Published on 04-14-2025
This May, a group of online master’s students from Purdue’s Mitch Daniels School of Business will set aside the virtual classroom for a face-to-face learning opportunity — one that spans continents and industries. The initiative is an experiential learning project with GMH Group (GMH), a major steel producer based in Germany, and represents a unique blend of corporate consulting, academic rigor and global exposure.
The project, spearheaded by Clinical Professor Of Management Amy David, was born from a chance connection. “An alum reached out to us and wanted to get us connected with GMH,” she says. “He's a former employee of the company and now works as an independent consultant. He thought it would be a great match — and he was right.”
GMH Group, known for its work in green steel, is currently exploring strategies to strengthen its presence in the U.S. market. The Purdue students will help the company assess its U.S. strategy, specifically in the area of forged technologies — products that are particularly valuable in industrial, power generation and automotive applications.
“I can’t speak too much about the specifics because of confidentiality agreements, but the general idea is that GMH is looking to gain insights into the U.S. steel market,” David says. “Our students are developing a project plan that maps out the current supply chain and highlights where value is added at various stages of the steel processing lifecycle.”
The students are already hard at work remotely, analyzing data, identifying opportunities and coordinating with GMH staff overseas. “We’re talking about forged products for critical applications,” David says. “The industries GMH supplies demand extremely tight tolerances and high product quality to ensure performance, reliability, and safety. Also, coordination across the entire supply chain is critical – seeing these processes firsthand in Germany will give the students a deeper understanding of GMH’s capabilities and how they translate into value in different markets.”
The trip itself will include site visits to GMH facilities and meetings with key personnel. While the business agenda is packed, the itinerary also includes time for sightseeing in Berlin — an important chance for students to bond and experience the culture together.
All five master’s students participating in the trip are enrolled in Purdue’s online programs. Three are in the Global Supply Chain Management (GSCM) program, and two are pursuing online MBAs. “It’s really interesting,” David says. “Three of these students I’ve known for years, but only virtually. Now, I get to meet them face to face for the first time. That’s a big deal, and I think they’re excited about it, too.”
The student cohort is geographically diverse, with participants based in Indiana, Atlanta, Philadelphia and even Turkey. “Our student from Turkey is meeting us in Berlin,” David says. “For someone like him, attending graduation or other on-campus events just isn’t feasible. This trip brings us all together in a way that bridges that gap. It’s a real testament to the global nature of online learning.”
While the primary focus is the consulting work, David emphasizes that this is about more than just business strategy. “It’s about collaboration, cultural exchange, and giving our online students a hands-on learning experience they might not otherwise get. We hope to continue offering programs like this in the future.” *
For now, the team is eagerly preparing to embark on their journey. A post-trip blog will follow, capturing reflections from the students and details of their findings. As David puts it, “We’re just really excited. This is a one-of-a-kind opportunity and hopefully just the beginning of more like it to come.”
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