This summer, a group of nine G. Brint Ryan College of Business students traveled to Dublin, Ireland for the Faculty-Led International Study Abroad Internship program, led by Dr. Tracy Dietz.

Emma Swartz, a Business Integrated Studies Major with a focus in accounting and finance, provided an inside scoop about her internship with a Dublin-based non-profit.

Where is your internship this summer, and what are you responsible for?

Vita Impact is an Irish development company that works to provide sustainability and adaptability strategies for communities in Africa. I am responsible for organizing files and centralizing documentation in SharePoint. Additionally, I assisted in creating BI codes for company transactions and in analyzing transactions for a VAT rebate. I have gained skills in communication, organization, and professional writing that I can apply to upcoming courses and my future career.

What are some concepts or skills learned in your UNT business courses that you applied during your internship?

As a Business Integrated Studies major with concentrations in Accounting and Finance, I have used numerous skills from my courses during my internship. I have applied skills from BUSI 3660, Professional Speaking, Writing, and Presenting, to effectively communicate with my supervisors and create professional documentation for company usage. To add, I have used skills from my accounting courses to comprehend the financials of the company in my assigned work. Overall, I have been able to apply my classroom knowledge to a professional work environment, allowing me to grow my experience in professional business.

How did your professors and academic advisors in the College of Business support you in preparation for the internship, and what advice would you give to future students interested in international internships?

Professor Dietz has truly made this experience so enjoyable. Because this was my first time out of the country, she helped with a smooth transition to studying and working abroad. Additionally, Haley Arnold, the Facility Led Programs Advisor, was extremely helpful in the application process. To any future students interested in international internships, my advice is to go for it! Interning abroad has helped me grow both personally and professionally in ways that I did not expect. I am so grateful for this experience and all of the professors and advisors who helped me get here.

Professor Dietz had the opportunity to speak with Emma’s supervisor about the program and hear about her time at Vita Impact.

Unprompted, the first thing he said about Emma was the college “should be very proud of the accomplished, thoughtful young professional she is”. He said he could tell she “knew her stuff” because of thoughtful questions, comments, and her ability to use critical thinking in the context of the organization. He specifically stated that unlike many recent graduates they had hired, she did not require a recipe for how to do something—her education and her ability to think strategically set her up on the path of success.

Of UNT and the G. Brint Ryan College of Business, he said, “Your college is doing something very right.”