As a leader in experiential business education, Ivey provides HBA students with a valuable opportunity to become versed in global leadership through the Africa Service Learning (ASL) field course. The course was launched in 2012 through the Ubuntu Management Education Initiative and positions students as guest lecturers at a partner university in one of five African countries: Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Rwanda, and Tanzania.
To prepare for fieldwork, students attend a week-long crash course at Ivey’s main campus to learn how to teach introductory business using the case method. The trip allows participants to learn about the intersection of business and culture as they lead case classes and perform field research to develop an Ivey-quality teaching case as a capstone project.
Each participant completes the course with international business acumen and an abundance of life lessons. Here are some of the experiences shared by participants in this year’s trip.
Coby Harvey, HBA '26 candidate
A desire to travel and make connections between culture and business led Coby Harvey, an HBA ’26 candidate, to enrol in the ASL course. Before going to Tanzania, Harvey recalls Ivey faculty member Lameck Osinde offering the students one piece of advice: “You have to do everything that you can to have the best experience possible.”
And that’s exactly what Harvey did.
After three weeks of teaching at St. Augustine University, Harvey went on safari in Serengeti National Park, skydived, and even climbed Mount Kilimanjaro with fellow HBA student, Elan Pedersen. But the true highlight of the trip was the spontaneous charitable initiative his learning group organized to support a local middle school.
After visiting the school and noticing a significant lack of resources, Harvey and his learning group felt compelled to help. They reached out to fellow classmates, friends, and family for donations and raised $5,000 in less than a week – more than double the amount needed to purchase basic supplies like notebooks, pencils, rulers, and hygiene items. The extra money was used to purchase a computer, printer, and one-year Wi-Fi subscription for the school, and to set up a scholarship fund in partnership with St. Augustine University.
Harvey says he’s proud of his group for taking the initiative to make a difference during the trip and hopes future students will continue to do the same.
“The students and teachers at the middle school were extremely happy and grateful to have these resources,” he said. “It made me realize that we can have a large impact as an Ivey community.”
(L-R): AJ Wipf, Elan Pedersen, Elizabeth Shewchuk, Alyssa Yan, Tessa Wismer, Monica Plante, and Coby Harvey
Coby Harvey teaching the class
Students at St. Augustine University with their Ivey certificates
More students at St. Augustine University with their Ivey certificates
Middle school students receiving donations from Ivey students
Enjoying a picnic
Getting ready for safari at Serengeti National Park
Visit to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area
Coby Harvey skydiving
Coby Harvey (left) and Elan Pedersen (right) at the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro
Coby Harvey and Elan Pedersen with their guides and official Kilimanjaro climbing certificates
Catherine Wu, HBA '24
For Catherine Wu, HBA ’24, teaching at All Nation’s University in Koforidua, Ghana was all about nurturing the valuable connections she made during last year’s ASL trip.
After spending time teaching in the classroom with a new cohort of students, Wu visited the pig farm that she wrote a case about while performing field research as an HBA1. She was happy to reconnect with the farm’s management team and see its growth over the past year. That case will be used to teach African students at partner universities across the Ubuntu program in future years.
Wu also fostered new relationships during the trip. Whether she was learning Ghanian dance moves from her students, making traditional dishes like Banku at a faculty member’s home, or appreciating the beautiful landscape and animals native to the country, she credits the experience for contributing to her personal growth.
“Being immersed in this community allowed new parts of me to emerge,” she said. “The interactions I had in Ghana have expanded my worldview.”
Catherine Wu and her learning group with students at All Nation's University
(L-R): Sarah Huang, Rodrigo Baldoceda, Lily Di Gasbarro, Alison Chen, and Catherine Wu visiting Cape Coast Castle in Ghana
Visit to Kakum National Park
Eric Molnar, HBA '24
After taking Doing Business in Africa during his second year at Ivey, Eric Molnar, HBA ’24, was eager to put theory into practice at the Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology in Juja, Kenya.
Though Molnar has experienced many case classes as a student, this was his first time approaching the case method as a lecturer. He was pleased to see his students participate more in each class since they were accustomed to a traditional lecture-based style of learning.
“Going from being a student to leading the case was a great way to end my time at Ivey,” he said. “As an instructor, you really see how much the students are learning, developing, and articulating their opinions. It was incredibly rewarding.”
Another highlight of the trip was touring the Kibera Slum – the largest of its kind in Africa. Molnar was inspired by the warmth and kindness displayed by the locals and said the tour was the most impactful part of the trip.
“It was a heartwarming experience to be surrounded by so many positive people,” he said. “Everyone was smiling and dancing. It showed us that the slums aren’t just people living in poverty – they have a real community.”
Touring Kibera slum
(L-R): Eric Molnar, Rachel Zhu, Rajah Chari, Elifet Ouma (student at JKUAT), Josh Rovner, and Louise Sun enjoying Kenyan cuisine
Students at the Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology posing with their Ivey certificates
Eric Molnar (center) and his learning group visiting a local middle school
Daisy Xu, HBA '25 candidate
Daisy Xu, an HBA ’25 candidate, was interested in ASL after talking to past trip participants about their experiences.
“Everyone said it was really fun and encouraged me to enrol in the course,” she said.
Xu was particularly excited to visit Ethiopia because of its strong ties with China, her home country.
“China provides a lot of support to Africa, so I wanted to see the development of the country while I was in Ethiopia,” she said.
Outside of teaching, Xu and her learning group visited the Sheger Friendship Park in Addis Ababa, one of the beautification projects that China has contributed to the capital for local residents to enjoy.
When asked about the experience, Xu said she felt grateful for the connections made along the way at Addis Ababa University.
“We were teaching the students, but we learned just as much from them,” she said. “They shared their diverse culture and perspectives with us.”
(L-R): Marina Shi, Austin Zhang, Dr. Solomon Markos (Associate Dean of undergraduate programs at Addis Ababa University), Elizabeth Xu, and Daisy Xu
Daisy Xu (center) with students from Addis Ababa University
Getting ready to enjoy Ethiopian cuisine
Daisy Xu (front) and her learning group with students from Addis Ababa University
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