Learn Beyond the Classroom
At the Department of Management, learning doesn't stop when class ends.
Experiential Learning connects academic knowledge with real-world practice, giving students opportunities to apply concepts, solve business challenges, build professional networks, and gain the confidence to lead in a rapidly changing world.
Whether you're developing career-ready skills, working with industry professionals, competing in case competitions, exploring international landscapes, or gaining workplace experience through internships and co-op opportunities, experiential learning helps transform your education into action.
Why Experiential Learning?
Experiential learning allows students to:
- Apply management theories to real business challenges
- Develop leadership, communication, and teamwork skills
- Build meaningful professional networks
- Explore career pathways and industries
- Gain practical workplace experience
- Strengthen their resumes and graduate school applications
- Develop the confidence to make an impact in their communities and organizations
Challenge ideas. Build experience. Shape your future.
Our Experiential Learning Opportunities
The Department of Management offers a robust suite of opportunities for you to engage in hands-on learning, both inside and outside the classroom.
Professional Skills Development Program
Success in today's workplace requires more than technical knowledge. Employers seek graduates who can communicate effectively, collaborate across teams, think critically, and adapt to change.
The Professional Skills Development Program (PDSP) helps Department of Management students develop the professional competencies that support long-term career success. Through workshops, networking opportunities, industry engagement, and skill-building activities, students gain practical experience that complements their academic studies.
Key Benefits to PDSP:
- Professional communication skills
- Leadership development
- Networking opportunities
- Career readiness training
- Industry engagement
- Personal and professional growth
MGT480 Internship Course
Turn Experience into Academic Credit! The MGT480 Internship Course allows students to integrate meaningful workplace experience with academic reflection and learning.
Through approved internships, students gain first-hand exposure to professional environments while developing a deeper understanding of management theory in practice. Students learn how organizations operate, contribute to real projects, and reflect on the skills and insights gained through their work experience.
Through MGT480, students can:
- Gain hands-on industry experience
- Connect classroom learning to professional practice
- Develop workplace competencies
- Expand professional networks
- Reflect on career goals and professional growth
Co-op Education
Launch Your Career Before Graduation. Co-op education offers students the opportunity to alternate academic study with paid work experiences in a range of industries and organizations.
Through structured work-integrated learning, students gain valuable professional experience, strengthen their resumes, and develop a deeper understanding of their chosen career paths before graduation.
Co-op experiences help students graduate with practical skills, professional connections, and greater confidence as they enter the workforce. Co-op education is managed at UTM through the UTM CoOp Internship Experiential Education Unit.
Benefits of Co-op
- Paid work experience
- Career exploration
- Industry connections
- Professional skill development
- Enhanced career readiness
- Competitive advantage after graduation
Executive in Residence Programs
Learn from Accomplished Business Leaders. The Executive-in-Residence Program brings experienced industry leaders into the Department of Management, creating opportunities for students to engage directly with accomplished professionals.
Executives share insights from their careers, discuss emerging business challenges, provide mentorship, and help students understand how leadership is practiced across industries.
These interactions offer valuable perspectives that cannot be found in textbooks alone.
Students can:
- Attend guest talks and workshops
- Participate in mentoring opportunities
- Gain industry insights
- Learn from diverse leadership experiences
- Expand professional networks
Global Learning Experiences
Discover Business Without Borders. Business today is global. Our international learning opportunities allow students to experience different cultures, economies, and business environments firsthand.
Faculty-led international courses and study opportunities provide immersive learning experiences that challenge students to think differently, broaden their perspectives, and develop the global mindset needed to succeed in an interconnected world.
From examining sustainability initiatives abroad to exploring international markets and management practices, students gain experiences that extend far beyond the classroom.
Global learning helps students:
- Develop intercultural competence
- Understand global business environments
- Build international networks
- Strengthen adaptability and leadership skills
- Experience learning in new contexts
Company Field Trips
See Business in Action. Company visits provide students with behind-the-scenes access to organizations across industries.
These experiences allow students to observe workplace culture, learn about organizational operations, meet professionals, and gain insight into potential career paths.
Field trips bridge the gap between theory and practice by showing how management concepts are applied in real-world settings.
Students may:
- Tour corporate offices and facilities
- Meet industry professionals
- Learn about emerging trends
- Explore diverse career opportunities
- Ask questions directly to business leaders
Case Competitions
Solve Real Challenges. Showcase Your Talent. Case competitions challenge students to analyze complex business problems, develop strategic recommendations, and present solutions to panels of judges and industry professionals.
Through these experiences, students strengthen critical thinking, teamwork, communication, and problem-solving skills while applying what they have learned in the classroom.
Whether competing internally or representing the Department externally, students develop confidence and experience that stands out to employers.
Benefits include:
- Real-world business problem-solving
- Team-based learning
- Presentation experience
- Industry exposure
- Leadership development
- Professional recognition
Student Success Starts with Experience
The most meaningful learning happens when knowledge meets action.
The Department of Management's experiential learning opportunities empower students to explore, create, collaborate, and lead. From internships and co-op placements to global experiences and industry engagement, students gain the skills, confidence, and experiences needed to thrive in an increasingly complex world.
Ready to take the next step?
Explore our experiential learning opportunities and start building the experiences that will shape your future. Connect with staff in the Professional Development Learning Center to set up a 1:1 meeting to plan your experiences. Visit UTMMCentral to book!