�������

Introducing students to sustainable business practices was the aim of acourse that brought students from Canada and Mexico to Dominican University this semester.

Developing Next-Generational Leadership Mindset is a course designed by Dr. Anjali Chaudhry, professor of management. It is a collaborative online international learning experience (also known as COIL) between Dominican students and students from St. Mary’s University in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada and Universidad Anáhuac in Mexico City, Mexico.

A key objective of the class is to provide students with the confidence and skills necessary to be leaders in combating climate change, Chaudhry said.

A one-time grant from the U.S. Department of State’s Partners of the Americas 100K Strong competition made it possible for the international students to spend a week in the Chicago area in February. The students visited �����о���’s River Forest campus, connected with their online classmates, and toured companies like Wintrust, TOP Pallets and Pepper Construction to see up close how each has adopted sustainable, environment-friendly practices. TOP Pallets, for example, repurposes pallet materials for new pallets or completely different products, resulting in minimal waste, according to a paper compiled by the students.

“Together, we explored innovative climate action strategies and discussed our roles as next-generation leaders in driving sustainability,” noted Dominican student Jasmine Cosio.

The week of in-person experiences and hands-on learning also allowed the students to “step out of their comfort zones and create meaningful connections with peers from different countries and backgrounds,” Chaudhry said.