A student stands inside Manchester United’s Old Trafford Stadium, speaking with industry professionals about how sport shapes global culture and equity. Another navigates the halls of international justice in The Hague, while others collaborate with innovators in Silicon Valley on ethical technology solutions. These experiences go far beyond traditional classroom learning—and they reflect the kind of global, hands-on preparation today’s students need to thrive in an increasingly interconnected world.

At Ursinus College, that preparation is becoming more accessible than ever. As part of its tuition-inclusive APEX experience—applied, professional, experiential—the college is launching a new series of short-term, faculty-led global career exploration programs open to students across all majors and designed to fit seamlessly into the academic calendar. These programs offer students the opportunity to either partner with globally focused companies in the United States or travel abroad to gain international exposure.

“This is about helping students see themselves as professionals in a global context,” said Rebecca Lyczak, associate dean of undergraduate studies. “By engaging directly with employers and organizations beyond campus, students gain confidence, clarity, and a clearer sense of how their education connects to a meaningful life after graduation.”

Known collectively as Go Global, the programs are anchored in Ursinus’ eight APEX Innovation Hubs and emphasize hands-on learning that connects academic study directly to career pathways. Through site visits, engagement with global professionals, and guided reflection, students develop transferable skills such as communication, problem-solving, adaptability, and intercultural competence—skills increasingly valued by employers across industries.

Building on Ursinus’ nationally recognized “Open Questions” curriculum, Go Global extends the college’s innovative liberal arts approach. Ursinus students practice critical thinking, dialogue across differences, and intercultural communication in a wide range of challenging courses. Go Global deepens these durable skills through experiential learning.

While locations will vary year to year, a wide range of immersive experiences that highlight how global challenges and opportunities play out in different professional and cultural contexts will be offered. Each experience is tied to one of the college’s APEX Innovation Hubs, which can be conceptually grouped into three interconnected themes: Society, Justice, and Leadership; Technology, Science, and the Common Good; and Culture, Expression, and Human Connection. Together, these hubs frame real-world opportunities that explore how global challenges and opportunities unfold across professional and cultural contexts.

For example, through the Sport and Humanity Hub, students may travel to the United Kingdom to step inside Manchester United Football Club’s Old Trafford Stadium—an iconic venue where global icons have played and inspired millions. Students will explore sport as a force that shapes culture, identity, equity, media, and opportunity. Through behind-the-scenes access, conversations with professionals, and hands-on learning in the spaces where history is made, students will examine how sport operates on a global stage.

Through the Civic Spark: Policy and Democracy Hub and the Melrose Hub for Global Leadership, students may examine how international law shapes global stability in The Hague, the Netherlands—the world’s capital of global diplomacy.

Some experiences will take place domestically. Through the Building a Humane Digital World Hub, for example, students may travel to Silicon Valley to collaborate with innovators focused on designing ethical technology for global social impact.

No matter where students travel or which Innovation Hub their program is tied to, the goal remains the same: to help students clarify their career aspirations and gain meaningful professional experience. “The programs will help students strengthen their résumés with real-world experience and develop the global perspective employers increasingly expect,” said Paula Alvarez Tames, director of international programs. “At the same time, students gain valuable insight into careers that make a global difference.”

Lyczak added, “This experience will transform students’ understanding of what’s possible in their professional and personal lives. By engaging directly with real-world challenges and global partners—whether in the United States or abroad—students expand their perspectives, deepen their skills, and gain the confidence to pursue meaningful work anywhere in the world.”

Through Go Global, Ursinus College is redefining career preparation as an immersive, accessible, and globally connected experience—deeply embedded in its mission to develop independent, responsible, and thoughtful leaders equipped to thrive in an interdependent world.

For more information, visit ursinus.edu.