University of Jyväskylä, Finland
From May 3–10, 2025, Dr. Nick Manuel from the Department of Economics at the Sobey School of Business at Saint Mary’s visited the University of Jyväskylä in Finland as part of the Erasmus+ faculty exchange program. The week-long visit was a success, offering valuable opportunities for cross-cultural collaboration and professional development.
During the exchange, Dr. Manuel delivered a lecture on the Canadian sport landscape to a Sport Management class, providing students with an in-depth look at the country’s popular sports, culture, and employment opportunities within the industry. He also participated in faculty development sessions on teaching Sports Economics, gaining valuable insights on how to create engaging course content and structure assessments to promote student learning. This training is expected to benefit students in Saint Mary’s new Sports Business program.
Dr. Manuel also delivered a research seminar on a paper he co-authored, which found that Major League Baseball crowds influence umpire decisions in favor of the home team. The seminar not only shared research insights but also provided Dr. Manuel with valuable feedback for his work. Additionally, he met with university staff to discuss potential student exchange opportunities between the two universities. The visit successfully strengthened international relationships and opened doors for future collaborations, offering new and exciting learning opportunities for Saint Mary’s students.