Ashley Nobles, a senior studying management and international business (IB) at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Haslam College of Business, dreams of building a global career.
This summer, Kingsport, Tennessee, native is spending her days in Spain as a product development intern with luxury travel company Made for Spain & Portugal. From collaborating with suppliers to helping develop new travel experiences, she’s gaining firsthand insight into Spanish business practices while building the professional skills that will shape her future.
Nobles is one of a growing number of Haslam students gaining work experience through the college’s expanding international internship program. During the 2025-2026 academic year, 106 students completed full-time, eight-week international internships abroad, up from 79 the previous year. This 34 percent one-year increase reflects Haslam’s continued investment in preparing students for careers in the global marketplace.
“I have been interested in studying international business for years, though it didn’t always seem attainable,” Nobles says. “When I found out about internships abroad, that interest became a reality. With the internship numbers increasing, it’s now more possible than ever for other students to gain life-changing, real-world international experience.”
Through strategic partnerships, the college’s International Programs and Study Abroad (IPSA) office has helped expand students’ access to a diverse network of employers, industries and destinations, providing opportunities that align with their academic interests and career aspirations. Last year, Haslam students interned in 13 countries across Europe and Asia with organizations including Reefknot Investments in Singapore, J-Global Inc. in Japan and AV Investor in Spain. These experiences provide meaningful professional development while strengthening students’ confidence, adaptability and cross-cultural business skills.
Scholarships Open Doors to Global Experience
As IPSA grows its international internship program, scholarships make these experiences more accessible to students. An $84,000 grant from the Freeman Foundation supported students pursuing internships in East Asia, with 13 students receiving funding during the 2025-2026 academic year. UT is one of only three dozen U.S. institutions to receive a Freeman Foundation award, funds assistant dean for International Programs and Partnerships Sara Easler says will help the college expand its links in Asia
“We are profoundly thankful to the Freeman Foundation for its support,” says Easler. “With our students gaining ground-level experience with East Asian economies through their internships, our connections to the region grow and deepen.”
For Spencer Marvel, a senior double majoring in marketing and IB, the scholarship made studying abroad and working an internship in South Korea a reality.
“I’m so grateful to the Freeman Foundation for making this experience possible,” Marvel says. “Living and studying in Seoul has already taught me so much, and I’m really excited to start my internship and experience Korean business culture firsthand. I’m looking forward to learning from the people I work with, challenging myself in a new environment and making the most of this incredible opportunity.”
In addition to the Freeman Foundation grant, IPSA continues to expand internship access through college funding and generous private donors, helping more students pursue experiences that might otherwise be financially unattainable.
Matching Students with Meaningful Global Experiences
The success of Haslam’s international internship program isn’t measured simply by the number of students who go abroad; it’s also reflected in how thoughtfully each student is matched with an organization where they can grow professionally and personally.
IPSA works closely with trusted international partners to identify internship opportunities that align with students’ academic interests, career aspirations and professional skill sets. Students complete a thorough application process before interviewing directly with prospective host organizations, ensuring both the student and employer have an opportunity to determine the fit of the placement.
“Haslam partners with respected third-party providers around the globe with well-established employer networks,” Easler explains. “Applicants are vetted by both Haslam and the third-party providers, ensuring students have access to meaningful placements as well as arranging their housing, organized local cultural excursions and other activities, as well as on-the-ground support and pastoral care.”
While every internship experience is unique, the careful placement process helps augment the value of each opportunity. Students are challenged with relevant responsibilities that complement their coursework while gaining exposure to different workplace cultures, business practices and industries. The result is an experience that not only strengthens their resumes but also prepares them to succeed in an increasingly global business environment.
Academic and Professional Benefits
To help students maximize the value of their international internships, participants enroll in a faculty-mentored course that integrates their workplace experiences with academic learning. Throughout the semester, students examine concepts such as intercultural competence, cross-cultural communication, management and organizational behavior, applying what they learn to analyze and reflect on their experiences abroad.
“Students share their internship experiences in class discussions, giving their peers valuable insight into how international business is practiced across different companies, industries and cultures,” Easler says. “The experience also expands students’ professional networks globally, and their outstanding work raises Haslam’s international profile.”
As international internship opportunities continue to grow, Easler hopes even more students will consider taking the leap.
“Integration into a work environment abroad facilitates an unmatched learning opportunity, where students are growing, not only professionally in multicultural and multigenerational spaces, but also in their independence and confidence,” she says.
Main image: Spencer Marvel, bottom right, joins here fellow interns for their first day of work at Obze Korea Inc.
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Students interested in learning more about international internships can explore available opportunities through IPSA’s program options website.
CONTACT:
Scott McNutt, senior business writer/publicist, [email protected]
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