Startup Treks: Study Abroad in Innovation Ecosystems

Startup Treks are Summit’s flagship multi-city study abroad programs focused on innovation, entrepreneurship, and technology in context.
  • Theme: Explore how innovation takes shape differently across cities, cultures, and markets.
  • Learning by Doing: Students don’t just read about business ecosystems — they meet the entrepreneurs, engineers, designers, and managers who are shaping industries.
  • Professional Visits: Each city includes visits to startups, co-working hubs, and established companies. These visits are integrated into coursework, not “extras,” so the travel itself is part of the academics.
  • Academic Core: In Europe, the main course is typically EUR 324 · Introduction to the European Union: Innovation and Entrepreneurship in the Single Market, which uses the EU as a living case study. In Brazil, the equivalent is BRA 324 · Introduction to Brazil: Innovation and Entrepreneurship in Emerging Markets.
  • Cross-Cultural Lens: Students can also take electives in Cross-Cultural Communication or Cross-Cultural Management, applying what they observe in real time.
  • Why “Treks”: The program is built around guided travel, moving city to city. It’s not tourism on the side of classes — it’s an academic journey where mobility is central to learning.

About Summit:

At Summit Global Education, we develop faculty-led, multi-city study abroad programs in partnership with leading universities. Our programs are designed for students across disciplines who seek academically rigorous, credit-bearing opportunities that integrate classroom learning with exposure to global business, culture, and innovation.

How our programs work:
Summit programs are delivered in collaboration with established universities in Europe and Brazil, ensuring academic quality and credit transferability. Students travel with faculty through multiple cities, where coursework is reinforced by company visits, cultural engagement, and guided reflection. This structure turns travel into a meaningful academic text, helping students build cross-cultural competence and professional insight.


Learn more about Summit Global Education

Hear from our students:

“There is no doubt that I would recommend the Summit Program.  I thought the flow of the program as perfect, not too overwhelming but always something to do.  It’s important to find that balance in a study abroad program and I think Summit has managed to do so.  I truly believe this is one of the best programs out there.  Thanks again!” 
 -  William Croghan, Miami University
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