate Students
Cost: Around $2,035*- *Additional Scholarships may be Available
Program Highlights
With the supervision and guidance of Tejiendo Alianzas, Texas McCombs MBA students, and Executive-in-Residence and Lecturer, Jeff Mihm, undergraduates will see first-hand how innovation knows no borders, how cultural heritage and traditions adapt to satisfy modern market trends, and how crafted products are paving the way for the economic and social development of local communities.
In addition to an unforgettable experience, students may also participate in the following excursions and activities:
- Monte Alban
- Teotitlan del Valle natural dyes and rug tour
- Santiago Suchilquitongo to visit Xuchil Natural Products
- Tlacolula market
- Visit Casa Martinez to learn about the importance of mezcal production in the community
- Visit Tia Mago to learn about local chocolate production
- Cooking class with Doña Clara on how to make tortillas, quesadillas, memelitas
- Visit the 250-year-old Ex-Hacienda Guadalupe to learn about the Oaxifornia project working with artisans all over Mexico
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Apply what you’ve learned in the classroom to the real world
Collaborate with local entrepreneurs to resolve business issues by developing and testing solutions that can inform the future development of the company. -
Learn about creative and collaborative problem solving
from McCombs School of Business Executive-in-Residence Jeff Mihm, non-profit Tejiendo Alianzas ("Weaving Partnerships"), and DAVA Artisan Design. -
Set yourself apart from other job candidates
with this global business experience on your resume. -
Gain and practice intercultural skills
by working with local entrepreneurs in Oaxaca, Mexico. Research shows that in today’s global marketplace, employers place a high premium on cultural literacy and intercultural skills, as much as or more than technical skills or expertise. -
Experience the diverse cultures of Oaxaca, Mexico
taste its seven varieties of mole, chat with locals over a cup of hot chocolate, observe the mastery of an artisan using a waist loom, pedal loom, or embroidering by hand, and maybe even dance a jarabe! -
Learn about pressing issues such as poverty and migration
caused mostly by the lack of economic development in the state, and how crafted products are paving the way for the economic and social development of local communities.
Contact Us to Apply
If you have any questions or would like to apply, please email Rebekah Junkermeier.
FAQs
Who is eligible for this program?
All undergraduates are eligible to apply. 5-8 students will be selected. Candidates with the following experience will be strongly considered:
- Working with startups
- Intermediate Spanish ability or experience working with Spanish speakers
- Working with indigenous communities
- Working in supply chain management positions
- Working in professional operations
- Working in multicultural settings
- Collective problem solving
- Working in economic development
What is the financial obligation for this program?
The estimated financial obligation is about $6,035 total – $4,000 GCL Scholarship = $2,035 per student*
*Additional Scholarships may be available.
Do I need to apply for the Global Career Launch Scholarship?
No, you do not need to apply. Every student who is selected for the program will receive the $4,000 Global Career Launch Scholarship.
When and how will l receive the Global Career Launch Scholarship?
Students should receive their GCL scholarship after they are fully approved to travel, generally about 2 months prior to their departure. It will be directly deposited into the account they have on file with UT, and they can check the status through Where's My Check.
What will a typical day be like?
Where will I stay during the Global Career Launch internship?
Students will stay with vetted local families in homestays in San Dionisio Ocotepec. This experience will immerse students in Oaxacan culture and way of life. Each home offers simple accommodations and amenities (such as an area for storing clothing and toiletries and a side table), with a shared home bathroom and rooms exclusively for students(some single, some shared with other students). Though meals will be prepared by local families, students will have access to a kitchen and refrigerator as well. All homes are within walking distance of the worksite. This is an example of the general style of the spaces available for students, though most of them will have two beds instead of one.
How will I do my laundry?
In the community, your host family or you can choose to wash and dry your clothes. Some families have washing machines, others wash by hand. All clothes are hang-dried.
Will transportation to and from the airport be provided?
Yes, Tejiendo Alianzas (TA) will pick students up from Xoxocotlán International Airport (OAX) in Oaxaca City on Monday, June 12 if arriving before 7:00 pm. The last day of program activities is Sunday, July 23. Airport drop-off at Xoxocotlán International Airport (OAX) in Oaxaca City is provided on Monday, July 24 (anytime).
Faculty Sponsor
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Jeff Mihm
The faculty sponsor for this trip will be Jeff Mihm, McCombs School of Business Executive-in-Residence. He served as the Chief Executive Officer and Director at Noven Pharmaceuticals, a leading developer of transdermal prescription patches. He is now teaching international business and strategy at the McCombs School of Business at UT Austin.