Incoming IBP Students Represent Diverse Cohort

The Master of Arts in International Business and Policy (MA-IBP) class at McDonough began this January, bringing in 48 students from a variety of diverse backgrounds. The cohort consists of dedicated working professionals who are committed to building their international relations and business skills through leadership and collaboration among a diverse group of peers. 

Underrepresented minority students encompass 19% of the overall class, with representation of women continuing to near gender parity, up 3% to 42% from 2020. 

“Ensuring we build diverse classes across all of our programs has been at the forefront of our initiatives to create a more inclusive community at McDonough and in the business world,” said Nita Swinsick, assistant dean of recruitment and admissions for Executive and Specialized Degree programs. “The depth of experiences and backgrounds of this cohort will enhance the learning opportunities these students receive, preparing them to create change toward a more diverse and equitable society.” 

Despite challenges international students face as a result of the pandemic, they represent 25% of the class and hail from seven countries outside of the U.S., including Belgium, Colombia, Dominican Republic, France, Netherlands, South Korea, and Turkey. Students are represented across 13 different nationalities, and 92% of the students have entered the program with a prior international experience. Across the cohort, 21 different languages are spoken, an increase from the 19 languages in 2020. 21% of the students also come from a prior military background.

The average age of IBP students this year is 34, with an average number of years of full-time work and managerial experience at 10 and eight, respectively.