Students from Salford Business School recently took part in an international entrepreneurship programme hosted by Aston University.
A group of 15 students from the MSc Entrepreneurship and Innovation programme and the Global Business Challenge were selected to participate in the five-day Team4Learning experience in Birmingham. The initiative forms part of the School’s commitment to internationalisation at home, giving students the opportunity to work alongside peers from across the world without leaving the UK.
Organised by Aston Team Academy, Team4Learning brings together students from a global network of entrepreneurial institutions to collaborate, compete and learn in a live business environment. Throughout the week, Salford students worked in international teams with participants from across Europe and the USA, developing intercultural competence and building global professional networks.
The programme combined coaching sessions, consultancy-style business challenges and competitive activities, including a pitching competition and live client challenge where students worked in international teams to develop and present solutions to real business problems. Alongside the academic and enterprise-focused elements, students also took part in social and cultural activities designed to build connections and enhance intercultural understanding, including networking events and informal team activities.
One of the participating students, Junior Nyanga, described the experience as both inspiring and transformative: “I was surrounded by bright, entrepreneurial, and like-minded people full of creativity, hunger, and drive. What stood out most for me was how practical and action-oriented the students were. There was less talking about ideas and more actually building, testing, pitching, and creating value.”
Reflecting on the activities that had the biggest impact, Junior added: “The business challenge and simulation experience really stood out for me. What I found fascinating was seeing undergraduate students developing startup ideas and presenting with the confidence and clarity of seasoned entrepreneurs. It felt like a very practical and modern approach to education – learning by doing, collaborating, and adapting in real time.”
The programme was led by Dr Ambarin Khan, Programme Lead for MSc Entrepreneurship and Innovation, and supported by Ryan Merrick, who accompanied students throughout the week. Highlighting the importance of providing students with opportunities to engage in global learning experiences, Ambarin said: “Team4Learning gives our students the chance to experience entrepreneurship in a genuinely international setting. Over the week, they worked closely with students from different countries, tackled live business challenges, and learned how to communicate, adapt and solve problems in diverse teams. Experiences like this help students build confidence and develop practical skills that will support them in their future careers.”
Dr Tahir Rashid, Associate Dean International at Salford Business School, added: “This initiative reflects Salford Business School’s commitment to providing accessible, globally connected learning experiences for our students. Through Team4Learning, we are embedding internationalisation at the heart of the curriculum, enabling our students to collaborate across cultures, tackle real-world challenges and develop the skills, confidence and global outlook needed to thrive in an increasingly complex and interconnected world.”
For many students, the experience provided an opportunity to apply their knowledge beyond the classroom while developing key skills in teamwork, communication and problem solving. Working with peers from different cultural and academic backgrounds encouraged new perspectives and approaches to complex challenges.
The initiative reflects the School’s ongoing focus on enhancing student experience through industry-relevant, globally connected learning opportunities. By engaging with international partners and live business scenarios, students are better prepared for the demands of an increasingly interconnected and fast-changing world of work.