Business students must have a global perspective to participate international partnerships and assignments because today’s companies aren’t confined to a building, city or even a country.

“To be successful in business and life, our students must improve their understanding of other countries and cultures,” said Laura Meade, professor of supply chain practice and director of international programs for the Neeley School of Business.

Mia Dinh, Marcelo Isart and Garrett Adair took to heart Meade’s perspective when they created a new student program, which originated as a leadership class project.

“When I first came to the U.S. to attend TCU three years ago, it was my first time out of Asia,” said Dinh, an accounting major. “I was overwhelmed, lost and very intimidated. Over time I realized that a lot of other international students were facing similar struggles.”

Dinh’s outgoing nature helped her overcome culture shock, but she knew more introverted international students might not adapt as easily. “They tend to stick to friends from their own countries, and that prevents them from picking up the language, communication skills, slang,” she said. “It is one of the reasons it is difficult for them when applying for jobs and internships.”

Dinh, Isart and Adair approached the student organization, Beyond Borders, with the idea for a student-to-student program. The campus organization, which formed in 2012, connects incoming international students with faculty and staff members.

In the student-to-student program, called Beyond Borders Students, “we group our members into trios that consists of an American buddy, an upperclassman international buddy and a younger international buddy​,” said Dinh. “We encourage trios to meet on their own, and we also organize monthly social events.”

At the TCU Intercultural Banquet in April, Beyond Borders was designated the Outstanding Student Organization, and Dinh received the Campus Impact Award. “It is rewarding to see something you did as part of classwork become a part of TCU,” she said.