Global Sport Management Learning From Home: Expanding the International Sport Management Experience Through a Collaborative Class Project

Abstract

This article identifies an innovative solution to improve global sport management learning. Building on continued calls to include both experiential and international sport business curricula in the sport management classroom, this article shows how institutions from different countries can collaborate virtually to provide students with practical international perspectives through an applied sport globalization project. Findings from 30 American and 13 German student reflections were analyzed to reveal the project- and course-related outcomes through this collaborative class project between Ohio University (United States) and the University of Bayreuth (Germany). Students not only identified both soft skills and an appreciation of international sport business endeavors but also noted challenges like the logistics of communicating with groupmates abroad and the challenges within the assignment itself as they considered sport consumption abroad. Beyond the learning outcomes within the course, this article also explores program-level outcomes for the involved institutions and their sport management programs.