As more companies look to expand their international presence, some business administration programs are challenging students to apply the skills they learn in the classroom to solve problems in other countries.

For example, the University of Maryland's Robert H. Smith School of Business and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) recently partnered to host the college's first Global Challenge. The business competition required teams of MBA candidates to create a public-private venture that could support development and tourism in Asia.

Competitors presented their ideas to a panel of judges, which was comprised of representatives from USAID, private sector companies and nongovernmental organizations. The winning team, which developed a plan for a mirco-tourism home stay program in Thailand, received a $5,000 cash prize.

Second- and third-place recipients also accepted awards of $2,500 and $1,000 each, respectively. All winners will have their work published and distributed to international business professionals across the globe.

G. "Anand" Anandalingam, dean of the business school, said the competition was intended to inspire participants to use "their business acumen and passion to create solutions that would help businesses while simultaneously reducing poverty."