Originally launched in 2009 by Professor Paul Gandel and Kathy Allen, assistant dean of student services,, AsiaTech was created to give students firsthand exposure to one of the world’s fastest-growing technology hubs. Each year, the program takes students to leading organizations across Asia, where they engage directly with business and technology leaders while gaining a deeper understanding of global innovation.
This year’s cohort traveled through Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand, visiting companies at the forefront of technology, consulting, biotechnology, manufacturing, and digital media.
In Hong Kong, students met with leaders from Omnicom, a global marketing and communications company, and PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), one of the world’s leading consulting firms. In Singapore, they visited regional headquarters for Google and Dell Technologies, along with NEC, a Japanese technology solutions company, and Illumina, a global biotechnology leader. The experience concluded in Bangkok with visits to Yannix, a company specializing in 3D tracking and reconstruction for major Hollywood productions, and a Honda motorcycle manufacturing facility producing more than 2,000 motorcycles each day.
For students, the company visits offered an opportunity to see classroom concepts applied on an international scale.
Information Management & Technology student Ruby Dainesi described AsiaTech as an opportunity to experience firsthand how technology operates across global industries. Reflecting on visits she said one of her biggest takeaways was “seeing first-hand how the field of technology is constantly evolving on a global basis.” Conversations throughout the trip also reshaped her perspective on artificial intelligence and automation, helping her realize these technologies “can be constructive tools when utilized in the correct ways.”
Beyond the professional experiences, Dainesi said navigating new cultures helped her grow personally by building confidence, encouraging meaningful interactions with local communities, and strengthening connections with classmates and industry professionals.
Fellow student Sin Yee Cheng also emphasized the value of gaining an international perspective. Traveling through Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand gave her “new perspectives on cross-border business strategy and global trends in technology.” She said meeting industry leaders and exploring emerging technologies firsthand was among the most meaningful parts of the experience. One visit that stood out was Dell Technologies in Singapore, where she learned about the company’s data center operations and innovative technologies supporting urban planning.
Recent Applied Data Science graduate Tony DiRubbo echoed those sentiments, noting that the experience helped him better understand “the trends that unify tech across the world,” while also highlighting the differences in how technology is implemented across Asia and the United States.
Throughout the trip, students explored a wide range of technologies and industries, from artificial intelligence and data infrastructure to biotechnology, advanced manufacturing, and digital media. The experience challenged them to think beyond domestic markets and consider the global impact of technology, while strengthening their understanding of how innovation differs across cultures and regions.
As AsiaTech enters its next chapter, Professor Chris Dunham will serve as the program’s new faculty lead, while Kathy Allen will continue coordinating the program’s logistics alongside Eurotech. The program continues to prepare future technology leaders by connecting them directly with the people, organizations, and innovations shaping the global technology landscape.