Building Transatlantic Bridges: Language, Business & Culture Program Hosts Italian Educators in Erasmus+ Partnership

Montclair State University’s interdisciplinary Language, Business & Culture program made significant strides in fostering global educational alliances this past spring, hosting educators from the Istituto Superiore Carlo Dell’Acqua in the greater Milan area of Italy for an intensive week-long job shadowing experience.

Funded by the European Union’s Erasmus+ Job Mobility program, the visit brought Vittoria Zingaro and Adriana Gallo to campus to observe English for Business instruction and explore pedagogical approaches that bridge language learning with professional competencies. The partnership continues to evolve, with Prof. Enza Antenos, Director of the Language, Business & Culture BA program and the Department of World Languages and Literatures, scheduled to travel to the Dell’Acqua campus during Spring 2026 to consult on their English business program—also funded under the Erasmus+ grant.

Zingaro and Gallo participated in a comprehensive observation program spanning multiple business disciplines. Their week included courses addressing marketing creativity and strategy, business ethics and corporate social responsibility, international business operations, intercultural communication in professional contexts, and the capstone course that activates language competencies with business acumen in tangible ways.

“It was a pleasure to have Vittoria and Adriana visit my creative marketing class,” shared marketing professor Manveer Mann. “It’s inspiring to connect with educators from around the world who are passionate about effective instruction. I appreciated their engagement and interest in my pedagogical approach and the opportunity to discuss it with them and learn about the Italian cultural perspectives. I look forward to future opportunities for collaboration.”

The program extended beyond academic observation to include strategic professional engagements. Highlights included a faculty and administration luncheon that fostered cross-institutional dialogue, a meeting with Education Director Daniele Castellani at the Italian Consulate in New York to explore broader collaboration opportunities, and a corporate visit to Bindi North America Inc. in Kearny, New Jersey. At Bindi, the educators gained insights into Italian business operations in the American market, with the visit facilitated by Francesca Oliveri, a communications specialist at Bindi and an Italian alumna, further reinforcing the international connections that make such partnerships meaningful.

The Erasmus+ program is the European Union’s flagship initiative supporting education and training across Europe and beyond, facilitating professional development opportunities for educators and promoting cross-cultural understanding.

“The Erasmus+ program exemplifies the kind of meaningful international partnerships that enrich both our faculty and students,” noted Antenos. “By sharing pedagogical practices and building networks across the Atlantic, we’re preparing students for the truly global nature of contemporary business.”
The collaboration represents the growing internationalization of Montclair’s Language, Business & Culture program and its commitment to fostering educational exchanges that benefit students, faculty, and institutions locally and abroad.