Silicon Valley Trips Help Darden MBA Evolve: MBA News

A team from the Darden School of Business at the University of Virginia are using frequent trips to Silicon Valley to aid their students and alumni with networking, and to brainstorm future courses, cases and research as part of the Darden MBA program.

As a direct result of the most recent trip, Darden MBA faculty are currently "brainstorming about the possibility of leading a for-credit group of Darden students to Silicon Valley next spring break," the school reveals. "In hopes for a 'domestic' business exchange, modeled after Darden's Global Business Experiences, the trip will focus on technology on the West Coast."

According to the school, the trips to Silicon Valley, which it calls 'Tech Treks', are important components for the school in increasing relationships with the technology industry. "Given the rapid pace of change in technology and its leading players, Darden faculty members stay close to alumni and practitioners in the industry and develop new courses, cases and research on the issues they face."

Tech Careers for Darden MBAs

Everette Fortner, executive director for professional development at the Darden School of Business was present on the most recent trip to Silicon Valley, the schools third visit in the past 12 months. He explains that the relationships forged by the visits, along with potential new programs and collaboration that come about, are vital for Darden MBAs looking to find work within the technology industry come graduation.

"To get jobs in technology, the students must make themselves known to our alumni and to the companies," he says. "With help from the Darden Career Development Center, students must create multiple opportunities to visit the West Coast over their two-year experience at Darden so that they can demonstrate their knowledge and passion."

According to Fortner, networking can be problematic for non-traditional MBA students, pursuing careers outside of consulting, investment banking or traditional corporate jobs.